Flowable and meterable densified fiber particle

• US 20050276968A1
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weyerhaeuser NR Company (Weyerhauser)
• Original Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company (Weyerhauser)
• Inventors: Dezutter, Ramon C., Hansen, Michael R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,306,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/323
• CPC Class Codes: D21C 9/00 After-treatment of cellulose pulp, e.g. of wood pulp, or cotton linters ; Treatment of dilute or dewatered pulp or process improvement taking place after obtaining the raw cellulosic material and not provided for elsewhere polysaccharides, derivatives thereof C08B; paper-making D21B - D21H
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/253 Cellulosic [e.g., wood, paper, cork, rayon, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2913 Rod, strand, filament or fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2964 Artificial fiber or filament
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2965 Cellulosic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]

Abstract

Discrete particles of cellulosic material are flowable and meterable. They are easily dispersible in an aqueous or a dry medium. The particles comprise singulated cellulose fibers that have been densified. The particles have a density of at least 0.3 g/cc.

Claims

1. A flowable, meterable, and dispersible cellulosic fiber material comprising:

a plurality of discrete particles each comprising a plurality of jet dried singulated and densified cellulosic fibers, said particles being dispersible in warm water with slight agitation in less than about one minute.

2. The material of claim 1, wherein said particles are flat and have a total surface area greater than or equal to 10 sq. mm.

3. The material of claim 2, wherein said surface area ranges from 10 to 150 sq. mm.

4. The material of claim 1, wherein said particles have a density greater than or equal to 0.3 g/cc.

5. The material of claim 4, wherein said density ranges from 0.3 to 2 g/cc.

6. The material of claim 5, wherein said density ranges from 0.3 to 1 g/cc.

8. The material of claim 2, wherein said particles have a thickness of 0.5 mm or greater.

9. The material of claim 3, wherein said thickness ranges from 0.5 to 10 mm.

10. The material of claim 1, wherein said cellulosic fibers further comprise adjuvants selected from the group consisting of coupling agents, silicates, zeolites, latices, crosslinkers, debonders, surfactants, dispersants, clays, carbonates, biocides, dyes, antimicrobial compositions, flame retardants, preservatives, synthetic fibers, glass fibers, carbon fibers, and natural fibers.

11. The material of claim 10, wherein the synthetic fibers are selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyester, polyamide, polyethylene, rayon, and lyocell.

12. The material of claim 10, wherein the natural fibers are selected from the group consisting of hardwood, softwood, cotton, wool, silk, straw, flax, hemp, jute, bagasse, sisal, kenaf, and recycled pulp.

7. (canceled)