# US 2009/0260746 A1 · Process for making fibrous structures comprising a polymer structure

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2009/0260746 A1
- Document ID: US20090260746A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/490,517
- Filed: 2009-06-24
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2005-06-03
- Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Inventors: Linda Evers Smith; David William Cabell; Larry Neil Mackey; Gregory Charles Gordon; Paul Dennis Trokhan; Tedi-Lea Anne DeBruler
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260746A1

## CPC

- D04H 3/005: Synthetic yarns or filaments (D04H3/013 takes precedence)
- B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)}
- D01F 6/14: from polymers of unsaturated alcohols, e.g. polyvinyl alcohol, or of their acetals or ketals
- D01F 6/50: of polyalcohols, polyacetals or polyketals
- D01F 6/88: from mixtures of polycondensation products as major constituent with other polymers or low-molecular-weight compounds
- D01F 9/00: Artificial filaments or the like of other substances; Manufacture thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture of carbon filaments
- D04H 1/4309: Polyvinyl alcohol
- D04H 1/4326: Condensation or reaction polymers
- D04H 1/545: Polyvinyl alcohol
- D04H 1/551: Resins thereof not provided for in groups D04H1/544 - D04H1/55
- D04H 3/007: Addition polymers
- D04H 3/009: Condensation or reaction polymers
- D04H 3/013: Regenerated cellulose series
- D04H 3/03: at random
- D04H 3/14: with bonds between thermoplastic yarns or filaments produced by welding
- D04H 3/16: with bonds between thermoplastic filaments produced in association with filament formation, e.g. immediately following extrusion
- D04H 13/002: {characterised by the disposition or nature of their elements}
- D04H 13/007: {strengthened or consolidated by welding together the various components}
- B32B 2555/00: Personal care
- Y10T 428/24479: including variation in thickness
- Y10T 428/24942: including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
- Y10T 428/249921: Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component
- Y10T 428/29: Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand, strand portion, rod, filament, macroscopic fiber or mass thereof
- Y10T 428/2913: Rod, strand, filament or fiber
- Y10T 442/2525: Coating or impregnation functions biologically [e.g., insect repellent, antiseptic, insecticide, bactericide, etc.]
- D04H: MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL (weaving D03; knitting D04B; braiding D04C; net-making D04G; sewing D05B; tufting D05C; finishing non-woven fabrics D06); FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING {; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION}(non-woven fabrics having an intermediate or external layer of a different kind, e.g. of woven fabric, B32B)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- D01F: CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Polymer structures and methods for making such polymer structures are provided. More particularly, polymer structures comprising a hydroxyl polymer structure, such as a fiber comprising a hydroxyl polymer are provided. Even more particularly, fibrous structures comprising a hydroxyl polymer structure, such as a fiber comprising a hydroxyl polymer, wherein the fibrous structure exhibits a CETM Factor of less than 20 and/or a CETM*L2 Factor of less than 950 are provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for making a fibrous structure comprising a hydroxyl polymer structure, wherein the fibrous structure exhibits a CETM*L2 Factor of less than 950, the process comprising the steps of:
a. producing a hydroxyl polymer structure in the form of a fiber;
b. forming a fibrous structure comprising the hydroxyl polymer fiber;
c. subjecting the fibrous structure to a thermal bonding operation such that the fibrous structure exhibiting a CETM*L2 Factor of less than 950 is formed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1 wherein the hydroxyl polymer structure is produced by polymer processing a polymer composition comprising at least two different classes of hydroxyl polymers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The process according to claim 2 wherein one of the at least two different classes of hydroxyl polymers comprises a thermoplasticizable hydroxyl polymer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The process according to claim 3 wherein the thermoplasticizable hydroxyl polymer comprises a polysaccharide hydroxyl polymer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The process according to claim 4 wherein the polysaccharide hydroxyl polymer comprises a starch hydroxyl polymer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The process according to claim 2 wherein one of the at least two different class of hydroxyl polymers comprises an inherently thermoplastic hydroxyl polymer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The process according to claim 6 wherein the inherently thermoplastic hydroxyl polymer comprises a polyvinyl alcohol hydroxyl polymer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1 wherein the process further comprises a step of subjecting the fibrous structure to a hyperbaric deflection process.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The process according to claim 2 wherein the step of subjecting the fibrous structure to a thermal bonding operation comprises imparting to the fibrous structure a temperature that is above the Tg of at least one of the hydroxyl polymers making up the hydroxyl polymer fiber.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The process according to claim 9 wherein the temperature is at least about 70° C.