# US 2021/0340700 A1 · Pulp-containing biodegradable non-woven fabric and method for producing the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0340700 A1 - Document ID: US20210340700A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/286,374 - Filed: 2019-10-16 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-17 - Assignees: Glatfelter Gernsbach GmbH - Applicants: Glatfelter Gernsbach GmbH - Inventors: Henning Roettger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210340700A1 ## CPC - D04H 1/425: Cellulose series - D06B 5/22: through fabrics - D04H 1/4258: Regenerated cellulose series - D04H 1/488: in combination with bonding agents - D04H 1/49: entanglement by fluid jet in combination with another consolidation means - D04H 1/492: by fluid jet (D04H1/49 takes precedence) - D04H 1/5412: {sheath-core} - D04H 1/5418: {Mixed fibres, e.g. at least two chemically different fibres or fibre blends} - D04H 1/587: characterised by the bonding agents used - D04H 5/03: by fluid jet - D04H 5/04: strengthened or consolidated by applying or incorporating chemical or thermo-activatable bonding agents in solid or liquid form - D21H 13/08: from regenerated cellulose - D21H 21/20: Wet strength agents - 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)} - 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) - D06B: TREATING TEXTILE MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS, GASES OR VAPOURS (mechanical treatment of natural fibrous or filamentary material to obtain fibres or filaments D01B) - 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 ## Abstract The present invention relates to a biodegradable non-woven fabric, a method for producing a biodegradable non-woven fabric and a wipe or tissue. The biodegradable non-woven fabric comprises biodegradable fibers and pulp fibers. At least a part of the biodegradable fibers is entangled with each other. At least a part of the pulp fibers is covalently bonded to each other by at least one of the group consisting of a biodegradable binder, a biodegradable wet-strength agent and a biodegradable binder fiber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A biodegradable non-woven fabric comprising biodegradable fibers and pulp fibers, wherein at least a part of the biodegradable fibers is entangled with each other, and at least a part of the pulp fibers is covalently bonded to each other by at least one of the group consisting of a biodegradable binder, a biodegradable wet-strength agent and a biodegradable binder fiber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The biodegradable non-woven fabric according to claim 1, wherein substantially all fibers comprised in the biodegradable non-woven fabric are the biodegradable fibers, the pulp fibers and optionally the biodegradable binder fiber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The biodegradable non-woven fabric according to claim 1, wherein the biodegradable fibers comprise cellulosic fibers, in particular regenerated cellulose fibers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The biodegradable non-woven fabric according to claim 3, wherein the regenerated cellulose fibers are selected from the group consisting of viscose or lyocell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The biodegradable non-woven fabric according to claim 1, wherein the pulp fibers are comprised in an amount of from 20 to 90 wt.-% based on the total weight of the non-woven fabric, and/or wherein the biodegradable fibers are comprised in an amount of from 10 to 80 wt.-% based on the total weight of the non-woven fabric. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The biodegradable non-woven fabric according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the pulp fibers is bonded to each other by a biodegradable binder fiber, in particular wherein the biodegradable binder fiber comprises a bicomponent fiber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The biodegradable non-woven fabric according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the pulp fibers is bonded to each other by a biodegradable wet-strength agent, in particular wherein the biodegradable wet-strength agent is selected from the group consisting of chitosan, modified starch and cellulose derivatives. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The biodegradable non-woven fabric according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the pulp fibers is bonded to each other by a biodegradable binder, in particular wherein the biodegradable binder is selected from the group consisting of chitosan, modified starch, cellulose derivatives, in particular blends of carboxymethylcellulose and citric acid, and protein based binders, such as casein. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The biodegradable non-woven fabric according to claim 8, wherein the biodegradable binder further comprises an additive, such as glycerol, acting as softening agent and/or improving the flexibility and drapability of the non-woven fabric. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The biodegradable non-woven fabric according to claim 1, showing an increase of material resiliency characterized by a Circular Bend Stiffness Force determined in accordance with modified ASTM D 4032-94 as described in the specification of more than 25%, preferably more than 50% and most preferably more than 75%, compared to a non-woven fabric without any one of a biodegradable binder fiber, a biodegradable wet-strength agent and a biodegradable binder. ### Claim 11 A method for producing a biodegradable non-woven fabric, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a fibrous web from a fiber blend comprising biodegradable fibers and pulp fibers or forming a layer of biodegradable fibers with a layer of tissue; (b) entangling at least a part of the biodegradable fibers with each other by subjecting the fibrous web or the fibrous web combined with a tissue layer to a water-jet treatment; and (c) drying the entangled fibrous web, wherein the method further comprises at least one of the following steps: applying a biodegradable binder to the entangled fibrous web prior to drying the entangled fibrous web, adding a biodegradable wet-strength agent to the fiber blend, blending a biodegradable binder fiber to the fiber blend. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein in step (a) the fibrous web is formed by a wet-laid process or an air-laid process or the fibrous web combined with a tissue layer is formed by a dry laying process such as carding or air-laid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A biodegradable non-woven fabric obtainable by a method according to claim 11. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A wipe or tissue comprising or consisting of the biodegradable non-woven fabric according to claim 1. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The wipe or tissue according to claim 14, wherein the wipe or tissue is a dry wipe or a wet wipe and/or wherein the wipe or tissue is selected from the group consisting of facial wipes, cosmetic wipes, baby wipes, sanitary wipes, kitchen tissue, paper towel, handkerchiefs, cleaning tissue, cleansing tissue, floor mop and hard surface cleaning wipe. ### Claim 16 Use of a biodegradable binder, a biodegradable wet-strength agent and/or a biodegradable binder fiber for imparting resiliency to a wipe or tissue comprising a biodegradable non-woven fabric.