Claims
- 1. A method of preparing a packaged towelette having enhanced wet strength while maintained in wet condition in a sealed container package and while during use until flushed in water, comprising:
- (a) forming an emulsion binder of a vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer containing polyvinyl alcohol as a protective colloid in a web of nonwoven fibers to form an emulsion impregnated towelette;
- (b) packaging said impregnated towelette in an impervious, closed container; and
- (c) maintaining said emulsion binder in a gel-like form in a wet condition in said container by contact with a non-alkaline aqueous solution of boric acid having a concentration of at least 3% by weight up to its limit of solubility, thereby temporarily insolublizing said binder until flushed in water.
- 2. A method of preparing a packaged towelette having enhanced wet strength while maintained in wet condition in a sealed container package and while during use until flushed in water comprising:
- (a) forming an emulsion binder of a vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer containing a water soluble polyvinyl alcohol as a protective colloid in a web of nonwoven fibers to form an emulsion impregnated towelette;
- (b) packaging said impregnated towelette in an impervious, closed container; and
- (c) maintaining said binder in a gel-like form in a wet condition in said container by contact with a non-alkaline aqueous solution of a water soluble salt selected from the group consisting of sodium sulfate and potassium citrate, wherein said binder is temporarily insolubilized until flushed in water.
- 3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said solution of soluble salt consists essentially of sodium sulfate at a concentration of about 3 to about 20% by weight.
- 4. The method as defined in claim 1 or claim 3 wherein said emulsion contains from 100 to 40% by weight vinyl acetate and 0 to 60% by weight ethylene and 1 to 10 parts by weight polyvinyl alcohol per 100 parts of said emulsion.
- 5. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein said emulsion contains 40 to 65% solids by weight.
- 6. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein said emulsion is applied to said web under conditions to effect 5-50% dry add-on by weight of the web.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 870,551 filed Jan. 18, 1978 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,744, issued Jan. 20, 1981.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
870551 |
Jan 1978 |
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