Claims
- 1. A wet-laid nonwoven web material comprising a predominant amount of unpulped long natural fiber bundles and a pulp fiber component, wherein the unpulped tong natural fiber bundles are comprised of a plurality of elementary fibers substantially joined by natural binding agents.
- 2. The nonwoven web material of claim 1 wherein the natural fiber bundles are cordage fibers.
- 3. The nonwoven web material of claim 1 wherein the natural fiber bundles are selected from sisal, abaca, henequen, kenaf and jute.
- 4. The nonwoven web material of claim 1 wherein the long natural fiber bundles have a chopped fiber length in the range of 10-50 mm.
- 5. The nonwoven web material of claim 1 wherein the web has a basis weight of about 60 g/m2 to about 160 g/m2.
- 6. The nonwoven web material of claim 1 comprising a synthetic fiber component.
- 7. The nonwoven web material of claim 6 wherein the synthetic fiber component is selected from cellulose acetate, viscose rayon, nylon and polyolefin fibers.
- 8. The nonwoven web material of claim 1 wherein the web has a basis weight up to about 200 g/m2.
- 9. The nonwoven web material of claim 1 wherein the web has a basis weight of at least about 100 g/m2.
- 10. The nonwoven web material of claim 1 wherein the unpulped fibers have a modulus of elasticity in the range of about 2-5×106 psi.
- 11. A composite multi layer sheet material comprising a wet-laid nonwoven fibrous web material wherein the dominant fiber component is unpulped long natural fiber bundles and a pulp web secured thereto.
- 12. The composite sheet material of claim 11 wherein the layers are secured by hydroentanglement.
- 13. The composite sheet material of claim 11 wherein the layers are secured by chemical bonding.
- 14. The composite sheet material of claim 11 including a spunbonded web on the opposite side of the nonwoven from the pulp web.
- 15. The composite sheet material of claim 11 wherein the composite is thermoformable under pressure.
- 16. The composite sheet material of claim 11 including a foam layer with the nonwoven web material of claim 5 secured to opposite sides thereof.
- 17. The composite sheet material of claim 11 having an average deflection force of at least 2.25 lbf.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/036,200, filed January 27, 1997. This is the U.S. national stage of International Application No. PCT/US98/00191 filed Jan. 20, 1998.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US98/01191 |
|
WO |
00 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO98/31626 |
7/23/1998 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (11)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
1958045 |
Richter |
May 1934 |
A |
4319956 |
Snyder et al. |
Mar 1982 |
A |
4418031 |
Doerer et al. |
Nov 1983 |
A |
5009747 |
Viazmensky et al. |
Apr 1991 |
A |
5151320 |
Homonoff et al. |
Sep 1992 |
A |
5253397 |
Neveu et al. |
Oct 1993 |
A |
5399422 |
Dijkema et al. |
Mar 1995 |
A |
5437919 |
Welich et al. |
Aug 1995 |
A |
5514429 |
Kamihgaraguchi et al. |
May 1996 |
A |
5958186 |
Holm et al. |
Sep 1999 |
A |
6163943 |
Johansson et al. |
Dec 2000 |
A |
Foreign Referenced Citations (9)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0908303 |
Jul 1998 |
EP |
2 102 037 |
Jan 1983 |
GB |
2 209 352 |
May 1989 |
GB |
01072836 |
Mar 1989 |
JP |
11241291 |
Sep 1999 |
JP |
WO-9312849 |
May 1996 |
SE |
WO 9402674 |
Feb 1994 |
WO |
WO 9605347 |
Feb 1996 |
WO |
WO 9902335 |
Jan 1999 |
WO |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
International Search Report for International Application No. PCT/US98/01191. |
European Patent Office—Supplementary European Search Report; Application No. EP 98 90 3636; SIX (6) pages. |
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/036200 |
Jan 1997 |
US |