Back to results
US 5,916,678 AGranted
Water-degradable multicomponent fibers and nonwovens
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsDavid Martin Jackson, William Seal Pomplun, Pavneet Singh Mumick, Paul Windsor Estey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein are multicomponent fibers wherein at least one component will permit bonding of the fibers to themselves and other types of fibers and wherein the same first component is also degradable in an aqueous medium. Such fibers can be used to form fibrous nonwoven webs which can be used as components in such end-use products as medical and health care related items, wipes and personal care absorbent articles.
Claims17
A multicomponent fiber comprising:
- a first component and at least a second component,
- said second component comprising a thermoplastic polymer,
- said first component forming an exposed surface on at least a portion of said fiber,
- said first component comprising a heat bondable polymer,
- said first component further comprising a water-dispersible polymer that remains stable in the presence of an aqueous solution having greater than about 1000 ppm of a kosmotrope and disperses in a period not exceeding 30 minutes in an aqueous solution having less than about 1000 ppm of a kosmotrope.
2 more elements
A multicomponent fiber comprising:
- a first component and at least a second component,
- said second component comprising a thermoplastic polymer,
- said first component forming an exposed surface on at least a portion of said fiber,
- said first component comprising a heat bondable polymer,
- said first component further comprising a water-dispersible polymer having a first peak tensile stress in the presence of an aqueous solution having greater than about 1000 ppm of a kosmotrope, and a second peak tensile stress in the presence of an aqueous solution having less than about 1000 ppm of a kosmotrope, said second peak tensile stress being at least 90% less than said first peak tensile stress.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.