Modern private construction is increasingly leaning towards the principles of energy efficiency; today almost no house is built without the use of thermal insulation materials. Considering the huge selection provided by insulation manufacturers, choosing an insulator that suits all parameters is not difficult. However, often the price of the issue is put at the forefront, and then the circle of searches is sharply narrowed. As an option, our craftsmen save on installation by performing available operations themselves, and some prefer to save on the insulation themselves. Of course, it is impossible to create a plant for the production of mineral wool, PSB and EPS at home, but mastering the handicraft production of ecowool is quite possible. So far these are isolated cases, but, as in everything, hard trouble begins, FORUMHOUSE craftsmen begin, the rest will join.

In this material we will consider:

• What kind of insulation is ecowool?
• Scope of application and methods of application of ecowool.
• How to make ecowool yourself.

Ecowool - basic data

Ecowool is called cellulose insulation, which is a loose, heterogeneous mass obtained by processing waste paper and waste from the paper industry.

The proportion of cellulose fiber in the material is about 80%, the rest comes from antiseptics and fire retardants, usually derivatives boric acid.

Additives are added to the mass in the middle of the production cycle, after primary grinding, and with them it is sent for final processing into fiber. This ensures an even distribution of the chemicals throughout the mass. It has been suggested that these substances may be hazardous to health, but due to their non-volatility and content in the material within the MAC (maximum permissible quantity) determined by sanitary standards, if the installation technology is followed, they are not released into the external environment.

If for our country ecowool is relatively new insulation, then in European countries it has been used since the thirties of the last century with the light hand of German developers. Like most other thermal insulators, cellulose not only conducts heat minimally, but also dampens sound well - a layer only 15 mm thick can absorb up to 9 dB. In terms of thermal conductivity, ecowool is comparable to mineral wool; its indicator is in the range of 0.037-0.042 W/(m·C), depending on the mass density. For ease of storage and transportation during the packaging process, the material is pressed, its density varies in the range of 150-200 kg/m³.

When used, the mass must be fluffed, it increases in volume several times, and the density is selected based on the scope of application and method of application.

Ecowool does not burn well even under the direct influence of a flame, rather it smolders and chars; according to test results, it was assigned the second flammability group - G2 (moderately flammable) and the second flammability class - B2 (moderately flammable). Since, apart from cellulose and borates, it contains no chemical additives, it has the second class in terms of smoke-forming ability - D2 (moderate smoke formation without the release of caustic substances).

But these properties are inherent in cellulose insulation as a whole, and whether a specific brand will correspond to the reference samples used in testing depends on the manufacturer.

In any case, ecowool is not considered a barrier material, and if it is not used in potentially hazardous areas, even with a reduced content of fire retardants, it will remain an effective heat insulator.

The advantages of ecowool include environmental friendliness, since the antiseptics and fire retardants used in production are considered conditionally safe. However, mineral wool manufacturers also claim that their products are environmentally friendly, also relying on compliance sanitary standards. The absence of seams, and, consequently, cold bridges, positioned as another plus, is offset by shrinkage of the mass during operation. If this feature of the material was not taken into account when laying it (a margin of 20%), bridges will appear, just in a different place. However, it is an affordable insulation with good physical and performance properties, which many choose mainly because of its reasonable price.

Scope of application and methods of application of ecowool

Ecowool is used for insulation and sound insulation of both industrial and public facilities, and private houses - in floors, partitions, enclosing structures and roofing systems. This is one of the most popular materials in construction frame houses in Scandinavia. In our country it is not so widespread, but many self-developers choose ecowool as insulation.

There are two main installation methods:

• dry;
• wet.

In the first option, the fluffy mass is poured into the cavity or blown out with a special unit/homemade device.

In the second, the mass is wetted with water or adhesive solution and is applied to the structure using a special installation.

The backfill method is most often used to insulate floors; ecowool is evenly distributed between the joists, compacting to 35-45 kg/m³. It is also used to fill walls in frame house construction or in well masonry, but somewhat less frequently, since even with tamping it is difficult to achieve the desired density of 60-65 kg/m³.

into the walls and inclined planes ecowool is often blown out using specialized equipment or homemade installations based on garden vacuum cleaners. Coupled with layer-by-layer compaction, a layer of sufficient density is obtained without the danger of shrinkage and the formation of cold bridges. The wet method is in demand for large volumes, when filling or blowing will require too much effort and time. As for the effectiveness of a particular method, it largely depends on the skill of the performers and adherence to technology.

Personal experience of the portal’s craftsmen in the production and use of ecowool

As already noted, ecowool is preferred to other insulation materials, as it is more affordable financially material, especially if you fill/blow it out yourself. One of our craftsmen decided to go even further and save not only on installation, but also on the raw materials themselves.

wIsT-svb FORUMHOUSE Member

I’m building a house in no hurry, I don’t have a lot of finances, so I decided to cleverly build a machine for producing ecowool. I’ll describe in detail how I went about this and what I got to. I work on shifts myself, I have time to think, so I started to split hairs.

The description of all the ordeals on the way to the goal is as detailed and voluminous as possible; it makes sense to select the main points.

Since ecowool is waste paper shredded into fibers with the addition of corrugated cardboard and other container categories, the craftsman decided to assemble a shredder. After studying relevant topics on the Internet and on the forum and making calculations in AutoCAD, the idea took shape in the following design:

• engine – 3000 rpm, from 3 kW;
• capacity - approximately 200 liters;
• the knife is dull, so that it does not cut, but grinds;
• shaft - to increase the number of revolutions on the knife;
• Belting.

wIsT-svb FORUMHOUSE Member

I decided to use the shaft separately from the motor because it is necessary to develop the maximum rotation speed of the knife in the barrel. I bought two Japanese sealed bearings, took them to a turner, modified them according to the drawings, and in parallel with the shaft, I ordered a pulley for it 3.5 times smaller than the main shaft, in order to increase the rotation speed of the knife in the installation itself by 3.5 times.

The engine was purchased at one of the collapses, with a power of 4 kW, with the right amount speed, complications arose due to the craftsman’s lack of a three-phase network, which had to be compensated by starting through capacitors. Has become a capacity iron barrel still from the era of the Land of Soviets, chosen due to the thickness of the walls, the knife was cut from metal 4 mm thick. After assembly, a series of test runs followed so that the raw materials would not be thrown out of the barrel; we had to weld a “skirt” at a distance of about 5 cm from the knife, and then come up with a lid.

The result is a unit that separates the raw material into fibers, but in order for this mass to become ecowool, it is necessary to add reagents. Otherwise, microorganisms will develop unhindered in it, and pests will settle in. However, this problem is completely solvable, all additives are freely available, calculating the proportions is not the biggest problem, and the idea itself has great potential.

Ogest FORUMHOUSE Member

The topic is necessary, put a batten on the house, blow cotton wool under it, and put a ventilated façade on top - it can be done with your own hands. If you also make cotton wool yourself, it’s absolutely beautiful. Moreover, some savings on membranes and fungi. Boric acid and borax are not very expensive, and you can try adding/mixing during the grinding process. Perhaps it makes sense to use a high-speed power tool as a drive? Like a powerful grinder or a plane with a modified shaft.

A more common way to save on insulation is to fill/blow out ecowool yourself, since both special equipment and professional services significantly increase the cost of the process. As for the filling, the main difficulty here is to fluff the mass after the factory packaging in order to obtain the desired volume and density. The simplest way– mixer attachment, drill/grinder/hammer and box. The main disadvantage is labor intensity and low productivity. Our craftsmen mechanized the process.

turbomev FORUMHOUSE Member

A paint mixer attachment is used, length 60 cm, diameter 100 mm, the drill is turned at maximum speed. The nozzles break periodically, the blades tear, and have to be restored. The speed is quite satisfactory; in three hours I covered 2.5 cubic meters of cotton wool; I couldn’t even lay a similar area with slab basalt so quickly.

Member FORUMHOUSE

A simple tee made of 110-gauge PVC pipe, the drill is attached to the board so that it does not fly away, with a long drywall hanger ( perforated tape, which bends). You just need to make a bell to load in large portions. And so I processed half a bag in a minute. The speed depends on how quickly you download.

The cost of the unit is minimal; if you need high productivity, you can really come up with a loading funnel.

According to not only Fortunaray, but also other participants in the branch, this is an excellent alternative not only to manual fluffing, but also to a garden vacuum cleaner, if we are talking about small volumes, horizontal planes And minimum investment. In addition, unlike blowing, there is practically no dust from such a “meat grinder”, and when working with floors this is one of the main inconveniences even when using protective equipment.

Total: 200 cubic meters, from 9 tons there are 8 bags left, or 120 kg.

Aldobr I did without intermediate processes, but basically the cotton wool is fluffed before blowing, that’s what the device is useful for Fortunaray, if you modify it with a neck and a receiver at the outlet.

If you have the opportunity to acquire raw materials for ecowool for free or at a bargain price, then you can use a shredder, but you can also really save both effort and money by doing your own blowing and mechanized filling - this has been proven by our craftsmen.

Step-by-step algorithm with video - in the topic from wIsT-svb, about - in the topic from turbomev, about the advantages and disadvantages of cellulose insulation - on the forum, in the topic "". More information about fill-in insulation can be found in the article Master class on evocat insulation in one of our videos.

Today, in the modern market of heat-preserving materials, cellulose fiber or, as it is also called, cellulose wadding, confidently holds a leading position. Is it as good as many people think it is? Does ecowool have disadvantages or are there none at all? Let's try to understand this issue together and highlight the main disadvantages of this type of insulation.

At the beginning of the last century, cellulose wool was appreciated for such properties as reliably retaining heat, absorbing noise and providing decent thermal insulation. After conducting a number of experiments and experiments, in 1929, in the capital of Germany, they began producing cellulose insulation. It began to be actively used in construction residential buildings, industrial buildings, private houses and government enterprises.

A tangible boost to popularization and wide application cellulose wool found during World War II. During the time when the recovery took place large quantity destroyed buildings and houses, a huge amount of insulation and other building materials. Demand for relatively inexpensive material, which reliably retains heat and does not allow noise into the room, has grown several times. And, as you know, demand creates supply.

The volumes of insulation used for industrial purposes have become a prerequisite for the emergence of professional blow molding machines, which speed up the installation of thermal insulation and the production of the necessary raw materials.

Ecowool components and its characteristics

The composition of ecowool is quite simple and understandable to every user. Let's figure out what it is. The majority, or more precisely, eighty-one percent of the total mass is occupied by recycled cellulose or simply recycled waste paper. The antiseptic component in the form of boric acid is only twelve percent. This is very important component in the production of ecowool. It is this that protects the material from rodents and insects. The remaining seven percent is fire retardant. The so-called borax is used as a means that is intended to reduce the flammability of the material.

Cellulose wool is produced in the form of loose, fibrous flakes, which, for ease of storage, as well as comfortable and easy transportation, are pre-pressed, decreasing in volume by approximately two to five times. Insulation fibers contain lignin, a substance that, when wet or exposed to moisture, “glues” them to the construction material.

Ecowool has the following technical characteristics:

• heat transfer is 0.037-0.042 W/m K;
• the density of ecowool, depending on the surface to be insulated, varies between 28-65 kg/m3;
• with a laying density of 40 kg/m3, the air permeability will be (80...120)10-6 m3/msPa;

As can be seen from the characteristics given and described above, the thermal conductivity of ecowool is practically no different from similar parameters of other mineral wool. However, it should be noted that due to the nature of its structure, cellulose is largely capable of absorbing water.

But even if you get wet by a quarter or twenty-five percent, the heat transfer coefficient will deteriorate slightly, by about 2-5%.

It is worth noting, however, that relatively low price, when compared with other insulation materials on the market of goods and services.

Installation technology

Cellulose ecowool insulation can be applied to insulated surfaces in several ways. These include the following:

• manual application;
• industrial dry method;
• industrial wet method.

At manual application the material is poured into a prepared container of sufficiently large volume and beaten or fluffed using a mixer attachment with an electric drill or hammer drill. The material, ready for use, is placed by hand into prepared niches or cavities.

For significant volumes of work, this method is too expensive in terms of labor investment and is ineffective. When industrially applying dry insulation, this disadvantage is compensated by the presence of a compressor, with the help of which the pre-fluffed material will be blown in. manually cotton wool.

For mechanized wet spraying of material on the surface, specialized blowing installations are used. The fiber is fluffed up in the hopper of the unit, if necessary, additional adhesive is added and, under pressure, wetted with water through nozzles, it is sprayed onto the surfaces.

The consumption of the composition per 1 m2 will be directly proportional to the thickness of the insulation layer and its required density. The density of wool when insulating horizontal surfaces should be about 45 kg/m3. For vertical planes this value will be 65 kg/m3. Knowing all the necessary parameters and what characteristics ecowool has, you can always calculate the volume, calculate the amount of m3 of product for thermal insulation of a structure of certain sizes.

Due to its properties, the insulation is applied as a monolithic coating, without seams or joints, which avoids the occurrence of cold penetration points. But, unlike working with other materials, you always need to carefully control the packing density of ecowool. Violation of the permissible values ​​can lead to a deterioration in the quality of thermal insulation over time.

Negative aspects of cellulose

In order to get a complete picture of this insulation, let’s consider the disadvantages of ecowool.

1. The use of specialized equipment, since manual installation is quite labor-intensive.
2. The personnel performing the work require fairly high qualifications.
3. The presence of a large amount of dust during installation of insulation.
4. When the composition is wet sprayed, its drying time can reach 72 hours, which is not always convenient and sometimes even unacceptable.
5. Shrinkage of cellulose wadding. Over time, the installed thermal insulation can lose up to a quarter of its volume, which will lead to the formation of uninsulated niches.
6. Significant absorption. In order for the fiber to dry, it is necessary to create conditions for good ventilation.
7. When vertical blowing, it is necessary to create a frame from reinforcement or wooden beams.

In fairness, it is worth noting what disadvantages there are of ecowool, among those pointed out by experts and people who have already encountered it in their homes. There are cases of an allergic reaction “to library dust”, expressed in the form of urticaria.

However, these are isolated cases and only individual intolerance to any component of this material can lead to negative consequences.

Also, some Internet users are concerned about the presence of boric acid in the insulation, which under certain conditions may end up in direct contact with a person. Let us remind you that its content in the material is 12%. This concentration generally does not pose a danger to the human body. The objectivity of this information remains entirely with those who distribute such data on online forums.

conclusions

This article describes all the pros and cons of cellulose, what it has strengths and what ecowool has disadvantages. It’s up to you to choose this material for thermal insulation of your home or use another one. Articles on our website can suggest which tools are best to choose, how to organize work, or what technology to use. You can always contact specialized specialists for advice.

You can see what ecowool looks like in the photos, which are easy to find on the World Wide Web.

In conclusion, I would like to remind you that in many respects the characteristics and quality of insulation depend on the manufacturer. In addition, quality may vary depending on many indicators, including what raw materials are used and what processing technology is used.

We try to provide objective information, and the choice is yours.

It is necessary to insulate a residential building for many reasons, and one of the modern thermal insulation materials that is easy to use, effective and durable is cellulose insulation based on ecowool. Ecowool consists of 81% recycled cellulose (in other words, waste paper), 12% boric acid, and 7% boron. Lignin is added in small proportions to improve surface adhesion. Environmental friendliness is ensured by the use of these non-toxic and non-flammable substances. A mass of insulation is blown (inflated) onto (under) the surface of walls, ceilings, and floors using compressor units, which is why the material is called blown-in insulation.

Characteristics and features of ecowool

Ecowool is a non-flammable material, but high temperatures can smolder without creating an open flame. The material does not rot or develop mold, perfectly blocks out external noise, and does not allow heat to pass through.

1. Thermal conductivity coefficient – ​​0.037-0.042 W/(m K);
2. After getting wet and drying, the properties of the insulation are completely restored;
3. Material density – 30-65 kg/m3;
4. According to GOST 30244, GOST 30402, DIN 4102, GOST 12.1.044, DSTU B V.2.7-38-95 flammability group - G2 V2, D2, RP-1, which means: moderately flammable, moderately flammable, moderately smoke-generating, with zero spread of flame over the surface;
5. Air permeability 80-120 10-6 m 3 /ms Pa;
6. Vapor permeability of ecowool – 0.3 mg/(mh Pa);
7. Adsorption in 72 hours – 16%;
8. pH – 7.8-8.3.

Advantages and disadvantages of blown ecowool

Blown-in cellulose insulation can be composed of basalt, fiberglass and cellulose. Basalt mineral wool is made from basalt stone, and no formaldehyde is added to it. Glass wool is the result of crushing thermal insulation boards, cellulose insulation is made from waste paper. Fire retardants and antiseptics are added to all types of thermal insulation.

Advantages:

1. Low thermal conductivity and light weight;
2. High moisture resistance and vapor permeability;
3. Fire safety and non-flammability;
4. Long service life;
5. Easy installation.

Flaws:

1. To operate, you will need compressor equipment;
2. On plasterboard surfaces, ecowool should be applied in two layers to avoid swelling of the surface;
3. The need for surface waterproofing;
4. High cost of use for small volumes of insulation.

Ecowool layer calculation

Starting information you will need:

1. Construction material of building walls;
2. Average annual thermal resistance in the region (reference information);
3. How many external doors and windows are there in the house?
4. Additional heat leaks;
5. Thermal insulation material and heat transfer coefficient.

Formula for calculating the degree-day value heating season in the region:

GSOP = (T 1 – T 2) x Z, where:

1. T 1 – optimal temperature in housing (18-22 0 C);
2. T 2 – average annual temperature outside;
3. Z – number of days of the heating season.

After calculating this regional parameter, you can begin to clarify the thickness of the thermal insulation layer on the surfaces of a residential building. will also depend on the building material of the walls, ceiling or floor - for brick, concrete, cinder block or wooden surfaces the results will be different.

How to work with blown wool

Cellulose wool is applied in two ways - wet-adhesive (wet) or dry:

1. “Wet” method - ecowool is sprayed along with an adhesive solution, which consists of glue and a special dispersed additive. The applied layer is cut to the required size and dried. This - visual method, in which you can control the filling of the void with thermal insulation. The wet method is bad because the glue should not freeze, so work is carried out at outside temperature not lower than +5 0 C, and such a layer will dry for at least three days. In addition, when implementing this technology, ventilation must be installed in the room so that excess moisture can be removed. But the result will be of high quality: such thermal insulation does not allow moisture or heat to pass through.
2. “Dry” method: blow-in insulation is sprayed onto a surface previously covered with kraft cardboard in dry form, as it comes in packages. With the help of additional coating it is created limited space, which will contain dry cellulose cotton wool. Kraft cardboard is fastened with a stapler or tape, the cotton is blown out with a compressor, and at home you can use a vacuum cleaner. Just before blowing, the material is loosened with a construction mixer, as shown in the figure:

The physical implementation of blowing insulation is divided into two possibilities:

1. Manual blowing: preliminary loosening of the insulation followed by blowing the insulation onto the surface or into a confined space. Such a layer of thermal insulation will have low heat and noise retention performance, so ecowool should be packed as tightly as possible, and in order to achieve higher performance, this should be done in a small area. Such conditions can only be found in individual construction and renovation of premises - this method is not suitable for large areas;
2. Blowing equipment: the method is applicable for any area and volume; the material is first loosened mechanically. Compressor unit at high speed air flow supplies insulation to the surface or into a confined space, the high pressure in the pipes ensures uniform distribution of ecowool over the entire insulated surface. Advantage: there are no joints or seams, no need to prepare the frame and dismantle it after work compared to the “wet” blowing method.

Blowing compressor equipment has the following device:

1. Mobile platform with a gearbox (to increase the feed rate of loose mineral wool), corrugated air duct large diameter and the engine. The equipment is usually mounted on a car or tractor;
2. Low-precision devices with a low noise figure and minimal dust formation are used as a motor;
3. The insulation is captured through a special gateway, and pushed out through the inlet hose. The supply of cotton wool is dosed by an automated valve;
4. Mechanism for loosening ecowool, loading chamber with funnel, control panel and emergency stop switch.

It’s not difficult to make a mechanism for blowing out loosened cotton wool with your own hands. For this you will need:

1. Garden vacuum cleaner;
2. Plastic tank for pre-loosened insulation;
3. Corrugated hose of the required length, but not less than 8-10 m, Ø 60-70 cm;
4. Electric drill with a construction mixer (you can use a screwdriver or hammer drill), tape;
5. Ecowool.

IN plastic container with a volume of at least 50-100 liters, the cotton wool is loosened with a mixer, then a hose connected to a vacuum cleaner is lowered into the container (ordinary tape is used to seal the connection), the second end of the hose is inserted into the space to be blown to the bottom (if it is a closed space), or the cotton wool is blown in within designated frame. An ordinary two-hundred-liter metal barrel is perfect for loosening insulation. As the space fills (this will be heard by the sound of the vacuum cleaner), the hose is gradually raised. After the thermal insulation is blown in, all spaces and cracks are filled with material without gaps or joints, forming a monolithic heat-protective barrier.

The main advantage that the owner of a private house or cottage receives is the low cost of the process and high speed of installation with high-quality and durable insulation. For example, close flat roof one-story house In this way, you can feast in just 2-3 hours with all the equipment and prepared materials. Working hours, equipment used and installation methods may vary depending on the characteristics of a particular roof and working conditions. Other roll and slab insulation materials, for example, polystyrene foam or mineral wool, for insulating large areas in the private sector are ineffective in comparison with the blown method of applying ecowool.

The invention relates to a foam element with a hydrophilic agent included in the foam material, formed from cellulose, and the foam element with cellulose introduced into it has the ability to reversibly absorb moisture, while the cellulose is formed by the structural type of the crystalline modification of cellulose-II, and the proportion of cellulose from the total mass of the foam material is selected in the range from 0.1 wt.%, in particular 5 wt.%, and up to 10 wt.%, in particular 8.5 wt.% and the moisture content of the foam element, starting from the initial moisture value corresponding to the equilibrium humidity relative to the first external atmosphere with the first temperature and humidity conditions with a given temperature and relative humidity, increases during its use in the second, changed in comparison with the first, external atmosphere with the second temperature and humidity conditions with a higher temperature and /or higher relative humidity, and the moisture absorbed during use by the cellulose-II included in the foam element, after application in the second external atmosphere, is again released into the first external atmosphere after a period of time ranging from 1 hour to 16 hours until a new achievement the initial humidity value corresponding to the equilibrium humidity relative to the first external atmosphere. The technical result is a foam element with improved moisture regulation. 2 n. and 12 salary files, 3 tables, 4 ill.

Drawings for RF patent 2435800

The invention relates to a foam element with a hydrophilic agent included in the foam, which is formed from cellulose, and the foam element with the introduced cellulose has the ability to reversibly absorb moisture, as described in paragraphs 1-3 of the formula.

Foams are currently used or applied in many fields Everyday life. In many of these applications, the foams are in contact with the body, most often separated only by one or more intervening layers of fabric. Most of these foams are composed of synthetic polymers such as polyurethane (PU), polystyrene (PS), synthetic rubber, etc., which generally have insufficient water absorption capacity. In particular, during prolonged contact with the body or during strenuous activity, when sweat is released, due to the high amount of non-absorbed moisture, unpleasant temperature and humidity conditions are created for the body. Therefore, most applications require making such foams hydrophilic.

This, again, can be achieved by the most different ways. One possibility is, as described for example in DE 19930526 A, that the already foam structure of the soft polyurethane foam is made hydrophilic. This is carried out by reacting at least one polyisocyanate with at least one compound containing at least two isocyanate-active compounds, in the presence of sulfonic acids which contain one or more hydroxyl groups and/or salts thereof and/or can be obtained from polyalkylene glycol esters initiated by monohydric alcohols. Such foams are used, for example, as sponges for household or for hygiene products.

A further possibility is described in DE 10116757 A1, where a hydrophilic aliphatic open-cell polymethane foam with an additional layer of its own cellulose fibers containing a hydrogel is used as a storage agent.

From European patent EP 0793681 B1 or German translation DE 69510953 T2 a method for producing soft foams has become known, which uses so-called super-absorbent polymers (SAP), which can also be called hydrogels. In this case, the SAPs used are pre-mixed with a prepolymer, which makes this method very simple for the foam manufacturer. Such SAPs can be selected from SAPs grafted with starches or cellulose, using, for example, acrylonitrile, acrylic acid or acrylamide as the unsaturated monomer. Such SAPs are sold, for example, by Höchst/Cassella under the name SANWET IM7000.

WO 96/31555 A2 describes a foam with a cellular structure, the foam again containing super absorbent polymers (SAP). In this case, the SAP can be formed from a synthetic polymer or also from cellulose. The foam used there is used to absorb moisture or liquids and hold them in the foam structure.

From WO 2007/135069 A1, shoe soles with water-absorbing properties are known. In this case, even before foaming the synthetic material, water-absorbing polymers are added. Such water-absorbing polymers are typically prepared by polymerizing an aqueous monomer solution and optionally subsequent grinding of the hydrogel. The water-absorbing polymer or the dried hydrogel formed from it, after its preparation, is preferably ground and sieved, the sieved, dried hydrogel particles having a size preferably below 1000 μm and preferably above 10 μm being used. In addition, fillers can be added or mixed into the hydrogels before foaming, and here, for example, carbon black, melamine, rosin, as well as cellulose fibers, polyamide, polyacrylonitrile, polyurethane, polyester fibers based on aromatic and/or aliphatic esters of dicarboxylic acids and carbon fibers. In this case, to obtain a foam element, all substances are introduced into the reaction mixture separately from each other.

Foam materials known in the prior art are designed in such a way that they retain and retain moisture absorbed by them for a long time. As follows from WO 2007/135069 A1, the absorbed moisture, or absorbed water, returns completely to its original state, as regards the humidity of the surrounding atmosphere, only after 24 hours.

This rate of release is too slow for normal use, such as mattresses, shoe soles or vehicle seats, which are continuously used for several hours a day and therefore have substantially less than 24 hours of time to release absorbed moisture. In this case, we can talk about the so-called equilibrium humidity, and this is the humidity value at which the foam is in equilibrium with the humidity contained in the surrounding atmosphere.

Therefore, the basis of the present invention is to create a foam element which, in order to improve its moisture control in relation to the rate of moisture release, contains a material which, in addition, is easy to process to produce foam.

This objective of the invention is solved by the distinctive features of claim 1 of the formula. The advantage given by the characteristics of point 1 is that by adding cellulose to the foam structure a sufficiently high ability to absorb moisture or liquid is achieved, but at the same time the absorbed moisture or liquid, after filling as a result of use, is released back into the surrounding atmosphere as quickly as possible, so that Equilibrium humidity is reached again. Thus, thanks to the use of cellulose-II, materials with a fibrous structure are avoided, as a result of which flowability is improved and inter-meshing of fibers is prevented. The duration of the release depends on the purpose of use or purpose of the foam element, and the equilibrium humidity after use, for example as a mattress, is reached again after 16 hours at the latest. In the case of shoe soles or insoles, this duration should be set even shorter. Therefore, a certain amount of cellulose is added as a hydrophilic agent, which is introduced or mixed directly during foam formation into one of the foam-forming components. Thanks to cellulose, not only sufficient storage capacity is achieved, but also the rapid release of absorbed moisture into the environment. Thanks to the added cellulose fraction, it is achieved that the ability to absorb and release moisture of the foam element can be easily adjusted to the most different cases applications.

Regardless of this, the problem of the invention can also be solved by the distinctive features of claim 2 of the formula. The advantage given by the characteristics of point 2 is that by adding cellulose to the foam structure a sufficiently high moisture or liquid absorption capacity is created, however, after filling as a result of use, the absorbed moisture or liquid is released back into the surrounding atmosphere as quickly as possible, so that equilibrium is again achieved humidity. As a result of the special combination of the addition of cellulose-II and the density values ​​achieved, very high vapor or moisture absorption is obtained. Thanks to the high intermediate storage value of moisture or water that is absorbed during use of the foam element, it is possible to guarantee the user a pleasant feeling of dryness during use. Thus, thanks to this, the body does not come into direct contact with moisture.

Regardless of this, the object of the invention can also be achieved by the features of claim 3. The advantage given by the features of claim 3 is that by adding cellulose to the foam structure, a sufficiently high ability to absorb moisture or liquid is created, however, after filling as a result of use the absorbed moisture or liquid is released back into the surrounding atmosphere as quickly as possible, so that equilibrium humidity is again achieved. As a result of the special combination of the addition of cellulose-II and the density values ​​achieved, very high vapor or moisture absorption is obtained.

Thanks to this, it is possible, with good ease of use, to achieve rapid release of moisture absorbed by the foam element. Thus, even after high moisture absorption, reuse is possible already after a relatively short period of time, and it is also possible to have an equally dry foam element available again.

The following embodiment according to claim 4 is also advantageous, since depending on the resulting foam structure of the polystyrene foam, the fiber length can be selected so that optimal moisture transfer can be achieved both for rapid absorption and for rapid release after use.

Further, the improvement according to claim 5 is advantageous, since in this way it is possible to achieve an even finer distribution of cellulose particles inside the foam structure and thereby simply adjust the foam element to the most for different purposes applications.

As a result of the improvement according to claim 6, the flowability of the particles can be improved. Due to the not completely smooth and irregular surface structure, this leads to an increased specific surface area, which contributes to the excellent adsorption properties of the cellulose particles.

According to another embodiment according to claim 7, it is possible to use such particles also in so-called carbon dioxide foaming without clogging the small holes in the nozzle plate.

The improvement according to claim 8 is also advantageous, since a spherical shape is thus avoided and an irregular surface without fibrous fringe or fibrils is created. In this way, dust formations are avoided and a favorable distribution within the foam structure is achieved.

As a result of the improvement according to claim 9, it is possible to enrich the cellulose or combine it with at least one additional additive directly during the production of the cellulose, and thus only one single additive needs to be considered for inclusion in the reaction component.

The improvement according to claim 10 is also advantageous, since in this way a foam element can be obtained which can be used in a wide variety of applications.

According to the improvement described in point 11, an even better transfer of moisture into the foam element is achieved.

Furthermore, the use of a foam element is also advantageous for a wide variety of purposes, since in this way not only can the wearing comfort during use be improved, but the subsequent drying cycle is also carried out significantly faster. This is especially beneficial for a wide variety of seats, mattresses, and also in applications in which moisture is released from the body.

For better understanding The invention will be explained in more detail in the following drawings.

Shown, each time in a simplified form:

Fig. 1 is the first graph, which shows moisture absorption between two given temperature and humidity conditions for different samples with different sampling locations;

Fig. 2 is a second graph that shows the different moisture absorption of conventional foam and foam with introduced cellulose particles;

Fig. 3 is the third graph, which shows the different moisture release of conventional foam and foam with introduced cellulose particles;

FIG. 4 is a bar graph that shows the water vapor absorption of conventional foam and, in comparison, foam with cellulose particles incorporated.

To begin with, it should be noted that in the different embodiments described, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals or the same designations structural elements, and the disclosures contained in the entire description can be transferred in meaning to the same parts with the same positions or the same designations of structural elements. Likewise, indications of the place chosen in the description, such as above, below, on the side, etc., refer to the figure directly described, as well as to the one shown, and should be transferred in meaning to the new place when the place changes. In addition, individual features or combinations of features from the various embodiments shown and described may constitute independent inventive solutions or solutions according to the invention.

All references to a range of values ​​in this specification should be understood to cover any and all sub-ranges of the range, for example, if "1 to 10" is stated, it should be understood that all sub-ranges are covered based on a lower limit of 1 and an upper limit of 10, i.e. .e. all sub-regions starting with a lower bound of 1 or greater and ending with an upper bound of 10 or less, such as 1 to 1.7, or 3.2 to 8.1, or 5.5 to 10.

First, let us dwell in more detail on the hydrophilic agent introduced into the foam, in particular into the foam element formed from it, which is formed, for example, from cellulose. Thus, the foam element is formed from a foam plastic as well as a hydrophilic agent included therein. The foam, for its part, can be formed from a suitable mixture of components capable of foaming with each other, which are preferably in liquid form, as is already well known.

As already written in the introduction, in WO 2007/135069 A1, in addition to water-absorbing polymers, cellulose fibers are added as an additional filler. They should, in certain cases, improve the mechanical properties of the foam. However, it was found here that the addition of fibrous additives complicates the processing of the foamed initial mixture, since its fluidity changes. For example, fibrous cellulose particles that are mixed into, in particular, the polyol component before foaming would make it more viscous, making it difficult or even impossible to mix with other components, namely the isocyanate, in the dosing head of the foam plant. Likewise, it may also become more difficult for the reaction mass to spread as it flows along the foam plant conveyor belt. In addition, fibrous cellulose particles can also be heavily retained as deposits in the reaction mixture supply lines.

Therefore, the addition of fiber additives is possible only within certain limits. The lower the proportion of fiber additives, particularly short lengths of cellulose fibers, the lower also the water absorption capacity when added to the foam. Thus, even with the addition of a small amount of cellulose fiber powder, an increase in viscosity, in particular, of the polyol component, should be expected. True, such mixtures are in principle processed, but during processing the changed viscosity should be taken into account.

As is known, cellulose or threads, fibers or powders produced from it are mostly obtained by processing and grinding lignin or also wood and/or annual plants.

Depending on the production costs powders of varying quality (purity, size, etc.) are obtained. What all these powders have in common is that they have a fibrous structure, since natural cellulose of any order of magnitude has a strong tendency to form such fibrous structures. Also, MCC (microcrystalline cellulose), which is described as spherical, nevertheless consists of fragments of crystalline fibers.

Depending on the microstructure, different structural types of cellulose are distinguished, in particular cellulose-I and cellulose-II. The difference between these two structural types is described in detail in the specialized literature and, in addition, can be established radiographically.

The predominant part of the cellulose powder consists of cellulose-I. Preparation and use of cellulose-I powders is protected a large number legal norms. They also protect, for example, many technical parts of grinding. Cellulose-I powders have a fibrous nature, which is not very favorable for a number of applications or even interferes with them. Thus, fiber powders often lead to fiber interlocking. This is also associated with limited flowability.

Cellulose powders based on cellulose-II are currently virtually unavailable on the market. Such cellulose powders with a similar structure can be obtained either from solution (mainly viscose) or by grinding cellulose-II products. Such a product would be, for example, cellophane. Moreover, such fine powders with a grain size of 10 µm and below are also available only in very small quantities.

The preparation of spherical, non-fibrillar cellulose particles with a size in the range from 1 μm to 400 μm can be achieved, for example, from a solution of underrivatized cellulose in a mixture organic matter and water. In this case, the free-flowing solution is cooled to its solidification temperature and then the solidified cellulose solution is crushed. After this, the solvent is washed out and the crushed washed particles are dried. Further grinding is most often carried out using a mill.

It is especially advantageous if at least some of the additives referred to below are introduced into the prepared cellulose solution before it is cooled and subsequently solidified. This additive may be selected from the group containing pigments, inorganic substances, such as titanium oxides, in particular non-stoichiometric titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, ion exchanger, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, carbon black, zeolites, Activated carbon, polymer superabsorber or fire retardant. In this case, they are present in the cellulose particles produced later. In this case, the addition can be made at any time during the preparation of the solution, but in any case before hardening. In this case, it is possible to introduce from 1 wt.% to 200 wt.% additives, based on the amount of cellulose. It turned out that these additives are not removed when washed out, but remain in the cellulose particles and essentially retain their function. For example, when mixing activated carbon, it can be established that its active surface, which can be measured, for example, by the BET method, is also completely preserved in the finished particles. In addition, as a result of this, not only the additives located on the surface of the cellulose particles, but also those located inside the particles are fully accessible. This should be considered particularly cost-effective, since only a small amount of additives needs to be added to the prepared cellulose solution.

This has the advantage that only cellulose particles with functional additives already contained in them are added to the reaction mixture to obtain the foam element. With the hitherto known separate addition of all additives separately into the reaction mixture, here only the type of additive needs to be taken into account to calculate the foaming parameters. This avoids uncontrolled fluctuations in the properties of many of these different additives.

So, by this procedure it is possible to obtain cellulose powder, which consists of particles having the structure of cellulose-II. The cellulose powder has a particle size range with a lower limit of 1 μm and an upper limit of 400 μm, with an average particle size of ×50 with a lower limit of 4 μm and an upper limit of 250 μm, with a unimodal particle size distribution. Further, the cellulose powder or particles have an approximately spherical shape with a discrete surface, the degree of crystallinity determined according to the Raman method being in the range of a lower limit of 15% and an upper limit of 45%. In addition, the particles have a specific surface area (N 2 adsorption, BET) with a lower limit of 0.2 m 2 /g and an upper limit of 8 m 2 /g with a bulk density with a lower limit of 250 g/l and an upper limit of 750 g/l .

The structure of cellulose-II is achieved by dissolving and reprecipitating cellulose, and the present particles differ in particular from those obtained from cellulose without a dissolution step.

The particle size in the range described above (lower limit of 1 µm and upper limit of 400 µm, particle distribution, which is characterized by the value ×50 with a lower limit of 4 µm, in particular 50 µm, and with an upper limit of 250 µm, in particular 100 µm) is affected by , naturally, the mode of the grinding process is by grinding. However, as a result of the special process for preparing the free-flowing cellulose solution by solidification and the resulting mechanical properties of the hardened cellulose pulp, this particle distribution can be achieved particularly easily. A cellulose solution that solidifies under the influence of shear loads would have different, but in particular fibrillar, characteristics under equal grinding conditions.

The shape of the particles used is approximately spherical. These particles have an axial ratio (1:d) from 1 to 2.5. They have an irregular surface, but no fiber-like fringe or fibrils are visible under the microscope. Thus, we are in no way talking about spheres with a smooth surface. However, for the applications under consideration, such a form would not be particularly favorable.

Also, the bulk density of the cellulose powders described here, which lies between a lower limit of 250 g/l and an upper limit of 750 g/l, is noticeably higher than the density of comparable fibrillar particles of the prior art. This bulk density has significant technological advantages, since it also expresses the compactness of the cellulose powders described here and thus, among other things, better flowability, miscibility in various media and unproblematic storage properties.

To summarize, we emphasize once again that particles obtained from cellulose powder, due to their spherical structure, have improved flowability and exhibit almost no structural-viscous behavior. Due to the spherical shape, characterization of particles using particle sizing devices widely used in the industry is also simpler and more meaningful. The not completely smooth and irregular surface structure leads to an increased specific surface area, which contributes to even better adsorption properties of the powder.

Regardless of this, it would also be possible to mix pure cellulose powder or particles formed therefrom with other cellulose particles, which would additionally contain added additives in an amount with a lower limit of 1 wt.% and with an upper limit of 200 wt.%, based on the amount of cellulose . Some of these additives may again be selected from the group consisting of pigments, inorganic substances such as titanium oxides, in particular substoichiometric titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, ion exchanger, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, activated carbon, polymeric superabsorbent and fire retardant.

Depending on the foaming method used, spherical cellulose particles have proven to be particularly advantageous for producing foam materials, in particular in carbon dioxide foaming, compared to known fibrous cellulose particles. In this case, carbon dioxide foaming can be carried out, for example, using the Novaflex-Cardio method or a similar method, whereby, in particular, small holes in the nozzle plates are used. Large and fibrous particles could immediately clog the injector openings and create other problems. Therefore, it is precisely with this foaming method that the high degree of dispersion of spherical cellulose particles is particularly advantageous.

The foam element according to the invention and the method for producing the foam element will now be explained in more detail using several examples. These should be considered as possible embodiments of the invention, and the invention is in no way limited by the scope of these examples.

The moisture content data in wt.% refers to the mass or weight of the entire foam element (foam, cellulose particles and water or moisture).

Example 1

The resulting foam element can be formed from a foam plastic, such as soft polyurethane foam, where again a wide variety of production possibilities and methods can be used. These foams most often have an open cell foam structure. This can be done, for example, in the Hennecke "QFM" foam production plant, where the foam is created using a dosing method high blood pressure in a continuous process. All necessary components are precisely dosed via a computer-controlled pump and mixed using a stirrer principle. One of these components in the present case is a polyol that has been diluted with the previously described cellulose particles. Due to the addition of cellulose particles to the polyol reaction component, various additional formulation adjustments are required, such as water, catalysts, stabilizers, as well as TDI, to substantially neutralize the effect of the added cellulose powder on the production and subsequent gains achieved. physical quantities.

One foam possible according to the invention was obtained with 7.5 wt.% spherical cellulose particles. To do this, a spherical cellulose powder was first obtained, which was later added to one of the reaction components to produce foam. In this case, the quantitative proportion of cellulose based on the total weight of the foam material, in particular polystyrene foam, can lie in a range with a lower limit of 0.1 wt.%, in particular 5 wt.%, and an upper limit of 10 wt.%, in particular 8.5 weight.%.

Example 2 (comparative example)

For comparison with Example 1, this time a foam member was produced from the foam plastic, which was obtained without adding cellulose powder or cellulose particles. Moreover, it can be standard foam, HR foam or viscose foam, each of which was obtained according to a known recipe and foamed.

First, we tried to determine whether the added cellulose particles were evenly distributed in height in all layers of the resulting foam element. This was carried out in such a way that, through water absorption by the foam under normal conditions (20°C and 55% r.h.), as well as under other standardized temperature and humidity conditions (23°C and 93% r.h.), the so-called equilibrium humidity was measured . To do this, samples of the same size were taken from three different heights of the foam block obtained in example 1, as well as in example 2, and water absorption was measured at each in both previously described standardized temperature and humidity conditions. In this case, 1.0 m means upper layer foam block, 0.5 m - middle layer and 0.0 m - bottom layer of foam for sampling foam with added cellulose particles. The total height of the block was about 1 m. The cellulose-free foam from Example 2 served as a comparison.

As can be seen from the given numerical values, foam combined with cellulose particles, both under normal conditions and under other standardized temperature and humidity conditions with equilibrium body humidity, absorbs significantly more moisture compared to foam materials that do not contain cellulose. Different sampling locations (top, middle, bottom) also show relatively good agreement between the measurement results, from which it can be concluded that the cellulose particles are evenly distributed in the resulting foam element.

The following Table 2 shows the mechanical properties of both foams according to Example 1 and Example 2. It is easy to see that the type of foam with included cellulose particles has comparable mechanical properties to the foam without the addition of cellulose particles. This indicates the problem-free technological properties of the reaction components, in particular when spherical cellulose particles are added to them.

table 2
	Foam type
	A	A	B	B
Powder proportion(cellulose particles)	0%	10%	0%	7,50%
Volume weight	33.0 kg/m 3	33.3 kg/m 3	38.5 kg/m 3	43.8 kg/m 3
Compressive stress 40%	3.5 kPa	2.3 kPa	2.7 kPa	3.0 kPa
Elasticity	48%	36%	55%	50%
Tensile strength	140 kPa	100 kPa	115 kPa	106 kPa
Elongation	190%	160%	220%	190%
	6%	50%	6%	9%

The foam element without added cellulose particles shall have the following ratings for both specified foam types:

	Foam type
	A		B
Volume weight	33.0 kg/m 3		38.5 kg/m 3
Compressive stress 40%	3.4 kPa		2.7 kPa
Elasticity	>44%		>45%
Tensile strength	>100 kPa		>100 kPa
Elongation	>150%		>150%
Wet compression set (22h/70% pressure/50°C/95% RH)	<15%		<15%

The average volumetric weight or density of the entire foam element lies in the range with a lower limit of 30 kg/m³ and an upper limit of 45 kg/m³.

Figure 1 shows the moisture content of the foam (in percent) for samples of the same type, but taken from different sampling locations from the whole foam element, as previously described. In this case, the foam moisture content in [%] is plotted along the ordinate. The proportion of cellulose powder or cellulose particles added is 10% by weight in this example, and the cellulose particles are again the spherical cellulose particles described above. These individual different samplings with and without addition are plotted along the abscissa.

The foam moisture measurement points of individual samples shown as circles represent the original values, and the measurement points shown as squares are the same samples, but one day after moisture absorption. The lower initial values ​​are determined at the reference conditions described above, and the other values ​​plotted represent the moisture absorption of the same samples after 24 hours under different standardized temperature and humidity conditions (23°C and 93% RH). Reduction rel. ow. means relative air humidity, which is indicated in %.

Figure 2 shows the change in moisture absorption over 48 hours, with the time values ​​(t) plotted along the abscissa in [h]. In this case, the initial state of the samples again corresponds to the normal conditions defined above with 20°C and 55% rel. ow. Other standardized temperature and humidity conditions with 23°C and 93% rel. ow. should indicate the conditions during use, or body climate, so that in this way the time period for increasing the moisture content of the foam in wt.% can be set. Foam moisture values ​​are plotted along the ordinate in [%].

Thus, the first line 1 on the graph with the measurement points shown in circles shows a foam element with a given sample size according to example 2 without the addition of cellulose particles or cellulose powder.

The second line 2 on the graph with the measurement points depicted in squares shows the moisture content of the foam of the element to which 7.5 wt.% cellulose particles or cellulose powder has been added. By cellulose particles we again mean the spherical cellulose particles described above.

The course of moisture absorption over 48 hours shows that the equilibrium body moisture of the “foam” under the conditions of the “body climate” is achieved within a short time. Thus, from this it can be understood that the foam with introduced cellulose particles within 3 hours can absorb twice as much moisture as the foam according to example 2 without the addition of cellulose particles.

The measured moisture absorption values ​​were obtained by storing approximately 10 cm³ of foam samples in a humidity-controlled desiccator (supersaturated KNO 3 solution and 93% RH) after the samples had been dried. At certain intervals, individual samples were removed from the desiccator and weight gain (=water absorption) was measured. Fluctuations in moisture absorption are explained by manipulation of the samples, as well as slight heterogeneity of the samples.

FIG. 3 shows the drying characteristics of a foam element with incorporated cellulose particles according to Example 1 compared to the foam of Example 2 without such cellulose particles. For comparison, both samples were first kept in "body climate" conditions for 24 hours. This again means 23°C and 93% relative humidity. The foam moisture values ​​are again plotted along the ordinate in [%], and the time (t) in [min] is plotted along the abscissa. Foam moisture percentages given are weight percentages based on the mass or weight of the entire foam element (foam, cellulose particles and water or moisture).

The measurement points shown by the circles again refer to the foam element according to example 2 without the addition of cellulose particles, and the corresponding line 3 showing the moisture release has been plotted on the graph. The measurement points, which are shown by squares, were obtained on a foam element with injected cellulose particles. The corresponding next line 4 on the graph also shows the rapid release of moisture. The proportion of cellulose particles was again 7.5 wt%.

Here it is clear that the equilibrium humidity of 2% is again reached after about 10 minutes. This is significantly faster than prior art foam, which releases comparable amounts of water over several hours.

If now the foam element with included cellulose particles from the crystalline modification of cellulose-II is kept for 24 hours in “body climate” conditions and then brought to “normal conditions”, then under “body climate” conditions it first absorbs moisture of more than 5 wt.%, and within a period of 2 minutes after returning to "normal conditions" the moisture content is reduced by at least two (2) wt.%.

Figure 4 shows a histogram of water vapor absorption "Fi" according to Hohenstein, expressed in [g/m 2 ], these values ​​being plotted along the ordinate.

The time it takes for water vapor to be absorbed during the transition from the normal conditions defined above (20°C and 55% r.h.) to the standardized temperature and humidity conditions also described above (23°C and 93% r.h.) (conditions application or body climate), for both defined measured values ​​was 3 (three) hours. By test samples we always mean the previously described type “B” foam. Thus, the first bar 5 on the histogram shows foam type "B" without the addition of cellulose or cellulose particles. The measured value here is approximately 4.8 g/m 2 . The cellulose-incorporated foam sample, on the other hand, has a higher value of approximately 10.4 g/m2, which is represented in the histogram by another bar 6. Thus, this other value is higher than the Hohenstein value of 5 g/m2.

The foam element is formed from polystyrene foam, with polyurethane foam being the preferred foam material. As explained above in the separate graphs, to determine moisture absorption, we start from the so-called equilibrium humidity, which shows “normal conditions” and has a relative humidity of 55% at 20°C. To simulate use, other standardized temperature and humidity conditions were defined, which have a relative humidity of 93% at 23°C. These other standardized temperature and humidity conditions should, for example, illustrate the introduction of moisture during use due to the secretion of sweat by the body of a living organism, in particular a person. To achieve this, the cellulose included in the foam element must, after use, again release the moisture absorbed during use within a time range with a lower limit of 1 hour and an upper limit of 16 hours, and thus the entire foam element must assume an equilibrium humidity relative to the surrounding atmosphere. This means that after use, the cellulose very quickly releases the moisture stored in it into the surrounding atmosphere and thereby causes the foam element to dry out.

As mentioned in the introduction, moisture equilibrium is said to occur when the foam element is exposed to the above-described external atmospheric conditions for such a long time until the moisture content of the element (foam moisture) comes into equilibrium with the humidity contained in the external atmosphere. Once equilibrium moisture is reached, there is no more mutual exchange of moisture between the foam element and the external atmosphere surrounding the element.

Thus, the above-described test method can be carried out, for example, so that the foam element is maintained in a first external atmosphere with a first temperature-humidity condition with a predetermined temperature and relative humidity, for example 20°C and 55% RH. vl., until equilibrium humidity is reached with this external atmosphere, and then the same foamed element is introduced into the second, changed in comparison with the first, or into another external atmosphere. This second external atmosphere has a second temperature and humidity conditions with a higher temperature and/or a higher relative air humidity than the first conditions, such as 23°C and 93% RH. ow. At the same time, the moisture content of the foam increases, and the moisture is absorbed by the cellulose in the foam. Then the same foam element is again introduced into the first external atmosphere, and then after a predetermined period of time, from 1 hour to 16 hours, the initial value of the foam moisture content, corresponding to the equilibrium humidity relative to the first external atmosphere, is again achieved. Thus, during this period of time, the moisture previously absorbed in the second external atmosphere is again released by the cellulose into the external atmosphere, and thereby the humidity decreases.

The lower value of 1 hour given here depends on the amount of liquid or moisture absorbed and can also lie significantly lower and also amount to only a few minutes.

Regardless of the above-described spherical cellulose particles, it is also possible for the cellulose to be formed in the form of fiber pieces with a fiber length having a lower limit of 0.1 mm and an upper limit of 5 mm. Likewise, it would also be possible for the cellulose to be formed in the form of crushed fibers with a particle size having a lower limit of 50 μm and an upper limit of 0.5 mm.

The resulting foam has different foam characteristics depending on the application, with very different physical properties.

The stress at 40% compression may have a lower limit of 1.0 kPa and an upper limit of 10.0 kPa. Elasticity in the falling ball test can have a lower limit of 5% and an upper limit of 70%. This test method is carried out in accordance with EN ISO 8307 and establishes the return height and the associated rebound elasticity.

If the resulting foam element refers to polyurethane foam, in particular soft foam, it can be produced from either TDI or MDI. But other foam materials can also be used, such as polyethylene foam, polystyrene foam, polycarbonate foam, PVC foam, polyimide foam, foam silicone, foamed PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), foam rubber, which form a foam skeleton into which cellulose can be introduced. In this case, depending on the chosen foam material, we can talk about polystyrene foam or foam rubber, such as latex foam rubber. In this case, high moisture absorption is obtained regardless of the initial system, as well as the method by which the foam is obtained, since the ability to reversibly absorb moisture is achieved by introducing or incorporating cellulose. Preferably, open-cell foam types are used that allow unimpeded air exchange with the outside atmosphere. Equally, a uniform distribution of the cellulose added to the foam structure is essential, as has already been described in previous experiments. If no open-cell foam structure can exist, it can be created by known targeted additional processing.

If the starting material uses a polyol as one of the reaction components, then cellulose can be added to it before foaming. This addition can be accomplished by mixing or dispersing the cellulose by methods known in the art. Alcohols act as polyols, which are necessary for the corresponding type of foam material and which are introduced into the formulation in the required quantity. However, when formulating the formulation, the moisture content of the cellulose particles should also be taken into account.

The foam element can be used to create individual synthetic products, the synthetic products being selected from the group including mattresses, upholstery and pillows.

The embodiment examples show possible embodiments of a foam element with a hydrophilic agent included in the foam, which is formed from cellulose, and at this point it should be noted that the invention is not limited to these particular embodiments shown, but, on the contrary, various combinations of individual embodiments with each other are also possible other, and these possibilities of change based on instructions for technological actions by means of the present invention lie within the knowledge of specialists engaged in this technical field. Thus, all conceivable embodiments that are possible as a result of the combination of individual details of the illustrated and described embodiments fall within the scope of protection.

The problem underlying independent inventive solutions can be taken from the description.

List of link items

CLAIM

1. A foam element with a hydrophilic agent formed from cellulose included in the foam material, wherein the foam element with cellulose introduced into it has the ability to reversibly absorb moisture, characterized in that cellulose is formed by the structural type of crystalline modification of cellulose-II, and the proportion of cellulose from the total mass of the foam material selected in the range from 0.1 wt.%, in particular 5 wt.%, and up to 10 wt.%, in particular 8.5 wt.%, and the moisture content of the foam element, starting from the initial moisture value corresponding to the equilibrium moisture content relative to the first external atmosphere with the first temperature and humidity conditions with a given temperature and relative humidity, increases during its use in the second, changed compared to the first, external atmosphere with the second temperature and humidity conditions with a higher temperature than the first conditions and/or higher relative humidity, and the moisture absorbed during use by the cellulose-II included in the foam element, after application in the second external atmosphere, is again released into the first external atmosphere after a period of time ranging from 1 hour to 16 hours until the new achieving the initial humidity value corresponding to the equilibrium humidity relative to the first external atmosphere.

2. Foam element according to claim 1, characterized in that the foam element has a density from 30 kg/m 3 to 45 kg/m 3 and water vapor absorption - Hohenstein Fi index - more than 5 g/m 2 .

3. The foam element according to claim 1, characterized in that the foam element has a volumetric weight of from 30 kg/m 3 to 45 kg/m 3 , and a moisture content in the foam element that is greater than 5%, based on the second external atmosphere with the second temperature and climate conditions, after exposure to the first external atmosphere with the first temperature and climate conditions (20°C and relative humidity 55%) for 2 minutes is reduced by at least 2%.

4. Foamed element according to one of the previous paragraphs, characterized in that cellulose-II is in the form of fiber segments with a fiber length from 0.1 mm to 5 mm.

5. Foamed element according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that cellulose-II is in the form of crushed fibers with a particle size from 50 microns to 0.5 mm.

6. The foam element according to claim 1, characterized in that cellulose-II is formed by approximately spherical cellulose particles with a discrete surface.

7. The foam element according to claim 2, characterized in that cellulose-II is formed by approximately spherical cellulose particles with a discrete surface.

8. The foam element according to claim 3, characterized in that cellulose-II is formed by approximately spherical cellulose particles with a discrete surface.

9. Foam element according to one of claims 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that the approximately spherical cellulose particles have a size of from 1 μm to 400 μm.

10. Foam element according to one of claims 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that the approximately spherical cellulose particles have an axial ratio (1:d) of 1 to 2.5.

11. Foam element according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the cellulose additionally contains at least one of the additives from the group containing pigments, inorganic substances such as titanium oxide, non-stoichiometric titanium oxide, barium sulfate, ion exchanger, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, carbon black, zeolites, activated carbon, polymer superabsorber or fire retardant.

12. Foam element according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the foam material is selected from the group of polyurethane foam (PU foam), polyethylene foam, polystyrene foam, polycarbonate foam, PVC foam, polyimide foam, foam silicone, foamed PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), foam rubber.

13. Foam element according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the foam material has an open-cell foam structure.

14. Use of a foam element according to one of claims 1 to 13 for the formation of synthetic products, wherein the synthetic products are selected from the group containing mattresses, furniture upholstery, pillows.

, C08G ; paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishing compounds, adhesives C09; lubricants C10M; detergents C11D ; chemical fibers or threads D01F; textile treatment agents D06) (11976)

C08L1/02 Cellulose or modified cellulose (61)

The invention relates to a method for the production of microfibrillated cellulose, which includes the stages of: (a) preparing a suspension containing a cellulose derivative selected from carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), TEMPO-oxidized cellulose or microcrystalline cellulose, in a liquid phase, which includes an organic solvent, while the organic solvent is an alcohol, (b) mechanically treating the cellulose derivative suspension by homogenization or fluidization to produce microfibrillated cellulose, and (c) separating at least a portion of the liquid phase from the microfibrillated cellulose to produce microfibrillated cellulose with a solids content of >30% by weight.

The invention relates to methods for producing cellulose-based polymer materials by grafting monomers under the influence of ionizing radiation and can be used in the manufacture of packaging materials, dyed synthetic and semi-synthetic textile materials.

The invention relates to methods for producing compositions in the form of gels containing nano-sized cellulose, and can be used in the pulp and paper, textile, chemical, and food industries.

The invention relates to surface sizing of cellulose products such as paper, and in particular to a core-shell polymer particle for surface sizing of cellulose products, in which the core polymer and shell polymer of the core-shell polymer particle are polymerized from monomers selected of tert-butyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate and acrylonitrile, the core-shell polymer particle contains at least 40 wt.

An oral product is described that includes a body that can be completely placed in the oral cavity. The body includes an extruded and oral stable polymer matrix, cellulose fibers included in the oral stable polymer matrix, an additive, in particular containing nicotine or a derivative thereof, dispersed in the oral stable polymer matrix.

The invention relates to the field of composite polymer materials based on cellulose and polyesters and can be used for the production of biodegradable composites used in medicine, for the production of packaging products, containers, as well as in space, aviation and many other industries.

The invention can be used in the pulp and paper industry. The aggregated filler composition contains filler particles of ground calcium carbonate, a pre-treatment agent selected from polyvinylamine and cationic polyacrylamide or a mixture thereof, and nanofibrillar cellulose.

The invention relates to the field of permanently processed molded products from cellulose, in particular molded lyocell products - fibers, threads, directly molded nonwovens, films or foams, which have fire retardant properties.

The invention relates to a method for producing dehydrated microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), in which i) an aqueous suspension of MFC is obtained, ii) if necessary, said MFC suspension is dewatered by mechanical means to obtain a partially dehydrated MFC suspension, and iii) the MFC suspension is subjected to or partially dehydrated the MFC slurry and one or more drying steps by contacting the MFC slurry or the partially dehydrated MFC slurry with one or more absorbent materials containing a superabsorbent polymer to produce dehydrated MFC.

The invention discloses an emulsion coagulant and a kit for repairing a tire puncture. The coagulant contains magnesium oxide, a silane coupling agent and at least one component selected from the group consisting of cellulose and magnesium hydroxide.

The invention relates to the rubber industry and can be used to obtain elastomeric compositions in the production of rubber seals for sealing structures operating in conditions of periodic or constant humidity, as well as to pulp and paper production for the disposal of cellulose waste.

A material is proposed for the cultivation or delivery of eukaryotic cells. The material contains plant-derived mechanically disintegrated cellulose nanofibers and/or their derivatives in the form of a hydrogel or membrane in a wet state.

New adhesive mixtures are described and claimed to achieve improved sizing along with other advantages.

The invention relates to a method for producing a dispersion consisting of microfibrillated cellulose and nanoparticles, which includes obtaining a suspension consisting of pre-treated cellulose fibers, where the cellulose fibers have been pre-treated by mechanical treatment, enzymatic treatment, carboxymethylation, TEMPO oxidation, CMC grafting, chemical swelling or hydrolysis by acids, introducing nanoparticles into a suspension and treating the suspension by mechanical destruction in such a way that a dispersion containing microfibrillated cellulose is formed, in which the nanoparticles are absorbed on the surface of the microfibrillated cellulose and/or absorbed within the microfibrillated cellulose.

The present invention relates to durable nanopaper. Described is a nanopaper comprising clay and MFC microfibrillated cellulose, wherein the clay is a silicate with a layered or lamellar structure, and wherein the MFC nanofibers and layered clay are oriented substantially parallel to the surface of the paper, wherein the nanopaper further includes a water-soluble crosslinking agent that is positively charged when placed in an aqueous solution, and which is chitosan, and the clay includes particles in the nanometer size range, with the length of MFC nanofibers being 5-20 μm, and the transverse size of MFC nanofibers being 10-30 nm.

The invention relates to the field of biotechnology. A composition is proposed for obtaining a product selected from the group consisting of alcohols, organic acids, sugars, hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof.

The invention relates to the field of production of sorption-active materials used in the separation and purification of gas and steam mixtures of various natures, for cleaning the surface of water from oil and petroleum products, as well as for purifying wastewater from protein toxicants.

The invention relates to an epoxy composition for the production of high-strength, heat-resistant materials that can be used in various industries. The hot-curing epoxy composition includes an epoxy diane oligomer of the ED-20 brand (100 parts by weight), an anhydride type hardener (80 parts by weight). ), as a modifying additive it additionally contains polysaccharide derivatives (1.0-10.0 parts by weight).

The invention relates to compositions for increasing the viscosity of aqueous media. The composition contains a mixture of at least one cationic or cationizable polymer and at least one anionic or anionizable polymer.