High softness embossed tissue

An embossed, biological membrane contact compatible, multi-ply tissue product comprising at least one foam-formed ply of tissue incorporating at least about 100 ppm of forming-loop-incorporated surfactant and having at least two strata defined therein, at least one exterior stratum of said foam-formed ply comprising:

• from at least about 60% by weight of relatively short, high softness cellulosic fiber formed by chemical pulping of hardwood;
• said fibers having a weight average fiber length of between about 0.5 to about 2.2 mm, a coarseness of about 7 to about 14 mg of fiber per 100 meters of fiber length (mg/100 m);
• no more than about 40% by weight of relatively long, strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber chosen from the group consisting of chemically pulped softwood fiber and chemi-thermo-mechanically pulped softwood fiber and mixtures;
• said strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber having a weight average fiber length of about 2 to about 4 mm, a coarseness of about 14 to about 28 mg/100 m;
• at least one other stratum of said foam-formed ply comprising:
• no more than about 35% by weight of relatively short, high softness cellulosic fiber formed by chemical pulping of hardwood;
• said fibers having a weight average fiber length of between about 0.5 to about 2.2 mm, a coarseness of about 7 to about 14 mg of fiber per 100 meters of fiber length (mg/100 m);
• at least about 60% by weight of relatively long strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber chosen from the group consisting of chemically pulped softwood fiber and chemi-thermo-mechanically pulped softwood fiber and mixtures thereof;
• said strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber having a weight average fiber length of about 2 to about 4 mm, and a coarseness of about 14 to about 28 mg/100 m;
• optionally, up to about 30% by weight of bulk-enhancing fibers having a three-dimensional anfractuous character;
• said foam formed ply of tissue having:
• a total dry breaking tensile strength (machine direction tensile strength plus cross direction tensile strength) of at least about 50 grams per pound per 3000 sq. ft. ream per 3-inch width,
• said embossed tissue being embossed with a nested pattern to a depth of at least about 0.020 inch over at least about 10% of its area and exhibiting a percent loss in total dry breaking tensile strength upon embossing of no more than about 80% of the percent loss in total dry breaking tensile strength experienced upon embossing a like number of plies of a comparable conventional water formed tissue having the same structure, overall fiber composition, basis weight and unembossed total dry breaking tensile strength to the same depth of emboss using the same embossing pattern, each of said water formed plies being of the same fiber composition, basis weight, percent crepe and unembossed total dry breaking tensile strength as the corresponding ply of said embossed tissue comprising at least one foam formed ply;
• said ply having a basis weight of from about 4 to about 20 pounds per 3,000 sq. ft. ream;
• an 8 ply caliper to 3000 sq. ft. basis weight ratio exceeding about 3.7 mils/pound of basis weight, calculated based on the thickness of 8 plies in mils divided by the basis weight of a single ply of a 3,000 sq. ft. ream in pounds.

A multi-ply tissue product comprising at least two foam formed plies incorporating at least about 100 ppm of forming-loop-incorporated surfactant, each said ply comprising:

• from at least about 50% by weight to about 80% by weight of relatively short, high softness cellulosic fiber formed by chemical pulping of hardwood, said fibers having a weight average fiber length of between about 0.5 to about 2.2 mm, a coarseness of about 7 to about 14 mg of fiber per 100 m of fiber length (mg/100 m);
• from at least about 20% by weight to about 50% by weight of relatively long strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber chosen from the group consisting of chemically pulped softwood fiber and chemi-thermo-mechanically pulped softwood fiber and mixtures thereof, said strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber having a weight average fiber length of about 2 to about 4 mm, a coarseness of about 14 to about 28 mg/100 m;
• optionally, up to about 30% by weight of bulk-enhancing fibers having a three-dimensional anfractuous character;
• said piles being nested embossed to an emboss depth of at least about 0.020 inch over at least about 10% of its area, the tissue product being capable one retaining at least about 70% of the total dry breaking tensile strength of the unembossed plies upon nested embossing to a depth of no more than about 0.060 in. over 16% of its area;
• said tissue product exhibiting a percent loss in total dry breaking tensile strength upon embossing of no more than about 80% of the percent loss in total dry breaking tensile strength experienced upon embossing plies of a comparable conventional water formed tissue having the same structure, overall fiber composition, basis weight and unembossed total dry breaking tensile strength to the same depth of emboss using the same embossing pattern, each of said water formed plies being of the same fiber composition, basis weight, percent crepe and unembossed total dry breaking tensile strength as the corresponding ply of the foam formed tissue;
• and
• each said ply having a basis weight of from about 4 to about 20 pounds per 3,000 sq. ft. ream;
• an 8 ply caliper to 3000 sq. ft. basis weight ratio exceeding about 3.7 mils/pound of basis weight, calculated based on the thickness of 8 plies in mils divided by the basis weight of a single ply of a 3,000 sq. ft. ream in pounds.

An embossed, foam-formed, biological membrane contact compatible, tissue product comprising at least three plies of tissue, at least one foam formed exterior ply of the product comprising:

• at least about 100 ppm of forming-loop-incorporated surfactant,
• from at least about 60% by weight of relatively short, high softness cellulosic fiber formed by chemical pulping of hardwood;
• said fibers having a weight average fiber length of between about 0.5 to about 2.2 mm, a coarseness of about 7 to about 14 mg of fiber per 100 meters of fiber length (mg/100 m);
• no more than about 40% by weight of relatively long strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber chosen from the group consisting of chemically pulped softwood fiber and chemi-thermo-mechanically pulped softwood fiber and mixtures thereof;
• said strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber having a weight average fiber length of about 2 to about 4 mm., a coarseness of about 14 to about 28 mg/100 m;
• said one ply of tissue having a total dry breaking tensile strength (machine direction tensile strength plus cross direction tensile strength) of at least about 50 grams per pound per 3000 sq. ft. ream per 3 inch width, a root mean square roughness of no more than about 0.020 mm;
• and at least one other ply comprising:
• no more than about 25% by weight of relatively short, high softness cellulosic fiber formed by chemical pulping of hardwood;
• said fibers having a weight average fiber length of between about 0.5 to about 2.2 mm, a coarseness of about 7 to about 14 mg of fiber per 100 meters of fiber length (mg/100 m);
• at least about 60% by weight of relatively long strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber chosen from the group consisting of chemically pulped softwood fiber and chemi-thermo-mechanically pulped softwood fiber, and mixtures thereof;
• said strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber having a weight average fiber length of about 2 to about 4 mm, a coarseness of about 14 to about 28 mg/100 m;
• optionally, up to about 30% by weight of bulk-enhancing fibers having a three dimensional anfractuous character;
• said other ply of tissue having a total dry breaking tensile strength (machine direction tensile strength plus cross direction tensile strength) of at least about 100 grams per pound per 3000 sq. ft. ream per 3-inch width, said embossed tissue product being point-to-point embossed to a depth of at least about 0.030 inch over at least about 10% of its area and exhibiting a percent loss in total dry breaking tensile strength upon embossing of no more than about 80% of the percent loss in total dry breaking tensile strength experienced upon embossing plies of a comparable conventional water formed tissue having the same structure, overall fiber composition, basis weight and unembossed total dry breaking tensile strength to the same depth of emboss using the same embossing pattern, each of said water formed plies being of the same fiber composition, basis weight, percent crepe and unembossed total dry breaking tensile strength as the corresponding ply of the tissue product and being characterized by a perceptible softness no less than that of said comparable conventional water formed tissue, each said ply having a basis weight of from about 4 to about 20 pounds per 3,000 sq. ft. ream;
• an 8 ply caliper to 3000 sq. ft. basis weight ratio exceeding about 3.7 mils/pound of basis weight, calculated based on the thickness of 8 plies in mils divided by the basis weight of a single ply of a 3,000 sq. ft. ream in pounds.

A tissue product comprising at least one foam formed embossed ply incorporating at least about 100 ppm of forming-loop-incorporated surfactant, said ply comprising:

• from at least about 50% by weight to about 80% by weight of relatively short, high softness cellulosic fiber formed by chemical pulping of hardwood, said fibers having a weight average fiber length of between about 0.5 to about 2.2 mm, a coarseness of about 7 to about 14 mg of fiber per 100 m of fiber length (mg/100 m);
• from at least about 20% by weight to about 50% by weight of relatively long strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber chosen from the group consisting of chemically pulped softwood fiber and chemi-thermo-mechanically pulped softwood fiber and mixtures thereof, said strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber having a weight average fiber length of about 2 to about 4 mm, a coarseness of about 14 to about 28 mg/100 m;
• optionally, up to about 30% by weight of bulk-enhancing fibers having a three-dimensional anfractuous character;
• said ply being an embossed ply having an exterior surface, the emboss being to an emboss depth of at least about 0.030 inch over at least about 5% of the area of said tissue, the total embossed area being at least about 10% of the area of said tissue, the tissue product being capable of retaining at least about 70% of the total dry breaking tensile strength of an unembossed ply upon point-to-point embossing to a depth of no more than about 0.050 in. over 16% of its area;
• said tissue product exhibiting a percent loss in total dry breaking tensile strength upon embossing of no more than about 80% of the percent loss in total dry breaking tensile strength experienced upon embossing a ply of a comparable conventional water formed tissue having the same structure, overall fiber composition, basis weight and unembossed total dry breaking tensile strength to the same depth of emboss using the same embossing pattern, said water formed ply being of the same fiber composition, basis weight, percent crepe and unembossed total dry breaking tensile strength as the corresponding ply of the foam formed tissue;
• and
• said ply having a basis weight of from about 4 to about 20 pounds per 3,000 sq. ft. ream;
• an 8 ply caliper to 3000 sq. ft. basis weight ratio exceeding about 3.7 mils/pound of basis weight, calculated based on the thickness of 8 plies in mils divided by the basis weight of a single ply of a 3,000 sq. ft. ream in pounds.

An embossed, biological membrane contact compatible, tissue product comprising at least two foam-formed plies of tissue, each having at least two strata defined therein, at least one exterior stratum of each ply comprising:

• at least about 100 ppm of forming-loop-incorporated surfactant;
• from at least about 60% by weight of relatively short, high softness cellulosic fiber formed by chemical pulping of hardwood;
• said fibers having a weight average fiber length of between about 0.5 to about 2.2 mm, a coarseness of about 7 to about 14 mg of fiber per 100 meters of fiber length (mg/100 m);
• no more than about 40% by weight of relatively long, strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber chosen from the group consisting of chemically pulped softwood fiber and chemi-thermo-mechanically pulped softwood fiber and mixtures thereof;
• said strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber having a weight average fiber length of about 2 to about 4 mm, a coarseness of about 14 to about 28 mg/100 m;
• at least one other stratum of each said foam-formed ply comprising:
• no more than about 35% by weight of relatively short, high softness cellulosic fiber formed by chemical pulping of hardwood;
• said fibers having a weight average fiber length of between about 0.5 to about 2.2 mm, a coarseness of about 7 to about 14 mg of fiber per 100 meters of fiber length (mg/100 m);
• at least about 60% by weight of relatively long strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber chosen from the group consisting of chemically pulped softwood fiber and chemi-thermo-mechanically pulped softwood fiber and mixtures thereof;
• said strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber having a weight average fiber length of about 2 to about 4 mm, and a coarseness of about 14 to about 28 mg/100 m;
• optionally, up to about 30% by weight of bulk-enhancing fibers having a three dimensional anfractuous character;
• each said foam formed ply of tissue having:
• a total dry breaking tensile strength (machine direction tensile strength plus cross direction tensile strength) of at least about 50 grams per pound per 3000 sq. ft. ream per 3 inch width;
• said embossed tissue being embossed with a pattern to a depth of at least about 0.020 inch over at least about 10% of its area and exhibiting a percent loss in total dry breaking tensile strength upon embossing of no more than about 80% of the percent loss in total dry breaking tensile strength experienced upon embossing a like number of plies of a comparable conventional water formed tissue having the same structure, overall fiber composition, basis weight and unembossed total dry breaking tensile strength to the same depth of emboss using the same embossing pattern, each of said water formed plies being of the same fiber composition, basis weight, percent crepe and unembossed total dry breaking tensile strength as the corresponding ply of said embossed tissue comprising at least one foam formed ply, each said ply having a basis weight of from about 4 to about 20 pounds per 3,000 sq. ft. ream;
• an 8 ply caliper to 3000 sq. ft. basis weight ratio exceeding about 3.7 mils/pound of basis weight, calculated based on the thickness of 8 plies in mils divided by the basis weight of a single ply of a 3,000 sq. ft. ream in pounds.

A multi-ply tissue product comprising at least two plies, at least one of which is a foam formed substantially homogeneous ply comprising:

• at least about 100 ppm of forming-loop-incorporated surfactant;
• from at least about 50% by weight to about 80% by weight of relatively short, high softness cellulosic fiber formed by chemical pulping of hardwood;
• said fibers having a weight average fiber length of between about 0.5 to about 2.2 mm, a coarseness of about 7 to about 14 mg of fiber per 100 meters of fiber length (mg/100 m);
• from at least about 20% by weight to about 50% by weight of relatively long strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber chosen from the group consisting of chemically pulped softwood fiber and chemi-thermo-mechanically pulped softwood fiber, and mixtures thereof;
• said strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber having a weight average fiber length of about 2 to about 4 mm, a coarseness of about 14 to about 28 mg/100 m;
• optionally, up to about 30% by weight of bulk-enhancing fibers having a three-dimensional anfractuous character;
• said plies being embossed together to an emboss depth of at least about 0.030 inch, the surface of said foam formed ply possessing a perceptible improvement in softness in relation to the softness of comparable conventional water formed tissue having the same structure, fiber composition, basis weight and unembossed total dry breaking tensile strength, embossed to the same emboss depth using the same embossing pattern, each of said water formed plies being of the same fiber composition, basis weight, percent crepe and unembossed total dry breaking tensile strength as the corresponding ply of said multi-ply tissue product, each said ply having a basis weight of from about 4 to about 20 pounds per 3,000 sq. ft. ream;
• an 8 ply caliper to 3000 sq. ft. basis weight ratio exceeding about 3.7 mils/pound of basis weight, calculated based on the thickness of 8 plies in mils divided by the basis weight of a single ply of a 3,000 sq. ft. ream in pounds.

An embossed, foam-formed, biological membrane contact compatible, tissue product comprising at least three plies of tissue, at least one substantially homogeneous foam formed exterior ply of the product comprising:

• at least about 100 ppm of forming-loop-incorporated surfactant;
• from at least about 60% by weight of relatively short, high softness cellulosic fiber formed by chemical pulping of hardwood;
• said fibers having a weight average fiber length of between about 0.5 to about 2.2 mm, a coarseness of about 7 to about 14 mg of fiber per 100 meters of fiber length (mg/100 m);
• no more than about 40% by weight of relatively long strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber chosen from the group consisting of chemically pulped softwood fiber and chemi-thermo-mechanically pulped softwood fiber, and mixtures thereof;
• said strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber having a weight average fiber length of about 2 to about 4 mm, a coarseness of about 14 to about 28 mg/100 m;
• said one ply of tissue having a total dry breaking tensile strength (machine direction tensile strength plus cross direction tensile strength) of at least about 50 grams per pound per 3000 sq. ft. ream per 3 inch width, a root mean square roughness of no more than about 0.020 mm;
• and
• at least one other ply comprising:
• no more than about 20% by weight of relatively short, high softness cellulosic fiber formed by chemical pulping of hardwood;
• said fibers having a weight average fiber length of between about 0.5 to about 2.2 mm, a coarseness of about 7 to about 14 mg of fiber per 100 meters of fiber length (mg/100 m);
• at least about 60% by weight of relatively long strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber chosen from the group consisting of chemically pulped softwood fiber and chemi-thermo-mechanically pulped softwood fiber, and mixtures thereof;
• said strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber having a weight average fiber length of about 2 to about 4 mm, a coarseness of about 14 to about 28 mg/100 m;
• optionally, up to about 30% by weight of bulk-enhancing fibers having a three dimensional anfractuous character;
• said other ply of tissue having a total dry breaking tensile strength (machine direction tensile strength plus cross direction tensile strength) of at least about 100 grams per pound per 3000 sq. ft. ream per 3 inch width, said embossed tissue product being point-to-point embossed to a depth of at least about 0.025 inch over at least about 10% of its area and exhibiting perceptibly improved softness relative to a comparable conventional water formed tissue having the same structure, overall fiber composition, basis weight and unembossed total dry breaking tensile strength, embossed to the same depth of emboss using the same embossing pattern, each of said water formed plies being of the same fiber composition, basis weight, percent crepe and unembossed total dry breaking tensile strength as the corresponding ply of the tissue product;
• and
• each said ply having a basis weight of from about 4 to about 20 pounds per 3,000 sq. ft. ream;
• an 8 ply caliper to 3000 sq. ft. basis weight ratio exceeding about 3.7 mils/pound of basis weight, calculated based on the thickness of 8 plies in mils divided by the basis weight of a single ply of a 3,000 sq. ft. ream in pounds.

An embossed, biological membrane contact compatible, tissue product comprising at least two foam-formed plies of tissue, each incorporating at least about 100 ppm of forming-loop-incorporated surfactant and having at least two strata defined therein, at least one exterior stratum of each ply comprising:

• from at least about 60% by weight of relatively short, high softness cellulosic fiber formed by chemical pulping of hardwood;
• said fibers having a weight average fiber length of between about 0.5 to about 2.2 mm, a coarseness of about 7 to about 14 mg of fiber per 100 meters of fiber length (mg/100 m);
• no more than about 40% by weight of relatively long, strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber chosen from the group consisting of chemically pulped softwood fiber and chemi-thermo-mechanically pulped softwood fiber, and mixtures thereof;
• said strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber having a weight average fiber length of about 2 to about 4 mm, a coarseness of about 14 to about 28 mg/100 m;
• at least one other stratum of each said foam-formed ply comprising:
• no more than about 35% by weight of relatively short, high softness cellulosic fiber formed by chemical pulping of hardwood;
• said fibers having a weight average fiber length of between about 0.5 to about 2.2 mm, a coarseness of about 7 to about 14 mg of fiber per 100 meters of fiber length (mg/100 m);
• at least about 60% by weight of relatively long strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber chosen from the group consisting of chemically pulped softwood fiber and chemi-thermo-mechanically pulped softwood fiber and mixtures thereof;
• said strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber having a weight average fiber length of about 2 to about 4 mm.,and a coarseness of about 14 to about 28 mg/100 m;
• optionally, up to about 30% by weight of bulk enhancing fibers having a three dimensional anfractuous character;
• each said foam formed ply of tissue having:
• a total dry breaking tensile strength (machine direction tensile strength plus cross direction tensile strength) of at least about 50 grams per pound per 3000 sq. ft. ream per 3 inch width;
• said embossed tissue being embossed with a pattern to a depth of at least about 0.020 inch over at least about 10% of its area and exhibiting a perceptible improvement in softness relative to a comparable conventional water formed tissue having the same structure, overall fiber composition, basis weight and unembossed total dry breaking tensile strength, embossed to the same depth of emboss using the same embossing pattern, each of said water formed plies being of the same fiber composition, basis weight, percent crepe and unembossed total dry breaking tensile strength as the corresponding ply of said embossed tissue comprising at least one foam formed ply;
• and
• each said ply having a basis weight of from about 4 to about 20 pounds per 3,000 sq. ft. ream;
• an 8 ply caliper to 3000 sq. ft. basis weight ratio exceeding about 3.7 mils/pound of basis weight, calculated based on the thickness of 8 plies in mils divided by the basis weight of a single ply of a 3,000 sq. ft. ream in pounds.

A multi-ply tissue product comprising at least two plies, at least one of which is a foam formed ply comprising:

• at least about 100 ppm of forming-loop-incorporated surfactant;
• from at least about 50% by weight to about 80% by weight of relatively short, high softness cellulosic fiber formed by chemical pulping of hardwood;
• said fibers having a weight average fiber length of between about 0.5 to about 2.2 mm, a coarseness of about 7 to about 14 mg of fiber per 100 meters of fiber length (mg/100 m);
• from at least about 20% by weight to about 50% by weight of relatively long strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber chosen from the group consisting of chemically pulped softwood fiber and chemi-thermo-mechanically pulped softwood fiber and mixtures thereof;
• said strength-enhancing cellulosic fiber having a weight average fiber length of about 2 to about 4 mm, a coarseness of about 14 to about 28 mg/100 m;
• optionally, up to about 30% by weight of bulk-enhancing fibers having a three dimensional anfractuous character;
• said foam formed ply being calendered to a percent reduction in caliper of at least about 10%, the surface of said foam formed ply possessing a perceptible improvement in softness in relation to the softness of comparable conventional water formed tissue having the same structure, fiber composition, basis weight and uncalendered total dry breaking total tensile strength, calendered to the same reduction in caliper, each of said water formed plies being of the same fiber composition, basis weight, percent crepe and uncalendered total dry breaking tensile strength as the corresponding ply of said multi-ply tissue product;
• and
• each said ply having a basis weight of from about 4 to about 20 pounds per 3,000 sq. ft. ream;
• an 8 ply caliper to 3000 sq. ft. basis weight ratio exceeding about 3.7 mils/pound of basis weight, calculated based on the thickness of 8 plies in mils divided by the basis weight of a single ply of a 3,000 sq. ft. ream in pounds.