Flocked filamentary element and structures made therefrom

Abstract

The flocked filamentary element of this invention is a three-component system including: (1) a strength-imparting component in the form of a core-strand having a denier no greater than 40, and including at least one polymeric filament; (2) an adhesive component adhering the filaments of the core-strand together (when the core-strand includes more than one filament), and providing a layer around the periphery of the core-strand; and (3) an outer flock of substantially individualized cellulosic fibers, such as wood pulp fibers, adhered to the adhesive layer. The individualized cellulosic fibers have an average fiber length in the papermaking range, i.e., less than one-quarter inch (6.35 millimeters) and greater than about one millimeter, and constitute over 50% of the weight of the filamentary element. Fibrous structures, such as non-woven webs, woven webs, knit fabrics and yarns, formed from a plurality of the filamentary elements also constitute a part of the invention.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.