HYDRAULICALLY NEEDLED NONWOVEN PULP FIBER WEB

• Main Authors: COOK, RONALD F, ROSCH, PAULETTE M, RADWANSKI, FRED R, MCCORMACK, ANN L, BARNES, HAROLD K, EVERHART, CHERIE H, TREVISAN, ADRIAN J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 23.01.2001
• Edition: 5
• Subjects: BRAIDING; COFFEE MILLS; COTTON-WOOL; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS,NON-WOVEN FABRICS; FURNITURE; HUMAN NECESSITIES; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; KNITTING; LACE-MAKING; MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARYMATERIAL; NON-WOVEN FABRICS; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PAPER-MAKING; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE; PULP COMPOSITIONS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL; TEXTILES; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; TRIMMINGS; WADDING

A hydraulically needled nonwoven pulp fiber web is disclosed. This nonwoven pulp fiber web has a mean flow pore size ranging from about 18 to about 100 microns, and a Frazier porosity of at least about 100 cfm/ft2. The web may also be characterized by a specific volume ranging from about 8 to about 15 cm3/g. The nonwoven pulp fiber web may contain a significant proportion of low-average fiber length pulp and still have a total absorptive capacity greater than about 500 percent and a wicking rate greater than about 2 centimeters per 15 seconds. The hydraulically needled nonwoven pulp fiber web may be used as a hand towel, wipe, or as a fluid distribution material in an absorbent personal care product. Also disclosed is a method of making the hydraulically needled nonwoven pulp fiber web.