BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The invention is described in detail below with reference to the Figures wherein:
FIG. 1 is a photomicrograph showing creped tissue with 20% regenerated cellulose microfiber;
FIG. 2 is a photomicrograph of 1.5 denier unrefined regenerated cellulose fiber having a coarseness of 16.7 mg/100 m;
FIG. 3 is a photomicrograph of 14 mesh refined regenerated cellulose fiber;
FIG. 4 is a photomicrograph of 200 mesh refined regenerated cellulose fiber;
FIGS. 5-9 are photomicrographs at increasing magnification of fibrillated regenerated cellulose microfiber which passed through a 200 mesh screen of a Bauer-McNett classifier;
FIGS. 10-15 are graphical representations of physical properties of hand sheets incorporating regenerated cellulose microfiber, wherein FIG. 10 is a graph of hand sheet bulk versus tensile (breaking length), FIG. 11 is a plot of roughness versus tensile, FIG. 12 is a plot of opacity versus tensile, FIG. 13 is a plot of modulus versus tensile, FIG. 14 is a plot of hand sheet tear versus tensile and FIG. 15 is a plot of hand sheet bulk versus ZDT bonding;
FIG. 16 is a photomicrograph at 250 magnification of a softwood hand sheet without fibrillated regenerated cellulose fiber;
FIG. 17 is a photomicrograph at 250 magnification of a softwood hand sheet incorporating 20% fibrillated regenerated cellulose microfiber;
FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a wet press paper machine which may be used in the practice of the present invention;
FIG. 19 is a plot of softness (panel) versus two-ply GM tensile for 12 lb/ream tissue base sheet with southern furnish and regenerated cellulose microfiber prepared by a CWP process;
FIG. 20 is a plot of panel softness versus tensile-for various tissue. sheets;
FIG. 21 is a plot of bulk versus tensile for creped CWP base sheet.
FIG. 22 is a plot of MD stretch versus CD stretch for CWP tissue base sheet;
FIG. 23 is a plot of GM Break Modulus versus GM tensile for tissue base sheet;
FIG. 24 is a plot of tensile change versus percent microfiber for tissue and towel base sheet;
FIG. 25 is a plot of basis weight versus tensile for tissue base sheet;
FIG. 26 is a plot of basis weight versus tensile for CWP base sheet;
FIG. 27 is a plot of two-ply SAT versus CD wet tensile;
FIG. 28 is a plot of CD wet tensile versus CD dry tensile for CWP base sheet;
FIG. 29 is a scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of creped tissue without microfiber;
FIG. 30 is a photomicrograph of creped tissue with 20 percent microfiber;
FIG. 31 is a plot of Wet Breaking Length versus Dry Breaking Length for various products, showing the effects of regenerated cellulose microfiber and debonder on product tensiles;
FIG. 32 is a plot of GM Break Modulus versus Breaking Length, showing the effect of regenerated cellulose microfiber and debonder on product stiffness;
FIG. 33 is a plot of Bulk versus Breaking Length showing the effect of regenerated cellulose microfiber and debonder or product bulk;
FIG. 34 is a flow diagram illustrating fiber pre-treatment prior to feeding the furnish to a papermachine; and
FIG. 35 is a plot of TAPPI opacity vs. basis weight showing that regenerated cellulose microfiber greatly increases the opacity of tissue base sheet prepared with recycle furnish.
Patent Application
20070224419
