Claims
- 1. An article comprising:
- a web of pulped cellulosic fibers, said fibers being interspersed with each other;
- a bonding medium for bonding at least some of said cellulosic fibers to the bonding medium; and
- a solvent for said bonding medium, said cellulosic fibers being insoluble in said solvent, said bonding medium when contacted with said solvent at least partially solubilizing the medium and rendering it tacky so that said bonding medium adheres to itself and to at least some of said cellulosic fibers, said solvent being present in an amount insufficient to completely solubilize the bonding medium, said solvent after partially solubilizing the surface of the bonding medium thereafter being sufficiently dissipated so that said bonding medium can resolidify, thereby bonding the medium to itself and to at least some of the cellulosic fibers, wherein the bonding medium is coated on fibers that are insoluble in said solvent, the medium coated fibers being interspersed throughout said web.
- 2. The article of claim 1 wherein the bonding fibers are finish free.
- 3. The article of claim 1 wherein the solvent and at least some cellulosic fibers are first combined, and thereafter the bonding medium and the solvent and cellulosic fibers are combined to form a hydrophilic bonded web.
- 4. The article of claim 1 wherein the cellulosic fibers and bonding fibers are first combined to form a blend sheet, and wherein the solvent is thereafter added.
- 5. The article of claim 1 wherein the solvent is added during or after the time when the cellulosic fibers and bonding fibers are combined.
- 6. The article of claim 1 wherein the bonding medium comprises particles interspersed throughout said web.
- 7. The article of claim 1 wherein said bonding medium comprises cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose propionate, cellulose nitrate, vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, acetylated pulp fibers, or mixtures thereof.
- 8. The article of claim 7 wherein the solvent comprises triacetin, triethyl citrate, propane diol diacetate, propane diol dipropionate, propane diol dibutyrate, or mixtures thereof.
- 9. The article of claim 8 further comprising a particulate additive interspersed throughout the web, the additive being present before the bonding medium resolidifies so that it is bonded to the bonding medium.
- 10. The article of claim 9 wherein the additive comprises superabsorbent polymers, clay, titanium dioxide, sodium bicarbonate, zeolites, activated carbon, or mixtures thereof.
- 11. The article of claim 10 wherein the superabsorbent polymers are pretreated by adding solvent thereto prior to combining the superabsorbent polymers into the web.
- 12. The article of claim 10 in a diaper.
- 13. The article of claim 10 in an adult incontinence product.
- 14. The article of claim 10 in a feminine hygiene product.
- 15. The article of claim 8 wherein the web has a density ranging from about 0.03 g/cc to about 1 g/cc.
- 16. The article of claim 1 further comprising a particulate additive interspersed throughout the web, the additive being present before the bonding medium resolidifies and being bonded to the bonding medium.
- 17. The article of claim 16 wherein the additive comprises superabsorbent polymers, clay, titanium dioxide, sodium bicarbonate, zeolites, activated carbon, or mixtures thereof.
- 18. The article of claim 16 wherein the superabsorbent polymers are pretreated by adding solvent thereto prior to combining the superabsorbent polymers into the web.
- 19. The article of claim 16 wherein the web has a density ranging from about 0.03 g/cc to about 1 g/cc.
- 20. The article of claim 1 in a diaper.
- 21. The article of claim 1 in an adult incontinence product.
- 22. The article of claim 1 in a feminine hygiene product.
- 23. The article of claim 1 wherein the bonding medium is further applied to the surface of the web of cellulosic fibers.
- 24. The article of claim 1 wherein the bonding fibers are substantially straight.
- 25. A fibrous web comprising:
- loosely entangled pulped cellulosic and second fibers, said second fibers having an inner core and an outer coating, said cellulosic and second fibers being uniformly distributed throughout the web;
- a solvent,
- said cellulosic fibers being insoluble in said solvent;
- said outer coating of said second fibers being at least partially soluble in said solvent;
- said solvent being present in an amount sufficient to partially solubilize said outer coating of said second fibers and cause said outer coating of said second fibers to bond to at least some of said cellulosic fibers, said solvent being present in an amount insufficient to completely solubilize said outer coating of said second fibers, said solvent being dissipated after partially solubilizing said outer coating of said second fibers so that said partially solubilized outer coating can resolidify.
- 26. The web of claim 25 wherein said second fibers comprise cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose propionate, cellulose nitrate, vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, acetylated pulp fibers, or mixtures thereof.
- 27. The web of claim 26 wherein the solvent comprises triacetin, triethyl, citrate, propane diol diacetate, propane diol dipropionate, propane diol dibutyrate, or mixtures thereof.
- 28. The web of claim 27 wherein the web has a density ranging from about 0.03 g/cc to about 1 g/cc.
- 29. The web of claim 28 further comprising particulate additives interspersed throughout the web, the additives being bonded to the second fibers.
- 30. The web of claim 29 wherein the additives are superabsorbent polymers, clay, titanium dioxide, sodium bicarbonate, zeolites, activated carbon or mixtures thereof.
- 31. A method of making an article having improved integrity characteristics comprising:
- combining a bonding medium with pulped cellulosic fibers to form a mass of fibers and medium that are loosely interspersed with each other; p1 thereafter introducing a solvent for said bonding medium into said mass of fibers and medium, said cellulosic fibers being insoluble in said solvent, said bonding medium when contacted with said solvent at least partially solubilizing the bonding medium and rendering it tacky so that said bonding medium adheres to itself and to at least some of said cellulosic fibers, said solvent being present in an amount insufficient to completely solubilize the bonding medium, said solvent after partially solubilizing the surface of the bonding medium being sufficiently dissipated so that the surface of said bonding medium can resolidify, thereby permanently bonding the medium to itself and to at least some of the cellulosic fibers, wherein said bonding medium comprises second fibers.
- 32. The method of claim 31 wherein said solvent is added to at least some of said cellulosic fibers before said second fibers are combined with said at least some of cellulosic fibers.
- 33. The method of claim 32 wherein the solvent comprises triacetin, triethyl citrate, propane diol diacetate, propane diol dipropionate, propane diol dibutyrate, or mixtures thereof.
- 34. The method of claim 31 wherein at least some of said solvent is added to said second fibers before said second fibers are combined with said cellulosic fibers.
- 35. The method of claim 31 wherein said solvent is added during or after the time the cellulosic fibers and second fibers are combined.
- 36. The method of claim 31 wherein said bonding medium comprises cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose propionate, cellulose nitrate, vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, acetylated pulp fibers, or mixtures thereof.
- 37. The method of claim 31 wherein the solvent comprises triacetin, triethyl citrate, propane diol diacetate, propane diol dipropionate, propane diol dibutyrate, or mixtures thereof.
- 38. A method of making an article having improved integrity characteristics comprising:
- combining a solvent for a bonding medium with pulped cellulosic fibers to form a solvent containing mass of fibers;
- introducing a bonding medium into said mass of fibers to form a mass of fibers and bonding medium, said fibers being loosely interspersed, said cellulosic fibers being insoluble in said solvent, said bonding medium when contacted with said solvent at least partially solubilizing the medium and rendering it tacky so that said bonding medium adheres to itself and to at least some of said cellulosic fibers, said solvent being present in an amount insufficient to completely solubilize the bonding medium, said solvent after partially solubilizing the surface of the bonding medium being sufficiently disposed so that the surface of said bonding medium can resolidify, thereby permanently bonding the medium to itself and to at least some of the cellulosic fibers.
- 39. The method of claim 38 wherein said bonding medium comprises second fibers.
- 40. The method of claim 38 wherein said bonding medium comprises cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose propionate, cellulose nitrate, vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, acetylated pulp fibers or mixtures thereof.
- 41. A method of making an article having improved integrity characteristics comprising:
- introducing a sheet containing pulped cellulosic fibers into a defiberizer;
- introducing a sheet containing bonding fibers into the defiberizer;
- introducing a solvent for the bonding fibers into at least some of the cellulosic fibers before introducing the cellulosic fibers into the defiberizer, the cellulosic fibers being insoluble in the solvent;
- defiberizing the fibers to form a fluff of evenly dispersed cellulosic fibers and bonding fibers and to distribute the solvent evenly throughout the fluff,
- forming a loose web from said fluff;
- said bonding fibers when contacted with said solvent at least partially solubilizing the surface of the bonding fibers and rendering it tacky so that said bonding fibers adhere to themselves and to at least some of said cellulosic fibers, said solvent being present in an amount insufficient to completely solubilize the bonding fibers, said solvent after partially solubilizing the surface of the bonding fibers being sufficiently dissipated so that the surface of said bonding fibers can resolidify, thereby permanently bonding the bonding fibers to themselves and to at least some of the cellulosic fibers.
- 42. The method of claim 41 wherein the solvent is combined with the bonding fibers before the sheet thereof is introduced into the defiberizer.
- 43. The method of claim 42 wherein said bonding medium comprises cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose propionate, cellulose nitrate, vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, acetylated pulp fibers, or mixtures thereof.
- 44. The method of claim 42 wherein the solvent comprises triacetin, triethyl citrate, propane diol diacetate, propane diol dipropionate, propane diol dibutyrate, or mixtures thereof.
- 45. The method of claim 41 wherein said bonding medium comprises cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose nitrate, cellulose propionate, vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl acetate, acetylated pulp fibers, or mixtures thereof.
- 46. The method of claim 41 wherein the solvent is triacetin, triethyl citrate, propane diol diacetate, propane diol dipropionate, propane diol dibutyrate, or mixtures thereof.
- 47. The method of claim 41 wherein the solvent is added at the time or after both of the cellulosic fibers and bonding fibers are introduced into the defiberizer.
- 48. The method of claim 41 wherein said bonding medium comprises cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose nitrate, cellulose propionate, vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, acetylated pulp fibers, or mixtures thereof.
- 49. The method of claim 48 wherein the solvent comprises triacetin, triethyl citrate, propane diol diacetate, propane diol dipropionate, propane diol dibutyrate, or mixtures thereof.
- 50. An article comprising:
- a backing sheet;
- an overlying storage layer comprising a web of pulped cellulosic fibers, said web including a bonding medium for bonding at least some of said cellulosic fibers to the bonding medium and a solvent for said bonding medium, said cellulosic fibers being insoluble in said solvent, said bonding medium when contacted with said solvent at least partially solubilizing the medium and rendering it tacky so that said bonding medium adheres to itself and to at least some of said cellulosic fibers, said solvent being present in an amount insufficient to completely solubilize the bonding medium, said solvent after partially solubilizing the surface of the bonding medium thereafter being sufficiently dissipated so that bonding medium can resolidify, thereby bonding the medium to itself and to at least some of the cellulosic fibers; and
- a facing sheet overlying said web.
- 51. The article of claim 50 wherein said bonding medium comprises second fibers interspersed throughout said web.
- 52. The article of claim 51 further comprising an acquisition layer comprising a second web of cellulosic fibers lying between said facing sheet and said web.
- 53. The article of claim 52 wherein said acquisition layer comprises a bonding medium for bonding at least some of said cellulosic fibers to the bonding medium; and a solvent for said bonding medium, said cellulosic fibers being insoluble in said solvent, said bonding medium when contacted with said solvent at least partially solubilizing the medium and rendering it tacky so that said bonding medium adheres to itself and to at least some of said cellulosic fibers, said solvent being present in an amount insufficient to completely solubilize the bonding medium, said solvent after partially solubilizing the surface of the bonding medium thereafter being sufficiently dissipated so that said bonding medium can resolidify, thereby bonding the medium to itself and to at least some of the cellulosic fibers.
- 54. The article of claim 53 wherein the bonding medium comprises second fibers interspersed throughout the acquisition layer.
- 55. The article of claim 54 wherein the second fibers comprise cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose propionate, cellulose nitrate, vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, acetylated pulp fibers, or mixtures thereof and wherein the solvent comprises triacetin, triethyl citrate, propane diol diacetate, propane diol dipropionate, propane diol dibutyrate, or mixtures thereof.
- 56. The article of claim 52 wherein the second fibers comprise cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose propionate, cellulose nitrate, vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, acetylated pulp fibers, or mixtures thereof and wherein the solvent comprises triacetin, triethyl citrate, propane diol diacetate, propane diol dipropionate, propane diol dibutyrate, or mixtures thereof.
- 57. An absorbent article comprising:
- a liquid impervious backing layer; and
- a storage layer overlying said backing layer, said storage layer comprising a liquid pervious tissue overlying a web of pulped cellulosic fibers, said tissue being on the opposite side of said web from said backing layer, said cellulosic fibers being loosely interspersed with each other, a bonding medium for bonding at least some of said cellulosic fibers to the bonding medium, and a solvent for said bonding medium, said cellulosic fibers being insoluble in said solvent, said bonding medium when contacted with said solvent at least partially solubilizing the medium and rendering it tacky so that said bonding medium adheres to itself and to at least some of said cellulosic fibers, said solvent being present in an amount insufficient to completely solubilize the bonding medium, said solvent after partially solubilizing the surface of the bonding medium thereafter being sufficiently dissipated so that said bonding medium can resolidify, thereby bonding the medium to itself and to at least some of the cellulosic fibers.
- 58. The article of claim 57 wherein said bonding medium comprises second fibers interspersed throughout the web.
- 59. The article of claim 58 wherein the second fibers comprise cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose propionate, cellulose nitrate, vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, acetylated pulp fibers, or mixtures thereof and wherein the solvent comprises triacetin, triethyl citrate, propane diol diacetate, propane diol dipropionate, propane diol dibutyrate, or mixtures thereof.
- 60. An absorbent article comprising:
- a backing sheet;
- a storage layer comprising a web of fibers overlying said storage layer;
- an upper layer comprising a web of fibers overlying said storage layer;
- an intermediate layer interposed between said storage layer and said upper layer comprising a web of pulped cellulosic fibers, said cellulosic fibers being loosely interspersed with each other, a bonding medium for bonding at least some of said cellulosic fibers to the bonding medium, and a solvent for said bonding medium, said cellulosic fibers being insoluble in said solvent, said bonding medium when contacted with said solvent at least partially solubilizing the medium and rendering it tacky so that said bonding medium adheres to itself and to at least some of said cellulosic fibers, said solvent being present in an amount insufficient to completely solubilize the bonding medium, said solvent after partially solubilizing the surface of the bonding medium thereafter being sufficiently dissipated so that said bonding medium can resolidify, thereby bonding the medium to itself and to at least some of the cellulosic fibers; and
- a facing layer overlying said upper layer.
- 61. The article of claim 60 wherein said bonding medium comprises second fibers interspersed throughout said web.
- 62. The article of claim 61 wherein the second fibers comprise cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose propionate, cellulose nitrate, vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, acetylated pulp fibers, or mixtures thereof and wherein the solvent comprises triacetin, triethyl citrate, propane diol diacetate, propane diol dipropionate, propane diol dibutyrate, or mixtures thereof.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of prior copending patent application Ser. No. PCT/US96/03029, filed on Mar. 4, 1996, which, in turn, claims priority from, patent application Ser. No. 08/399,408, filed Mar. 6, 1995, now abandoned, the benefit of the filing date of which is claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120.
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
399408 |
Mar 1995 |
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