Water-dispersible, cationic polymers, a method of making same and items using same

• US 20030026963A1
• Filed: 03/22/2001
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Lang, Frederick J., Branham, Kelly D., Chang, Yihua, McBride, Erin
• Granted Patent: US 7,070,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/212
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 8/44 Preparation of metal salts or ammonium salts
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/587 characterised by the bonding agents used
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/64 the bonding agent being applied in wet state, e.g. chemical agents in dispersions or solutions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249962 Void-containing component has a continuous matrix of fibers only [e.g., porous paper, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249964 Fibers of defined composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2929 Bicomponent, conjugate, composite or collateral fibers or filaments [i.e., coextruded sheath-core or side-by-side type]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2933 Coated or with bond, impregnation or core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 Composite [nonstructural laminate]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31855 Of addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31935 Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/20 Coated or impregnated woven, knit, or nonwoven fabric which is not [a] associated with another preformed layer or fiber layer or, [b] with respect to woven and knit, characterized, respectively, by a particular or differential weave or knit, wherein the coating or impregnation is neither a foamed material nor a free metal or alloy layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2164 Coating or impregnation specified as water repellent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2369 Coating or impregnation improves elasticity, bendability, resiliency, flexibility, or shape retention of the fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2557 Oxygen or ozone resistant
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2779 Coating or impregnation contains an acrylic polymer or copolymer [e.g., polyacrylonitrile, polyacrylic acid, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2787 Coating or impregnation contains a vinyl polymer or copolymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/60 Nonwoven fabric [i.e., nonwoven strand or fiber material]

Abstract

The present invention is directed to triggerable, water-dispersible cationic polymers. The present invention is also directed to a method of making triggerable, water-dispersible cationic polymers and their applicability as binder compositions. The present invention is further directed to fiber-containing fabrics and webs comprising triggerable, water-dispersible binder compositions and their applicability in water-dispersible personal care products, such as wet wipes.

Claims

1. A composition comprising a triggerable cationic polymer, wherein the composition is triggerable.

7. A binder composition for binding fibrous material into an integral web, said binder composition comprising the composition of claim 1.

8. A nonwoven fabric comprising fibrous material and a binder material, said binder material comprising the composition of claim 1.

2. A composition comprising a triggerable cationic polymer, wherein the polymer formulation is insoluble in a solution containing a sufficient amount of an insolublizing agent and is dispersible in water containing up to about 500 ppm of one or more multivalent ions.

3. A composition comprising a triggerable cationic polymer, wherein the polymer formulation is insoluble in an aqueous solution containing at least about 0.5 weight percent of an insolublizing agent and is dispersible in water containing up to about 500 ppm of one or more multivalent ions.

4. A composition comprising a triggerable cationic polymer, wherein the polymer formulation is insoluble in a neutral salt solution containing at least about 2 weight percent salt;

and wherein the polymer formulation is soluble in water containing up to about 500 ppm of one or more multivalent ions.

5. A composition comprising a triggerable cationic polymer, wherein the polymer formulation has wet strength in a neutral salt solution containing at least about 2 weight percent salt;

and wherein the polymer formulation is dispersible in hard or soft water.

6. A composition comprising a triggerable cationic polymer, wherein the polymer formulation is insoluble in water that contains a sufficient amount of an insoubilizing agent;

and wherein the polymer formulation is soluble in water containing an insufficient amount of an insolubilizing agent.

9. A fibrous substrate comprising:

fibrous material; and

a binder composition for binding said fibrous material into an integral web, said binder composition comprising a triggerable cationic polymer.

10. A water-dispersible article comprising the fibrous substrate of claim 9.

11. A wet wipe comprising:

a fibrous material;

a binder composition for binding said fibrous material into an integral web, said binder composition comprising a triggerable cationic polymer; and

said fibrous material being wetted by a wetting solution containing at least about 2 weight percent salt.

12. A method of making a wet wipe comprising:

forming a substrate of fibrous material;

applying to said substrate a binder composition for said fibrous material comprising a triggerable cationic polymer; and

applying to said substrate a wetting solution containing a sufficient amount of an insolublizing agent such that said polymer is insoluble in said wetting solution.

13. A method of making a wet wipe comprising:

forming a substrate of fibrous material;

applying to said substrate a binder composition for said fibrous material comprising a triggerable cationic polymer; and

applying to said substrate a wetting solution containing at least about 2 weight percent salt.

14. A method comprising applying to a substrate of fibrous material a binder composition for said fibrous material comprising a triggerable cationic polymer.

15. A composition comprising a triggerable cationic polymer, wherein the polymer formulation has wet strength in an aqueous solution containing at least about 0.5 weight percent of an insolublizing agent;

and wherein the polymer formulation is dispersible in hard or soft water.

17. A binder composition for binding fibrous material into an integral web, said binder composition comprising the composition of claim 15.

18. A nonwoven fabric comprising fibrous material and a binder material, said binder material comprising the composition of claim 15.

16. A composition comprising a triggerable cationic polymer, wherein the polymer formulation has wet strength in an aqueous solution independent of the pH of said aqueous solution, said aqueous solution containing at least about 0.5 weight percent of an insolubilizing agent and wherein the polymer formulation is dispersible in hard or soft water.

19. A wet wipe comprising:

a fibrous material;

a binder composition for binding said fibrous material into an integral web, said binder composition comprising a triggerable cationic polymer; and

said fibrous material being wetted by a wetting solution containing at least about 0.5 weight percent of an insolublizing agent.

20. A method of making a wet wipe comprising:

forming a substrate of fibrous material;

applying to said substrate a binder composition for said fibrous material comprising a triggerable cationic polymer; and

applying to said substrate a wetting solution containing at least about 0.5 weight percent of an insolublizing agent.

21. A composition comprising a triggerable cationic polymer, wherein the polymer formulation is insoluble in an aqueous solution containing at least about 0.5 weight percent of a divalent metal salt capable of forming a complex anion.