Wiping products having a low coefficient of friction in the wet state and process for producing same

• US 20040121158A1
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Shannon, Tom G., Soerens, Dave
• Granted Patent: US 7,147,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/413
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 17/53 Polyethers; Polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 27/001 Release paper
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31511 Of epoxy ether

Abstract

Base sheets are disclosed having a reduced coefficient of friction in the wet state. In accordance with the present invention, the base sheets can be treated with a high molecular weight polyethylene oxide, a derivatized polyethylene oxide or an acrylate copolymer containing polyethylene moieties. The base sheet can be single ply or multi-ply. The base sheet can be a tissue product, such as a facial tissue, a bath tissue, or a paper towel. Alternatively, the base sheet can be a pre-moistened wipe.

Claims

1. A tissue product having an improved feel when wet comprising:

a base sheet comprising pulp fibers, the base sheet having a first side and a second and opposite side, the base sheet having a bulk density of at least about 2 cc/g;

a wet anti-friction composition applied to at least one side of the base sheet, the wet anti-friction composition being applied in an amount sufficient for the treated side of the base sheet to have a wet static coefficient of friction that is no more than about 10% greater then the dry static coefficient of friction of the treated side.

2. A tissue product as defined in claim 1, wherein the wet anti-friction composition comprises a polyethylene oxide having a molecular weight of at least about 20,000.

3. A tissue product as defined in claim 2, wherein the polyethylene oxide has a molecular weight of at least about 50,000.

4. A tissue product as defined in claim 2, wherein the polyethylene oxide has a molecular weight of from about 200,000 to about 2,000,000.

5. A tissue product as defined in claim 1, wherein the wet anti-friction composition comprises a derivatized polyethylene oxide, the polyethylene oxide having a molecular weight of greater than about 20,000.

6. A tissue product as defined in claim 5, wherein the derivatized polyethylene oxide comprises:

7. A tissue product as defined in claim 5, wherein the derivatized polyethylene oxide comprises:

8. A tissue product as defined in claim 5, wherein the derivatized polyethylene oxide has silanol functional groups.

9. A tissue product as defined in claim 5, wherein the derivatized polyethylene oxide forms covalent or ionic bonds with paper fibers.

10. A tissue product as defined in claim 5, wherein the derivatized polyethylene oxide contains from about 0.5 percent to about 25 percent by weight of pendant functional groups.

11. A tissue product as defined in claim 1, wherein the wet anti-friction composition comprises a polymer or copolymer derived from ethylenically unsaturated monomers wherein at least one monomer comprises a pendant polyalkylene oxide moiety.

12. A tissue product of claim 11, wherein the polymer or copolymer has a the structure:

{[Q¹]_a [Q²]_b [Q³]_c }_w

wherein;

a and b are integers greater than or equal to 0

c is an integer >

0

w is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

Q¹ is a monomer unit containing a functionality capable of hydrogen or covalently bonding with cellulose or any other polar or non-polar monomer not containing a pendant polyalkylene oxide functionality;

Q² is a monomer unit containing a charge functionality;

Q³ is a monomer unit or mixture of monomer units containing pendant polyalkylene oxide functionality wherein said pendant polyalkylene oxide functionality has a degree of polymerization greater than 3; and

the ratio of c to (a+b+c) is chosen such that the weight ratio of Q³ to [Q¹+Q²+Q³] is from about 5 to 100%.

13. A tissue product as defined in claim 12 wherein the ratio of c to (a+b+c) is chosen such that the weight ratio of Q3 to [Q¹+Q²+Q³] is from about 20 to 100%.

14. A tissue product as defined in claim 12 wherein polymer or copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of greater than about 20,000.

15. A tissue product as defined in claim 12 wherein b>

0 and Q² is derived from a monomer unit containing a cationic charge functionality.

16. A tissue product as defined in claim 15 wherein the cationic charge functionality is incorporated via a diallydimethylammonium cationic monomer.

17. A tissue product as defined in claim 11, wherein the acrylic copolymer comprises:

18. A tissue product as defined in claim 17, wherein the acrylic copolymer comprises:

19. A tissue product as defined in claim 11, wherein the acrylic copolymer comprises a poly(ethylene glycol) alkyl ether methacrylate.

20. A tissue product as defined in claim 1, wherein the base sheet has a wet static coefficient of friction that is no more than 3 percent greater than the dry static coefficient of friction of the treated side.

21. A tissue product as defined in claim 1, wherein the base sheet has a wet static coefficient of friction that is no greater than the dry static coefficient of friction of the treated side.

22. A tissue product as defined in claim 1, wherein the wet anti-friction composition is applied to the base sheet in an amount from about 0.03 percent to about 3 percent by weight of fibers contained in the base sheet.

23. A tissue product as defined in claim 1, wherein the wet anti-friction composition has been topically applied to the base sheet.

24. A tissue product as defined in claim 1, wherein the wet anti-friction composition is incorporated into the base sheet during its formation.

25. A tissue product as defined in claim 1, wherein the tissue product has a wet out time of about 20 seconds or less.

26. A tissue product having an improved feel when wet comprising:

a base sheet comprising pulp fibers, the base sheet having a first side and a second and opposite side, the base sheet having a bulk density of at least about 2 cc/g;

a wet anti-friction composition applied to at least one side of the base sheet, the wet anti-friction composition being applied in an amount sufficient for the treated side of the base sheet to have a wet dynamic coefficient of friction that is no more than about 10% greater then the dry dynamic coefficient of friction of the treated side.

27. A tissue product as defined in claim 26, wherein the wet anti-friction composition comprises a polyethylene oxide having a molecular weight of at least about 20,000.

28. A tissue product as defined in claim 27, wherein the polyethylene oxide has a molecular weight of at least about 50,000.

29. A tissue product as defined in claim 27, wherein the polyethylene oxide has a molecular weight of from about 200,000 to about 2,000,000.

30. A tissue product as defined in claim 26, wherein the wet anti-friction composition comprises a derivatized polyethylene oxide, the polyethylene oxide having a molecular weight of greater than about 20,000.

31. A tissue product as defined in claim 30, wherein the derivatized polyethylene oxide comprises:

32. A tissue product as defined in claim 30, wherein the derivatized polyethylene oxide comprises:

33. A tissue product as defined in claim 30, wherein the derivatized polyethylene oxide has silanol functional groups.

34. A tissue product as defined in claim 30, wherein the derivatized polyethylene oxide forms covalent or ionic bonds with paper fibers.

35. A tissue product as defined in claim 30, wherein the derivatized polyethylene oxide contains from about 0.5 percent to about 25 percent by weight of pendant functional groups.

36. A tissue product as defined in claim 26, wherein the wet anti-friction composition comprises a polymer or copolymer derived from ethylenically unsaturated monomers wherein at least one monomer comprises a pendant polyalkylene oxide moiety.

37. A tissue product as defined in claim 36, wherein the polymer or copolymer has the structure:

{[Q¹]_a [Q²]_b [Q³]_c }_w

wherein;

a and b are integers greater than or equal to 0

c is an integer >

0

w is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

Q¹ is a monomer unit containing a functionality capable of hydrogen or covalently bonding with cellulose or any other polar or non-polar monomer not containing a pendant polyalkylene oxide functionality;

Q² is a monomer unit containing a charge functionality;

Q³ is a monomer unit or mixture of monomer units containing pendant polyalkylene oxide functionality wherein said pendant polyalkylene oxide functionality has a degree of polymerization greater than 3; and

the ratio of c to (a+b+c) is chosen such that the weight ratio of Q³ to [Q¹+Q²+Q³] is from about 5 to 100%.

38. A tissue product as defined in claim 37 wherein the ratio of c to (a+b+c) is chosen such that the weight ratio of Q³ to [Q¹+Q²+Q³] is from about 20 to 100%.

39. A tissue product as defined in claim 37 wherein polymer or copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of greater than about 20,000.

40. A tissue product as defined in claim 37 wherein b>

0 and Q² is derived from a monomer unit containing a cationic charge functionality.

41. A tissue product as defined in claim 40 wherein the cationic charge functionality is incorporated via a diallydimethylammonium cationic monomer.

42. A tissue product as defined in claim 36, wherein the acrylic copolymer comprises:

43. A tissue product as defined in claim 42, wherein the acrylic copolymer comprises:

44. A tissue product as defined in claim 36, wherein the acrylic copolymer comprises a poly(ethylene glycol) alkyl ether methacrylate.

45. A tissue product as defined in claim 26, wherein the base sheet has a wet dynamic coefficient of friction that is no more than 3 percent greater than the dry dynamic coefficient of friction of the treated side.

46. A tissue product as defined in claim 26, wherein the base sheet has a wet dynamic coefficient of friction that is no greater than the dry dynamic coefficient of friction of the treated side.

47. A tissue product as defined in claim 26, wherein the wet anti-friction composition is applied to the base sheet in an amount from about 0.03 percent to about 3 percent by weight of fibers contained in the base sheet.

48. A tissue product as defined in claim 26, wherein the wet anti-friction composition has been topically applied to the base sheet.

49. A tissue product as defined in claim 26, wherein the wet anti-friction composition is incorporated into the base sheet during its formation.

50. A tissue product as defined in claim 26, wherein the tissue product has a wet out time of about 20 seconds or less.

51. A treated wiping product having a lower coefficient of friction in the wet state comprising:

a base sheet comprising fibers, the base sheet having a first side and a second and opposite side;

a wet anti-friction composition applied to at least one side of the base sheet, the wet anti-friction composition being applied to the base sheet in an amount sufficient for the treated side of the base sheet to have a lower coefficient of friction in the wet state, the anti-friction composition comprising a polyethylene oxide having a molecular weight of greater than about 20,000, a derivatized polyethylene oxide in which the polyethylene oxide has a molecular weight of greater than about 20,000, or an acrylate copolymer containing polyethylene oxide moieties.

52. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 51, wherein the wet anti-friction composition comprises polyethylene oxide having a molecular weight of from about 400,00 to about 2,000,000.

53. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 51, wherein the wet anti-friction composition comprises:

54. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 51, wherein the wet anti-friction composition comprises:

55. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 53, wherein the derivatized polyethylene oxide forms covalent or ionic bonds with paper fibers.

56. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 53, wherein the derivatized polyethylene oxide contains from about 0.5 percent to about 25 percent by weight of pendant functional groups.

57. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 51, wherein the wet anti-friction composition comprises a polymer or copolymer derived from ethylenically unsaturated monomers wherein at least one monomer comprises a pendant polyalkylene oxide moiety..

58. A treated wiping product of claim 57, wherein the polymer or copolymer has the structure:

{[Q¹]_a [Q²]_b [Q³]_c }_w

wherein;

a and b are integers greater than or equal to 0

c is an integer >

0

w is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

Q¹ is a monomer unit containing a functionality capable of hydrogen or covalently bonding with cellulose or any other polar or non-polar monomer not containing a pendant polyalkylene oxide functionality;

Q² is a monomer unit containing a charge functionality;

Q³ is a monomer unit or mixture of monomer units containing pendant polyalkylene oxide functionality wherein said pendant polyalkylene oxide functionality has a degree of polymerization greater than 3; and

the ratio of c to (a+b+c) is chosen such that the weight ratio of Q³ to [Q¹+Q²+Q³] is from about 5 to 100%.

59. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 58 wherein the ratio of c to (a+b+c) is chosen such that the weight ratio of Q³ to [Q¹+Q²+Q³] is from about 20 to 100%.

60. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 58 wherein polymer or copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of greater than about 20,000.

61. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 58 wherein b>

0 and Q² is derived from a monomer unit containing a cationic charge functionality.

62. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 61 wherein the cationic charge functionality is incorporated via a diallydimethylammonium cationic monomer.

63. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 58, wherein the wet anti-friction composition comprises:

64. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 58, wherein the wet anti-friction composition comprises:

65. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 51, wherein the wet anti-friction composition is applied to the base sheet in a total amount of from about 0.03 percent to about 3 percent by weight.

66. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 53, wherein R⁰ comprises from about one-half percent to about 10 percent by weight of the derivatized polyethylene oxide.

67. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 51, wherein the wiping product comprises a facial tissue, a bath tissue, or a paper towel.

68. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 51, wherein the base sheet comprises more than one ply.

69. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 51, wherein the wiping product comprises a pre-moistened wipe.

70. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 67, wherein the treated side of the base sheet has a wet static coefficient of friction that is no more than about 10 percent greater than the dry static coefficient of friction of the treated side.

71. A treated wiping product as defined in claim 67, wherein the treated side of the base sheet has a wet dynamic coefficient of friction that is no more than about 10 percent greater than the dry dynamic coefficient of friction of the treated side.

72. A process for producing a treated wiping product having a reduced coefficient of friction in the wet state comprising:

providing a base sheet comprising fibers, the base sheet having a first side and a second and opposite side; and

incorporating into the base sheet a wet anti-friction composition, the wet anti-friction composition being incorporated into the base sheet in an amount sufficient such that at least one side of the base sheet has a lower wet static coefficient of friction, the wet anti-friction composition comprising a polyethylene oxide having a molecular weight of at least about 20,000, a derivatized polyethylene oxide containing a polyethylene oxide having a molecular weight of at least about 20,000, or an acrylate copolymer containing polyethylene oxide moieties.

73. A process as defined in claim 72, wherein the wet anti-friction composition comprises a polyethylene oxide having a molecular weight of from about 200,000 to about 2,000,000.

74. A process as defined in claim 72, wherein the wet anti-friction composition comprises a derivatized polyethylene oxide comprising:

75. A process as defined in claim 72, wherein the wet anti-friction composition comprises a derivatized polyethylene oxide comprising:

76. A process as defined in claim 74, wherein the derivatized polyethylene oxide forms covalent or ionic bonds with paper fibers.

77. A process as defined in claim 74, wherein the derivatized polyethylene oxide contains from about 0.5 percent to about 25 percent by weight of pendant functional groups.

78. A process as defined in claim 72, wherein the wet anti-friction composition comprises a polymer or copolymer derived from ethylenically unsaturated monomers wherein at least one monomer comprises a pendant polyalkylene oxide moiety.

79. A process as defined in claim 78, wherein the polymer or copolymer has the structure:

{[Q¹]_a [Q²]_b [Q³]_c }_w

wherein;

a and b are integers greater than or equal to 0

c is an integer >

0

w is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

Q¹ is a monomer unit containing a functionality capable of hydrogen or covalently bonding with cellulose or any other polar or non-polar monomer not containing a pendant polyalkylene oxide functionality;

Q² is a monomer unit containing a charge functionality;

Q³ is a monomer unit or mixture of monomer units containing pendant polyalkylene oxide functionality wherein said pendant polyalkylene oxide functionality has a degree of polymerization greater than 3; and

the ratio of c to (a+b+c) is chosen such that the weight ratio of Q³ to [Q¹+Q²+Q³] is from about 5 to 100%.

80. A process as defined in claim 79 wherein the ratio of c to (a+b+c) is chosen such that the weight ratio of Q³ to [Q¹+Q²+Q³] is from about 20 to 100%.

81. A process as defined in claim 79 wherein polymer or copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of greater than about 20,000.

82. A process as defined in claim 79 wherein b>

0 and Q² is derived from a monomer unit containing a cationic charge functionality.

83. A process as defined in claim 82 wherein the cationic charge functionality is incorporated via a diallydimethylammonium cationic monomer.

84. A process as defined in claim 72, wherein the wet anti-friction composition comprises:

85. A process as defined in claim 84, wherein the wet anti-friction composition comprises:

86. A process as defined in claim 84, wherein the wet anti-friction composition is incorporated into the base sheet in an amount from about 0.03 percent to about 3 percent by weight of fibers contained in the base sheet.

87. A process as defined in claim 84, wherein the wiping product comprises a facial tissue, a bath tissue, or a paper towel.

88. A process as defined in claim 84, wherein the treated wiping product comprises a premoistened wipe.

89. A process as defined in claim 84, wherein the wet anti-friction composition is incorporated into the base sheet by being topically applied to one side of the sheet.

90. A process as defined in claim 89, wherein the wet anti-friction composition is applied topically to both sides of the base sheet.

91. A process as defined in claim 84, wherein the wet anti-friction composition is incorporated into the base sheet by being added to an aqueous suspension of fibers that is used to form the base sheet.