Patent Application
20090301347
The present invention relates to a composition based on vegetal products coming from industrial residuals of fruit processing, particularly apples, the use of said composition, the processing procedure and the products thus obtained, according to the identifying section of claim 1.
Compositions of this type based on vegetal polysaccharides used as binders are known for example from the Romanian patent application RO 118022. Compositions of this type are envisaged for being used in the food and pharmaceutical industry, for manufacturing leather products, for binding books, etc. . . . . However, a composition of this type contains components that are expensive in terms of preparation and that must be accurately checked in order to respect the proprieties of the binder itself.
Various methods are known for obtaining sheet products similar in appearance to natural leather using various materials and blends of the latter, of different structures.
The imitation leather obtained is hence a composition of various substances often also with a support structure that makes the product itself stable.
The methods of the known type are hence very complicated, they require composite materials and are very expensive.
The object of the present invention is therefore to avoid an expensive production based also on components especially prepared to obtain a vegetal paste that does not represent any risk for the environment.
The object is achieved thanks to a composition based on vegetal products coming from industrial residuals of fruit processing, particularly apples, and thanks to its use as a paste presenting the characteristics of the identifying section of claim 1.
A further object of the present invention is to simplify a method for obtaining imitation leather and for proposing an imitation leather of simple composition.
This further object is achieved according a method for producing imitation leather as in the identifying section of the main claims on the method and the imitation leather.
The imitation leather thus obtained, despite being a perfectly machinable product, is subject to possible enhancements in terms of softness and colouring.
Therefore, acid and chemical dyes have been tested, leading to completely negative results.
A further object of the present invention is therefore to make a more machinable vegetal imitation leather and to propose a more appropriate dye to vegetal imitation leather.
This object is achieved by means of a procedure for producing vegetal imitation leather, with synthesis of various colours of vegetal-food origin as in the identifying section of claim 1.
The invention represents a new era in the field of things and adhesives. In fact, the new adhesive developed is produced with vegetal products, dried apple flour, coming from industrial residuals of apple processing and 95%-biodegradable paste.
The mixture obtained consists of a minimum part of natural paste (5-10-15%) and the remaining part exclusively of apple flour, bran flour, flour of nutshell residuals, potato peel flours and of all the vegetal residuals coming from industrial and agricultural processing. The percentage of paste depends on the use of the additive produced and used in various sectors:
The blend of these two components: 0-1000 micron ground apple flour, containing 72% of natural fibres, fructose and pectin, along with a vegetal binder consisting of various starches and vegetal molecules, create a new product unique in its kind.
High tensile strength between wood-wood, iron-iron and other industrial products.
The tests carried out and certified by IMAL National on the binders are as follows:
The average tensile strength between the various industrial components is 4N/mm2.
Tests carried out after modifying the granulometry of the apple product have proven that the adhesive varies and modifies its tensile strength. The adhesive produced, which is unique in its kind, is: odourless; easily machinable, cold and heat resistant and it stiffens in contact with air.
The residual can be cleaned with both hot and cold water.
With respect to the toxic and vinyl conventional adhesives currently on the international market, the new product presents the following advantages:
Research performed by TIS in Bolzano have proven that the wet-based product having an energy value of 0.6 [kWh/kg] when dried has an energy value of 2.7 [kWh/kg].
The multiple possible variables of this vegetal adhesive have, however, a unique irreplaceable base of 100 vegetal residuals.
Examples of application of the tensile strength
2) Gluing on Wood
Using a substance made of dried fruit as a base material, it can be ground to a size suitable for being subjected to pressing between two surfaces adapted to obtaining a laminate material which can be used as imitation leather.
In order to perform the various phases of grinding, collection and distribution of the ground material, devices and systems known in the art can be used, such as for example belts conveying the ground and blended material at a pressure of 50 to 100 bar.
As base material for imitation leather, as previously said, vegetal materials are preferably used. A binder can be added to these depending on the desired proprieties of the imitation leather, such as for example its flexibility and feel.
In a preferred embodiment glucose, which is present in the substance of apples and other vegetals, is used.
The procedure according to the invention is essentially articulated in the following phases:
reducing several components of vegetal origin.
blending the components as a unit.
adding the blended components to apple flour originating from fruit processing waste, particularly fruit juice, and ground through a mill from 0 to 1000 micron.
Composition of the blend: apple flour, apple-based vegetal adhesive, food colouring, such as red-green-white-blue-yellow or composed colour syntheses.
mixing by means of a mixer, for example an electric one ranging from 40 to 100 rpm, required for the composition of all the vegetal components.
amalgamating at a room temperature of 40° C.
preparing to press the product made into a cylindrical shape, composition of 99.9% of apple flour mixture and 1/1000 of vegetal colour.
Pressing from 80 to 150 atm.
Thickness from 0.5 mm to 10 mm.
After various experiments performed with the synthesis of these vegetal components, the product structure has been modified improving the coloured leather product and making it softer and more elastic.
The colouring is performed dry without any liquids.
As is clear from the above, it is possible to deduce that the various tests performed cannot explain some of the experimental data and that they are not sufficient to accurately interpret all the improvements made to the product, such as for example the specific weight reduced by 75%.
Further characteristics and embodiments will be clear from the claims and the following description of a possible use with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which
As shown in
In
The parts to be glued can be of any material, such as for example wood, iron, etc.
As shown in
In an embodiment a press 27 (
It is understood that any device of the prior art can be used in order to laminate the apple-based material.
C=M*Fμm2=Vegetal leather
C=M/Fμkg=Vegetal paste
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| BZ2006A000034 | Jul 2006 | IT | national |
| BZ2006A000038 | Aug 2006 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2007/002138 | 7/26/2007 | WO | 00 | 6/25/2009 |
