# US 2019/0376235 A1 · Treated fibers and fibrous structures comprising the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0376235 A1 - Document ID: US20190376235A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/070,640 - Filed: 2018-01-16 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-26 - Assignees: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Applicants: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Inventors: Jian Qin; Youquan Su; Liyi Shi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190376235A1 ## CPC - D21H 11/20: Chemically or biochemically modified fibres - D21H 21/22: Agents rendering paper porous, absorbent or bulky - D21C 9/004: {inorganic compounds} - D21C 9/005: {organic compounds} - D21C 9/18: De-watering (de-watering in general F26B); {Elimination of cooking or pulp-treating liquors from the pulp}(D21C9/002, D21C9/02 take precedence; paper-making machines D21F; strainers in digesters D21C7/00; presses in general B30B) - D21H 17/59: obtained by reactions forming in the main chain of the macromolecule a linkage containing silicon - D21H 17/63: Inorganic compounds - D21H 17/67: Water-insoluble compounds, e.g. fillers, pigments - D21H 17/68: siliceous, e.g. clays - D21H 17/70: forming new compounds in situ, e.g. within the pulp or paper, by chemical reaction with other substances added separately - D21H 27/002: {Tissue paper; Absorbent paper (D21H21/22, D21H27/02, D21H27/20 take precedence; toilet paper A47K10/00; absorbent pads for physiological fluids A61L15/16; making on paper-making machines D21F11/00)} - D21H 27/005: {relating to physical or mechanical properties, e.g. tensile strength, stretch, softness} - D21H 27/30: Multi-ply (for surface covering D21H27/18; making on paper-making machines D21F9/00, D21F11/00) - D21H 27/34: Continuous materials, e.g. filaments, sheets, nets - D21H 27/40: at least one of the sheets being non-planar, e.g. crêped (crêping or corrugating paper B31F) - D21H: PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - D21C: PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE BY REMOVING NON-CELLULOSE SUBSTANCES FROM CELLULOSE-CONTAINING MATERIALS; REGENERATION OF PULPING LIQUORS; APPARATUS THEREFOR ## Abstract The present invention provides a treated fiber having reduced hydrogen bonding capabilities, which may be useful in the production of tissue products having improved bulk and softness. The treated fiber comprises a water-insoluble inorganic compound that is generated in situ by reacting at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a silicate, a silyl, a silane, and an alkaline metal and a precipitation agent in the presence of the fiber at or above the critical fiber consistency. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of increasing the bulk of a tissue web comprising the steps of: a. dispersing a first fiber in an aqueous solvent to form a fiber slurry, b. adding a first reagent selected from the group consisting of a silicate, a silyl, a silane, and an alkaline metal to the first fiber slurry, c. partially dewatering the first fiber slurry to a consistency equal to, or greater than, about 15 percent to form a partially dewatered fiber slurry, d. adding a precipitation agent to the partially dewatered first fiber slurry to form a treated fiber comprising a water-insoluble inorganic; and e. forming a tissue web from the treated fiber, wherein the tissue web has a sheet bulk greater than about 5.0 cc/g and a basis weight less than about 60 gsm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the partially dewatered first fiber slurry has a consistency from about 20 to about 40 percent. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the first reagent is a water-soluble compound having a water solubility of greater than about 100 mg/mL at 25° C. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the water-soluble compound is a silicate or an alkaline metal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the water-soluble compound is a silicate selected from the group consisting of sodium silicate, potassium silicate, lithium silicate and quaternary ammonium silicates. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the water-soluble compound is a sodium silicate having a SiO:Na2O ratio from about 2:1 to about 4:1. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the first reagent is either a silane or a silyl. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the first reagent is a silane selected from the group consisting of a tetramethoxysilane, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), tetrapropoxysilane, tetraisopropoxy silane, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the treated fiber comprises at least about 5,000 ppm water-insoluble inorganic selected from group consisting of silicone, aluminum and zinc. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein at least about 75 percent of the water-insoluble inorganic is retained when the treated fiber is dispersed in water at 20° C. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the tissue web has a basis weight from about 10 to about 60 gsm and a sheet bulk greater than about 10 cc/g. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of treated fiber is from about 5 to about 80 percent of the weight of the web. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the bulk of the tissue web is at least about 25 percent greater than the bulk of a similarly manufactured tissue web substantially free from treated fiber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the first fiber is a hardwood fiber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the web is a multi-layered web having a first outer layer, a second outer layer and a middle layer disposed there between and the treated fiber is selectively disposed in the middle layer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the first fiber is a hardwood fiber and the middle layer comprises from about 10 to about 30 percent, by weight of the web, treated fiber. ### Claim 17 A tissue product comprising at least one multi-layered tissue web having a first fibrous layer, a second fibrous layer, and a third fibrous layer, the first and third fibrous layers comprising untreated cellulosic fibers and the second fibrous layer comprising treated fiber comprising at least about 5,000 ppm water-insoluble inorganic selected from silicone, aluminum and zinc, wherein the treated fiber comprises at least about 5 percent of the total weight of the multi-layered web. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The tissue product of claim 17 wherein the multi-layered tissue web comprises a creped tissue web and the tissue product has a basis weight from about 10 to about 50 grams per square meter (gsm). ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The tissue product of claim 17 wherein the multi-layered tissue web has a basis weight from about 10 to about 50 gsm, a sheet bulk greater than about 10 cc/g and a tensile strength from about 500 to about 1,500 g/3″. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The tissue product of claim 17 wherein the multi-layered tissue web comprises from about 10 to about 20 percent treated fiber, the tissue product having a basis weight from about 10 to about 60 gsm, a sheet bulk greater than about 10 cc/g and a Stiffness Index less than about 15.