Wiping product and method for making same
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsJoseph K. Baker, Timothy W. Reader
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wet laid and hydraulically entangled nonwoven material made from cellulosic fibers and synthetic staple fibers is disclosed. The cellulosic fibers are mixed with the synthetic fibers and formed into a web using a wet lay process. The web is then subjected to multiple hydroentangling processes. In one embodiment, the web is subjected to a first hydroentangling process while being conveyed in a horizontal position. The web is then fed over subsequent hydroentangling drums. Each side of the web is subjected to at least one more hydroentangling process.
Claims15
A method for producing a wiping product comprising:
- forming a nonwoven web from an aqueous suspension of fibers, the aqueous suspension of fibers comprising cellulosic fibers combined with synthetic staple fibers, the synthetic staple fibers comprising a thermoplastic polymer;
- while the nonwoven web is still in a wet state, the nonwoven web containing about 90% of water by weight such that the cellulosic fibers are maintained in a hydrated state, hydraulically entangling the web on a horizontal surface, the web formed from the aqueous suspension of fibers to form a hydroentangled web having a first side and a second side;
- further hydraulically entangling the hydroentangled web by applying hydraulic energy to the first side of the web, wherein the hydraulic energy is applied via a first hydraulic entangling manifold to the first side of the web while the web is rotated on a first drum, the first hydraulic entangling manifold positioned over the first drum;
- further hydraulically entangling the hydroentangled web by applying hydraulic energy to the second side of the web, wherein the hydraulic energy is applied via a second hydraulic entangling manifold to the second side of the web while the web is rotated on a second drum, the second hydraulic entangling manifold positioned opposite the second drum;
- and
- through-air drying the web to form a wiping product, the dried web containing the cellulosic fibers in an amount from about 60% to about 80% by weight, the dried web having a bulk of from about 3 cc/g to about 20 cc/g and having a grab tensile strength in the machine direction of from 15 lbs. to 27 lbs. and having a grab tensile strength in the cross-machine direction of from about 10 lbs. to about 19 lbs., wherein the wiping product does not contain any continuous filaments.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.