# US 7,744,791 B2 · Method for making polymeric structures

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- Number: US 7,744,791 B2
- Document ID: US7744791B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/167,357
- Filed: 2005-06-27
- Published: 2005-12-01
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2004-04-29
- Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Inventors: David William Cabell; Paul Dennis Trokhan; David Warren Loebker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744791B2

## CPC

- D01F 9/00: Artificial filaments or the like of other substances; Manufacture thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture of carbon filaments
- B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)}
- D01F 8/00: Conjugated, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, artificial filaments or the like; Manufacture thereof
- D04H 1/58: by applying, incorporating or activating chemical or thermoplastic bonding agents, e.g. adhesives (in combination with needling D04H1/488)
- Y10T 428/249921: Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component
- Y10T 428/2913: Rod, strand, filament or fiber
- Y10T 428/2967: Synthetic resin or polymer
- D01F: CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- 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)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Polymeric structures, methods for making same, fibrous structures comprising same and fibrous product incorporating same are provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for making a fibrous structure, the method comprising the steps of:
a. providing a polymer melt composition comprising a non-PVOH hydroxyl polymer starch and a crosslinking agent comprising an imidazolidinone;
b. polymer processing the polymer melt composition such that the imidazolidinone crosslinks the non-PVOH hydroxyl polymer starch to form a plurality of fibers;
c. collecting the plurality of fibers to form a fibrous structure;
d. curing the fibers; and
e. fusing two or more fibers together at one or more positions along the fiber lengths such that at the point of fusing one fiber unit is formed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the step of differentially densifying the fibrous structure such that two or more regions exhibit different densities relative to each other.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2 wherein the step of differentially densifying comprises contacting the fibrous structure with a structure-imparting element comprising a pattern in the presence of humidity such that the fibrous structure takes the shape of the pattern on the structure-imparting element.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2 wherein the step of differentially densifying the fibrous structure comprises sandwiching the fibrous structure between two belts in the presence of humidity, wherein at least one of the belts is a structured belt comprising a pattern such that the fibrous structure takes the shape of the pattern on the structured belt.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the polymer processing step comprises dry spinning the polymer melt composition.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the step of adding cellulose fibers in combination with the plurality of fibers to make the fibrous structure.