Textured wiper material with multi-modal pore size distribution

• US 20070049153A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Wright, Alan, Dunbar, Charlene
• Application Number:
  US11/216,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20070049153A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 442/400
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/16 Cloths; Pads; Sponges metal scraping sponges A47L13/07
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/082 of mixed yarn
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/0985 by means of a flowing gas (e.g. melt-blowing)
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/46 of polyolefins
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/56 in association with fibre formation, e.g. immediately following extrusion of staple fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/02 characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of yarns or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24678 Waffle-form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/68 Melt-blown nonwoven fabric

Abstract

Disclosed herein are textured nonwoven wiper materials. The textured nonwoven wiper material includes a meltblown nonwoven web material that has a first exterior surface and a second exterior surface, and at least the first exterior surface of the meltblown nonwoven web is a three-dimensional textured surface. The textured meltblown nonwoven web has a multi-modal pore size distribution that includes at least two major pore size peaks.

Claims

1. A textured nonwoven wiper material comprising a meltblown nonwoven web having a first exterior surface and a second exterior surface, wherein at least said first exterior surface has a three-dimensional surface texture, said meltblown nonwoven web having a multi-modal pore size distribution having at least two major peaks, at least a first of said major peaks having an equivalent pore radius less than about 100 microns and at least a second of said major peaks having an equivalent pore radius greater than about 100 microns.

2. The textured wiper material of claim 1 wherein said meltblown nonwoven web comprises meltblown fibers comprising polyolefin thermoplastic polymer.

3. The textured wiper material of claim 2 wherein said meltblown nonwoven web comprises meltblown fibers comprising polypropylene thermoplastic polymer.

4. The textured wiper material of claim 1 wherein said equivalent pore radius of said first major peak is less than about 80 microns and wherein said equivalent pore radius of said second major peak is greater than about 120 microns.

5. The textured wiper material of claim 4 wherein said equivalent pore radius of said first major peak is about 60 microns or less and wherein said equivalent pore radius of said second major peak is greater than about 140 microns.

6. The textured wiper material of claim 2 wherein said meltblown fibers further comprise polybutylene polymer.

7. The textured wiper material of claim 6 wherein said meltblown fibers comprising polybutylene polymer are present substantially only on said first exterior surface.

8. A wiper comprising the textured wiper material of claim 1.

9. The wiper of claim 8 wherein said wiper further includes from about 50 percent to about 900 percent by weight of the wiper of a moistening liquid.

10. A package of wipers containing a plurality of the wipers of claim 9.

11. A textured nonwoven wiper material comprising a meltblown nonwoven web having a first exterior surface and a second exterior surface, wherein at least said first exterior surface has a three-dimensional surface texture, said meltblown nonwoven web having a multi-modal pore size distribution having at least a first major peak having an equivalent pore radius and a second major peak having an equivalent pore radius, and wherein said second major peak equivalent pore radius at least about 60 microns greater than said equivalent pore radius of said first major peak.

12. The textured wiper material of claim 11 wherein said meltblown nonwoven web comprises meltblown fibers comprising polyolefin thermoplastic polymer.

13. The textured wiper material of claim 12 wherein said meltblown nonwoven web comprises meltblown fibers comprising polypropylene thermoplastic polymer.

14. The textured wiper material of claim 11 wherein said second major peak equivalent pore radius at least about 70 microns greater than said equivalent pore radius of said first major peak.

15. The textured wiper material of claim 11 wherein said second major peak equivalent pore radius at least about 80 microns greater than said equivalent pore radius of said first major peak.

16. The textured wiper material of claim 11 wherein said second major peak equivalent pore radius at least about 90 microns greater than said equivalent pore radius of said first major peak.

17. The textured wiper material of claim 11 wherein said second major peak equivalent pore radius at least about 100 microns greater than said equivalent pore radius of said first major peak.

18. A wiper comprising the textured wiper material of claim 11.

19. The wiper of claim 18 wherein said wiper further comprises from about 50 percent to about 900 percent by weight of the wiper of a moistening liquid.

20. A package of wipers containing a plurality of the wipers of claim 19.