# US 2020/0399832 A1 · Compositions comprising microfibrilated cellulose and polymers and methods of manufacturing fibres and nonwoven materials therefrom > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0399832 A1 - Document ID: US20200399832A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/007,836 - Filed: 2020-08-31 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-22 - Assignees: FiberLean Technologies Limited - Applicants: FiberLean Technologies Limited - Inventors: Jonathan Stuart Phipps; Sean Ireland; David Skuse - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200399832A1 ## CPC - D21H 11/18: Highly hydrated, swollen or fibrillatable fibres - D01D 1/02: Preparation of spinning solutions - D01D 5/08: Melt spinning methods {(D01D5/0023 takes precedence)} - D01F 1/10: Other agents for modifying properties - D01F 2/00: Monocomponent artificial filaments or the like of cellulose or cellulose derivatives; Manufacture thereof - D04H 1/4258: Regenerated cellulose series - D04H 1/492: by fluid jet (D04H1/49 takes precedence) - D04H 1/54: by welding together the fibres, e.g. by partially melting or dissolving (in combination with needling D04H1/485) - D04H 1/724: forming webs during fibre formation, e.g. flash-spinning - D04H 3/08: characterised by the method of strengthening or consolidating - D04H 3/16: with bonds between thermoplastic filaments produced in association with filament formation, e.g. immediately following extrusion - D21B 1/30: Defibrating by other means - D01D 5/0985: {by means of a flowing gas (e.g. melt-blowing)} - 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 - D01D: MECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS - D01F: CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS - 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) - D21B: FIBROUS RAW MATERIALS OR THEIR MECHANICAL TREATMENT ## Abstract Fibres and nonwoven materials comprising microfibrillated cellulose, and optionally inorganic particulate material and/or additional additives, and optionally a water soluble or dispersible polymer. Nonwoven materials made from fibres comprising microfibrillated cellulose, and optionally inorganic particulate material and/or a water soluble or dispersible polymer. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -78. (canceled) ### Claim 79 A method for preparing a fibre consisting of (a) microfibrillated cellulose and (b) one or more calcium carbonate and/or kaolin, the method comprising the steps of: (1) preparing a composition consisting of microfibrillated cellulose and one or more inorganic particulate material, wherein the microfibrillated cellulose has a fibre steepness ranging from about 20 to about 50; wherein the microfibrillated cellulose is obtained by a two-stage process of (i) grinding a fibrous substrate in a grinding vessel in the presence of one or more calcium carbonate and/or kaolin and (ii) refining in a refiner or homogenizing in a homogenizer, or sonicating with an ultrasonic device the ground fibrous substrate comprising cellulose and the inorganic particulate material; wherein the grinding is carried out in an aqueous environment in the presence or in the absence of a grinding medium; wherein the term “grinding medium” means a medium other than one or more calcium carbonate and/or kaolin; (2) extruding the microfibrillated cellulose from step (1) through an extruder; (3) attenuating the extruded microfibrillated cellulose with an attenuating gas; and (4) collecting the extruded fibre. ### Claim 80 (depends on 79) The method of claim 79, wherein the microfibrillated cellulose has a median diameter (d50) less than 100 μm. ### Claim 81 (depends on 79) The method of claim 79, wherein the attenuating gas is one or more streams of hot air. ### Claim 82 (depends on 79) The method of claim 79, wherein the ultrasonic device is selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic water bath, an ultrasonic homogenizer, an ultrasonic foil and an ultrasonic horn. ### Claim 83 (depends on 79) The method of claim 79, wherein the grinding vessel is a screened grinder. ### Claim 84 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83, wherein the screened grinder is a stirred media detritor. ### Claim 85 (depends on 79) The method of claim 79, wherein the fibre is extruded at a temperature from about 80° C. to about 100° C. ### Claim 86 (depends on 79) The method of claim 79, wherein the fibre has an average diameter of from about 0.1 μm to about 1 mm. ### Claim 87 (depends on 79) The method of claim 79, wherein the fibre has an elastic modulus from about 5 GPa to about 20 GPa as determined by a tensiometer. ### Claim 88 (depends on 79) The method of claim 79, wherein the fibre has a fibre strength of about 40 MPa to about 200 MPa as determined by a tensiometer. ### Claim 89 (depends on 79) The method of claim 79, wherein the fibre is a spunlaid fibre. ### Claim 90 (depends on 89) The method of claim 89, wherein the spunlaid fibre is formed by spunbonding. ### Claim 91 (depends on 79) The method of claim 79, wherein the collecting step is deposition of the fibre onto a foraminous surface to form a non-woven web. ### Claim 92 (depends on 91) The method of claim 91, wherein the foraminous surface is a moving screen or wire. ### Claim 93 (depends on 91) The method of claim 91, wherein the non-woven web is bonded by hydro-entanglement. ### Claim 94 (depends on 91) The method of claim 91, wherein the non-woven web is bonded by through-air thermal bonding. ### Claim 95 (depends on 91) The method of claim 91, wherein the non-woven web is bonded mechanically. ### Claim 96 (depends on 79) The method of claim 79, wherein the grinding is carried out in an aqueous environment in the presence of the grinding medium. ### Claim 97 (depends on 79) The method of claim 79, wherein the grinding is carried out in an aqueous environment in the absence of the grinding medium.