Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/51—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the outer layers
  • A61F13/511—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
  • A61F13/512—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/51—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the outer layers
  • A61F13/511—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
  • A61F13/512—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations
  • A61F13/5121—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations characterised by the vertical shape of the apertures, e.g. three dimensional apertures, e.g. macro-apertures
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/51—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the outer layers
  • A61F13/511—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
  • A61F13/512—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations
  • A61F13/5123—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations the apertures being formed on a multilayer top sheet
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/51—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the outer layers
  • A61F13/511—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
  • A61F13/512—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations
  • A61F13/5123—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations the apertures being formed on a multilayer top sheet
  • A61F13/5125—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations the apertures being formed on a multilayer top sheet the apertures not being formed through the complete thickness of the topsheet, e.g. blind holes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/51—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the outer layers
  • A61F13/511—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
  • A61F13/513—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its function or properties, e.g. stretchability, breathability, rewet, visual effect; having areas of different permeability
  • A61F13/51305—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its function or properties, e.g. stretchability, breathability, rewet, visual effect; having areas of different permeability having areas of different permeability
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/51—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the outer layers
  • A61F13/511—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
  • A61F13/513—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its function or properties, e.g. stretchability, breathability, rewet, visual effect; having areas of different permeability
  • A61F13/51305—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its function or properties, e.g. stretchability, breathability, rewet, visual effect; having areas of different permeability having areas of different permeability
  • A61F13/51311—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its function or properties, e.g. stretchability, breathability, rewet, visual effect; having areas of different permeability having areas of different permeability the permeability gradient being in the vertical direction
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/51—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the outer layers
  • A61F13/511—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
  • A61F13/513—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its function or properties, e.g. stretchability, breathability, rewet, visual effect; having areas of different permeability
  • A61F2013/51355—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its function or properties, e.g. stretchability, breathability, rewet, visual effect; having areas of different permeability for improving fluid flow
  • A61F2013/51372—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its function or properties, e.g. stretchability, breathability, rewet, visual effect; having areas of different permeability for improving fluid flow with valve or valve-like upper layer; Tapered capillary structures

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for unidirectional liquid transport substantially perpendicular to a surface, a method for producing the device according to the invention, and the use of such a device.
• a passive directed liquid transport has already been observed in the animal world in humid lizards. With their scale structure, they can collect even the smallest amounts of water from the environment and wet their skin with it. A network of fine capillaries in their surface then transports the water to the mouth of the lizards (Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, 20 1, Issue 2, pp. 204-214, Zoomorphology, 2007, Issue 126, pp. 89-102, Journal of Herpetology, 1993, Issue 27, No. 3, pp. 265 to 270). In this process, the special property of a capillary is exploited. Their fine, elongated cavity can outweigh any surface effects of liquid contained therein from viscosity and inertial effects.
• the resulting transport of a liquid is determined by the surface tension of the liquid itself and the interfacial tension between the liquid and the solid surface.
• the liquid in a capillary rises until the capillary force equals the counteracting gravity of the liquid.
• This special property of capillaries for directional liquid transport has already been exploited in the prior art, for example in the patent application DE 10 2012 021 603 A1. It describes the use of at least two capillaries that are connected to one another via at least one passage channel, so that an at least partially passive directed capillary transport of a liquid takes place along a surface or along a fiber through the at least two capillaries.
• the present invention is therefore based on the object to provide a device for unidirectional liquid transport, which has a directional transport of a liquid substantially perpendicular to a surface.
• a device for unidirectional liquid transport which has at least one layer of a base material (1), wherein at least partially narrowing capillaries (2) from a first main surface (3) of the respective layer to a second main surface (4) extend the respective layer, and wherein the capillaries (2) are formed such that a passive directed capillary Trans- Port of a liquid through the at least partially narrowing capillaries is substantially perpendicular to the Hauptoberfikieen (3, 4) of the respective layer (s).
• the term "unidirectional liquid transport” means that there is no or greatly reduced transport in the apparatus of the present invention against the preferred direction of the liquid, that is, the liquid is substantially from the first major surface toward the second major surface of each
• the term “essentially” is understood to mean that at least 51%, preferably at least 60% or 70%, particularly preferably at least 80% or 90% and most preferably at least 95% of the transported liquid per unit time in the preferred direction is transported.
• first main surface of the respective layer refers to the boundary surface of a layer into which the liquid to be transported enters, for example by the geometry of the capillary opening, a coating or by means of a liquid from a capillary
• second main surface of the respective layer denotes the boundary surface of the same layer opposite the first main surface, in the direction of which the liquid is transported through the capillaries and through which the liquid optionally exits.
• the main surfaces are characterized in that the first main surface has capillary openings with a larger cross section and the second main surface has capillary openings with a smaller cross section.
• capillaries is understood to mean fine, usually elongated cavities which extend from the first main surface to the second main surface of the respective layer.
• narrowing in accordance with the present invention means that the Cross-sectional area of the respective capillaries in the longitudinal course, ie from the first main surface in the direction of the second main surface of the respective layer, reduced. According to the present invention, this constriction of the capillaries is formed at least in sections from the first main surface in the direction of the second main surface of the respective layer.
• the term "at least in sections” is understood to mean that the cross-sectional area in the direction of the second main surface does not have to reduce continuously or steadily, but a narrowing of the cavity to at least 51%, preferably at least 60% or at least 70%, particularly preferably at least 80% or at least 90%, based on the capillary transport path, is required because of the constriction of the capillary, at least in sections, in a preferential direction of the liquid transport in the direction of the narrowing capillary
• a constriction present over the entire capillary transport path lies, for example, in a funnel-shaped 7, (5)), for example, however, it is also possible to carry out liquid transport in the preferred direction if a constriction of the capillary is not continuous but at least abs is present chnittlutter within each layer (see Figure 7, (6) to (18)).
• a partial widening of the cavity of the capillary to, for example, at most 49%, at most 40%, at most 30% or at most 20%, based on the capillary transport path, are present.
• the expansion can also include the boundary to the room, starting from the capillary.
• a slow liquid transport or the complete stopping of a liquid transport can be overcome for example with a liquid from a spatially close interconnection / cross connection.
• the slow transport or the stopped transport can be used selectively by a targeted adjustment of constriction and widening of the cavity, taking advantage of the relationship of the ratio of the contact angle of the liquid to the angle of the capillary inner wall, locally the transport direction is reversed.
• a liquid transport can take place counter to the at least partially narrowing capillary (ie from the second main surface in the direction of the first main surface) and thus a particularly efficient control of the liquid transport, for example to keep the liquid within one layer or between several layers.
• the liquid transported in the device according to the invention is not subject to any particular restriction.
• the liquid is selected from the group consisting of water, aqueous emulsions, aqueous liquids, aqueous solutions, in particular body fluids, liquid long-chain hydrocarbons, organic solvents and mixtures thereof.
• body fluids according to the present invention is not particularly limited and includes, for example, liquids such as blood, sacs, cerebrospinal fluid, secretions, saliva and urine.
• the term "liquid long-chain hydrocarbons” includes, for example, lipophilic substances such as oils, lubricants, Plant active ingredients, essential oils and flavorings.
• the base material in the device according to the invention is not subject to any particular restriction.
• the base material may contain a single component or consist of a mixture of different components.
• Examples of components usable for the base material according to the present invention are polymers, metals, ceramics, glasses, etc.
• the term "polymer” according to the present invention is not particularly limited and includes, for example, biopolymers and synthetic polymers
• Biopolymers are cellulose, starch and polylactide
• the base material comprises a plastic or a plastic mixture
• plastics are acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polyolefins, such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), polyurethane (PU), polystyrene (PS), polyamide (PA), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and modifications of such plastics such as a plastic supplemented with a composite material , as well as copolymers or mixtures thereof.
• ABS acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene
• PMMA polymethyl methacrylate
• PC polycarbonate
• PET polyethylene
• the base material is also subject to no particular restriction, as long as this allows a liquid transport as mentioned above.
• the base material can be present as a film or a plate, as a fiber or wire or in the form of particles.
• the base material consists of substantially parallel asymmetric fibers, a film and / or particles.
• film is not limited thereto and includes films of various thicknesses, including plates and blocks,
• substantially parallel means that at least 60%, preferably at least 70%, or at least 80%, especially preferably at least 90% of the asymmetric fibers are aligned parallel to each other.
• parallel here includes not only a completely parallel orientation of the longitudinal edges of the asymmetrical fibers relative to one another, but also a deviation of, for example, at most 25 ° or at most 20 °, preferably at most 15 ° or at most 10 ° preferably at most 5 °, from this fully parallel orientation.
• asymmetric fiber according to the present invention is not particularly limited and includes all fiber forms having such cross-sections which, by their shape and / or arrangement with one another, allow capillaries to form in a layer according to the present invention
• asymmetric includes not only cross-sectional shapes that are completely asymmetrical but also those that have some symmetry.
• asymmetric fiber also includes the use of asymmetric cross-section wires in that the wires can have very different dimensions with regard to their length and their cross section, as long as the capillary structure according to the invention can be obtained by a corresponding arrangement.
• Another embodiment relates to a device as defined above, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the asymmetric fiber is selected from a group consisting of triangular to trilobate, quadrangular to trapezoidal, pentagonal or otherwise polygonal, star-shaped, freeform and semicircular, or any combination of at least two of these shapes.
• the cross-sectional shape of the asymmetric fiber is selected from a group consisting of triangular to trilobate, quadrangular to trapezoidal, pentagonal or otherwise polygonal, star-shaped, freeform and semicircular, or any combination of at least two of these shapes.
• a structured arrangement of such asymmetrical fibers can lead directly to the formation of capillaries in the position (cf., for example, FIGS. 2 to 4).
• the shape of the capillaries can be adjusted in an advantageous manner by the cross section of the fibers used.
• the shape of the particles is selected from a group consisting of truncated pyramidal, kugelseg- mentförmig, triangular pyramidal, quadrangular-pyramidal, drop-shaped or completely asymmetric.
• a structured arrangement of such particles can lead directly to the formation of capillaries in the position.
• the shape of the capillaries can be adjusted by the choice and arrangement of the particles in an advantageous manner.
• the base material may be selected according to the purpose of use of the corresponding device.
• a layer consists exclusively of a base material, for example in the form of a plate, a film or arranged particles or fibers (textile) or wire.
• the layer may comprise, in addition to the base material, further components which may influence the properties such as wetting behavior, dimensional stability, durability, etc. of the layer.
• the transition from a constriction to an expansion in the course of the capillary may for example be discontinuous (see Figure 7, (16)) or continuous (see Figure 7, (17) and (18)).
• the longitudinal cross-section of the capillary is not necessarily rotationally symmetric.
• the dimensions, ie the capillary length and the number of capillaries per unit area of the device according to the invention are not subject to any particular restriction, with both parameters influencing, for example, the transport speed and transport quantity.
• the minimum and maximum cross-sectional area is limited insofar as capillary liquid transport must be enabled.
• the term "passive directed capillary transport of a liquid through the at least partially narrowing capillaries substantially perpendicular to the main surfaces of the respective layer (s)" means that a transport of a liquid without the use of external energy sources (eg. Temperature) is generated substantially perpendicular to the above-described main surfaces of the respective layer (s) by the capillaries.
• the device defined above has at least two layers which are arranged parallel to one another.
• a further embodiment of the invention relates to the above-defined device with at least three layers, at least four layers or at least five layers which are arranged parallel to one another.
• the layers are preferably arranged in such a way that the constriction of the capillaries present at least in sections within a respective layer (starting from the first main surface in the direction of the second main surface) is oriented in the same direction in all layers.
• the sheets are stacked so that the second main surface of an upper layer and the first main surface of the adjacent lower layer are aligned with each other.
• the ply stack of the present invention may in this case be produced using various measures known in the art, for example by gluing, fusing, sewing, welding or pressing individual layers.
• the connection of the layers takes place in such a way that a liquid transport through the layer stack while retaining respective capillary paths through the individual layers is still possible.
• capillary paths also includes the volume between two layers in which the liquid can collect, whereby the transition of the capillary cavity to the volume located between two layers also constitutes a widening in the sense of the invention
• top and bottom according to the invention are not limiting in terms of space, but merely to be understood in terms of a relative arrangement of two adjacent layers relative to one another Stacking of multiple layers, a device can be provided, which allows a relation to a single layer more efficient liquid transport with further reduced reflux.
• a discontinuity occurs between two adjacent layers, ie at the transition of a second main surface of an upper layer to a first main surface of a lower layer due to abrupt widening of the capillary cross-sectional areas (see Figure 3, (8)).
• such a point of discontinuity is also present in the transition region of the second main surface to the space, that is to say, for example, when using a single layer.
• a further embodiment of the present invention relates to the device as defined above, wherein two adjacent layers are arranged offset to one another.
• the adjacent layers are displaced relative to one another in such a way that the capillaries have a lateral offset in their arrangement relative to one another in adjacent layers (cf., for example, FIG. 4, left-hand illustration).
• adjacent layers form a rotational offset relative to one another (cf., for example, FIG. 4, right illustration). This rotational offset is not particularly limited in its extent and may for example be in the range of less than 1 ° to nearly 360 °. If the device according to the invention is in the form of a layer stack, then each individual layer can have a different lateral offset and / or a different rotational offset relative to the preceding layer.
• the device comprises a functional material.
• the arrangement of the functional material in the device is in no particular way restricted and may be present in sections.
• the functional material may be on the first major surface, on the second major surface or on the opening of the capillaries be arranged in the respective main surfaces, in the capillary interior or at any combination of the aforementioned locations.
• a preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to a device as defined above which has at least two layers arranged parallel to one another, further comprising a functional material arranged at the transition of a second main surface of an upper layer to the first main surface of a lower layer ,
• the said functional material can be arranged, for example, on the second main surface of the upper layer, on the first main surface of the lower layer, on the opening of the capillaries of these main surfaces or on any combination of the aforementioned points.
• the liquid to be transported can more effectively overcome the discontinuity, or the liquid can be collected by means of the functional material.
• the functional material may be provided, for example, by modifying the base material or by adding another material to the base material.
• the base material for example, chemically, mechanically or thermally modified by coating, structuring or plasma treatment or supplemented by the additionally introduced or applied material to functions.
• the functional material comprises, for example, lacquers, nanocoatings, plasma coatings, adhesives, nanoparticles, superabsorbers, microstructures and / or nanostructures.
• a defined wettability of the base material or a defined roughness of the base material can be provided by the functional material or the base material can be modified in its magnetic property.
• a wettable material in the device according to the invention is advantageous in that the liquid can overcome the above-mentioned point of discontinuity by wetting the wettable material.
• the functional material can ensure the entry of the liquid into the capillary opening of a first main surface and / or the exit of the liquid from the capillary opening of a second main surface.
• the arrangement of the base material in layers in the manufacturing process can be facilitated in an advantageous manner.
• a bicomponent fiber may be used which may have the above-described functional material.
• the term "bicomponent fiber” is understood to mean a fiber which has two components, ie a first component and a second component, whereby the division of the fiber into the two components is likewise not restricted
• the preferred embodiment is such that a first component forms the first main surface of the respective layer and a second component forms the second main surface of the respective layer
• the respective components can be selected with regard to the desired properties of the layer (s) thus obtained Selection of the respective components is not restricted and may include those components which improve the transport of the desired liquid through the layer (s), increase the physical integrity of the layers and / or the adhesion of the layers to one another or the production simplify or allow the device itself.
• the components may be selected such that transport improves with respect to the desired liquid, but transport with respect to one or more undesired liquids
• the bicomponent fiber may include electrostatic material and / or paramagnetic material, such as nanoferrite, in a lower portion of the fiber, thereby using an electric field or a magnetic field Magnetic field, the fibers can be arranged to form a layer (see, for example, Figure 5).
• the first and second components of the bicomponent fiber may comprise thermoplastics with different melting points or a thermoplastic and a non-thermoplastic material to allow a controlled point melting or melting.
• the first component, the second component or both components may comprise the functional material.
• only one of the components comprises a functional material.
• the base material may also be present in the form of a bicomponent film, the division of the respective film into the two components and the property of said components corresponding to those of the above-defined bicomponent fiber.
• Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a device as defined above comprising a base material having particles, wherein a particle may comprise two components (bicomponent particles).
• a particle may comprise two components (bicomponent particles).
• layers of the same or different material and structure can be combined with each other.
• the respective layers of the device according to the invention can be constructed, for example, only of asymmetrical fibers or wire, only of particles, only of films or plates, or any combination thereof, wherein the respective layers independently of one another may have a functional material as mentioned above.
• one or both of the main surfaces of one or more layers are at least partially coated with the functional material.
• the device according to the invention comprises a layer which is arranged on the first main surface of the first (i.e., uppermost) layer or on the second main surface of the final (i.e., lowest) layer.
• layers which allow a transport parallel to the surface, spacer layers, which maintain any necessary intervals, or layers comprising an absorbent material.
• two devices according to the invention can be arranged in a system against each other.
• they can be arranged, for example, such that a liquid is transported in and collected in the space located between the two devices. The collected liquid can then be held there, further transported or otherwise processed.
• the devices can be arranged such that a liquid located between the devices is transported to the outside through the devices bordering this space.
• a further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for producing the device according to the invention, comprising the steps:
• step (iii) optionally placing a plurality of the sheets obtained in step (ii) into a sheet stack;
• step (B) introducing holes into the film, wherein a layer is produced with at least partially narrowing capillaries, and (c) optionally arranging a plurality of the layers obtained in step (b) into a layer stack; or
• step (3) optionally, arranging a plurality of the sheets obtained in step (2) into a sheet stack
• the preparation or provision of the asymmetric fibers in step (i) of the process according to the invention is not subject to any particular restriction.
• the asymmetric fibers are prepared by melt spinning, solvent spinning, electrospinning, wet spinning, rolling, pressing or by a 3D printing process.
• Asymmetric fibers with a wide variety of cross-sectional shapes such as, for example, fibers with a triangular to trilobal, quadrangular to trapezoidal, pentagonal to polygonal, star-shaped and semicircular cross-section, freeform or a combination thereof can be provided by the abovementioned methods.
• the preparation or provision of the asymmetric fibers for example, by melt spinning or solvent spinning, not only in terms of the fiber form almost arbitrarily configurable, but also with regard to the fiber composition is not limited in any particular way.
• the provision of the asymmetric fibers may involve the preparation of asymmetric bicomponent fibers by melt spinning.
• both the asymmetrical fiber and the asymmetric bicomponent fiber can have a functional material.
• the functional material can be introduced or applied as described above.
• the step (i) of providing asymmetric fibers comprises the substantially parallel arrangement of the respective fibers relative to each other.
• the functional material for this purpose may comprise, for example, an electrostatic material or paramagnetic material, whereby by means of an electric or magnetic field, a uniform orientation or an essentially parallel arrangement of the respective asymmetric fibers to each other favors or supported.
• the fibers can be pulled to align, for example via a rail.
• the arrangement / joining of the asymmetric fibers to a layer according to step (ii) of the method according to the invention is likewise subject to no particular restriction.
• the asymmetrical fibers are joined together to form a scrim, fabric, knitted fabric, knitted fabric, fleece, spunbonded fabric, braid, tapestry or leno fabric.
• the asymmetric fibers are thermally bonded together, for example by laser welding, or by gluing.
• steps (i) and (ii) are carried out simultaneously, for example by means of a 3D printing process, wherein the fibers are produced as desired and arranged according to the present invention.
• step (ii) of the process as defined above in optional step (iii) is not particularly limited.
• the respective layers are preferably joined together, for example by a chemical compound (eg gluing), a mechanical connection (for example sewing or pressing) or a thermal connection (for example welding or fusion).
• the provision or provision of a film in step (a) is not subject to any particular restriction.
• the film is produced by calendering, casting, injection molding or 3D printing.
• the introduction of holes into the film in step (b) of the method according to the invention as defined above is not subject to any particular restriction and can be realized by any method known to the person skilled in the art.
• the holes can be introduced into the film by means of embossing rollers, punching, a laser, using correspondingly profiled needles or by etching.
• steps (a) and (b) can also be carried out simultaneously by means of an original molding process, for example by injection molding.
• steps (a) and (b) may be carried out simultaneously by means of a 3D printing process.
• step (b) in optional step (c) of the process according to the invention is likewise subject to no particular restriction.
• the respective layers are preferably joined together, for example by gluing, fusing, sewing or pressing, etc.
• the provision of particles in step (1) is not particularly limited.
• the particles are prepared by polymerization, milling, machining (grinding), spraying, cutting fibers or by means of a 3D printing process.
• the arrangement of the particles to a layer according to step (2) of the method according to the invention is not subject to any particular restriction.
• the particles are individually targeted to layers by self-organization, shaking, shaking, laser sintering or in the case of a bicomponent particle with electrostatic or magnetic material by means of an electric or magnetic field.
• the arrangement of the particles can be fixed, for example by means of sintering or laser sintering.
• steps (1) and (2) are carried out simultaneously, for example by means of a 3D printing process, wherein the particles are produced as desired and arranged according to the present invention.
• the arrangement of the layers obtained in step (2) in optional step (3) of the method according to the invention is likewise subject to no particular restriction.
• the respective layers are preferably connected to one another, for example by gluing, fusing, sewing or pressing, etc.
• a further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the device according to the invention for unidirectional liquid transport for transporting a liquid away from and / or holding the liquid on the target side.
• the device according to the invention can also be used to evaporate, transport or otherwise process the liquid transported on the destination side.
• the device according to the invention is advantageous when used in a diesel fuel filter.
• biodiesel serves as a blend component with a share of 7 to 12% by volume for conventional diesel fuel.
• the water contained in the biodiesel causes corrosion on the engine components and hydrolytic decomposition of the fuel.
• filters have the disadvantages that they have only a low water absorption capacity, have no water-conducting properties and often need to be changed. Due to the advantageous use of the device according to the invention, directed water transport is possible, so that the water is separated and transported to a collecting container, which can be emptied.
• the use of the device of the invention in a diesel fuel filter allows the reduction of filter changes, resulting in lower costs for car manufacturers and motorists.
• the device according to the invention can alternatively serve as an impregnation aid for fiber composite plastics (FRP).
• FRP fiber composite plastics
• high pressures and long process times are required to complete the component with a thermoplastic, Duromer, metal or monomer to soak.
• the advantageous use of the device according to the invention in the form of an auxiliary layer the material could be distributed quickly and selectively, so that advantageously also air pockets can be avoided.
• the device according to the invention is advantageous, for example, when used as an incontinence product, since the body fluid can be transported away from the skin and held on the target side, so that a barrier is created between the liquid-filled device and the skin.
• the disadvantageous use of superabsorbers in conventional incontinence products can be reduced or avoided by the advantageous functionality of the device according to the invention, so that the use of the device according to the invention reduces or substantially eliminates the occurrence of superabsorbers as hazardous waste.
• FIG. 1 shows a base material (1) of the device according to the invention.
• the base material takes the form of an asymmetric fiber, in particular the shape of a triangular or trapezoidal fiber.
• Figure 2 shows the structure of a layer comprising a base material (1) with narrowing capillaries (2), the capillaries extending from the first major surface (3) of the layer to the second major surface (4) of the layer. Such an arrangement results in a preferred direction for the liquid transport (5).
• Figure 3 shows the construction of a device consisting of two layers of a base material (1) with narrowing capillaries (2) with the preferred direction for liquid transport (5), wherein the transition between the second main surface of the upper layer (6) to the first main surface the lower layer (7) has a discontinuity (8) at which the capillary of the upper layer widens.
• Figure 4 shows mutually staggered layers (9) with Kapiiiaren having a lateral offset, or two adjacent layers, which form a rotation sversatz with each other (10).
• FIG. 5 shows examples of bicomponent fibers (11) with a first component (12) and a second component (13).
• Figure 6 shows examples of shapes of the particles (14).
• a particle is, for example, truncated pyramidal or has a spherical segment shape, the shape of a pyramid with a triangular base or the shape of a pyramid with a quadrangular base.
• FIG. 7 shows examples of shapes of the capillaries narrowing at least in sections.
• the shape is, for example, funnel-shaped (15) and both capillary openings have a different size. But the capillary openings can also be the same size and the capillary can narrow and widen in sections ((6) to (18)).
• the present invention provides an apparatus that enables unidirectional, passive liquid transport substantially perpendicular to a surface.
• the unidirectional transport allows the transport of a liquid to and fro and / or the holding of the liquid on the target side. Due to this special property, the device according to the invention has a high application potential, for example as a diesel fuel filter, wound dressing or incontinence product.
• the production method of the device according to the invention advantageously makes use of established and cost-effective production methods.

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• 2015
  • 2015-02-05 DE DE102015001461.7A patent/DE102015001461A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2016
  • 2016-01-28 EP EP16705727.2A patent/EP3253350A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2016-01-28 WO PCT/EP2016/000149 patent/WO2016124321A1/de active Application Filing

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (3)

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