FIBER WEB HAVING A HIGH STIFFNESS

• US 20100319310A1
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hollingsworth & Vose Company
• Original Assignee: Hollingsworth & Vose Company
• Inventors: Smith, Bruce, Jaganathan, Sudhakar
• Granted Patent: US 8,083,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 55/527
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0216 Bicomponent or multicomponent fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/064 The fibres being mixed
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/065 More than one layer present in the filtering material apparatus incorporating such gas filtering material B01D2275/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/086 Binders between particles or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/1258 Permeability
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/1275 Stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/1291 Other parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 39/163 sintered or bonded
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/24 of plates or sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2305/20 in the form of a non-woven mat
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/04 characterised by the partial melting of at least one layer
• 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 442/60 Nonwoven fabric [i.e., nonwoven strand or fiber material]

Abstract

The fiber webs described herein may be incorporated into filter media and filter elements. The webs may exhibit a high permeability and stiffness, at a low thickness. The stiffness can be sufficient for the webs to be pleated to include sharp, well-defined peaks which can be maintained in a stable configuration during use.

Claims

1. A fiber web having a permeability of greater than about 500 cfm/sf, a stiffness of greater than about 500 mg, and a thickness of less than about 25 mils.

2. The fiber web of claim 1, wherein the fiber web is a nonwoven web.

3. The fiber web of claim 1, wherein the fiber web includes synthetic fibers.

4. The fiber web of claim 1, wherein the fiber web includes bicomponent fibers.

5. The fiber web of claim 4, wherein the weight percent of the bicomponent fibers is greater than 50 percent by weight of the total weight percent of the fibers in the fiber web.

6. The fiber web of claim 1, wherein the fiber web includes binder fibers and non-binder fibers.

7. The fiber web of claim 1, wherein the binder fibers comprise greater than 50 percent by weight of the total weight of fibers in the fiber web.

8. The fiber web of claim 7, wherein the binder fibers are multi-component fibers.

9. The fiber web of claim 1, wherein the fiber web includes a resin.

10. The fiber web of claim 9, wherein the resin is in latex form.

11. The fiber web of claim 9, wherein the fiber web includes a binder comprising a polymer in the same class as the resin.

12. The fiber web of claim 11, wherein the binder and the resin are a polyester.

13. The fiber web of claim 1, wherein the fiber web has a permeability of between about 500 cfm/sf and about 1200 cfm/sf.

14. The fiber web of claim 1, wherein the fiber web has a stiffness of between about 500 mg and about 1700 mg.

15. The fiber web of claim 1, wherein the fiber web has a thickness of between about 12 mils and about 25 mils.

16. The fiber web of claim 1, wherein the fiber web has a basis weight of between about 40 g/m² and about 300 g/m².

17. The fiber web of claim 1, wherein the fiber web has a SFI after 5 seconds of less than about 70°

.

18. A filter media comprising the fiber web of claim 1 as a backing and a second fiber web attached to the backing.

19. A filter element comprising the fiber web of claim 18.

20. A fiber web having a permeability of greater than about 500 cfm/sf and a stiffness of greater than about 500 mg, the fiber web comprising multi-component fibers, wherein the multi-component fibers comprise greater than 50 percent by weight of the total weight of fibers in the fiber web.

21. A fiber web having a permeability of greater than about 500 cfm/sf and a thickness of less than about 25 mils, wherein the fiber web comprises binder fibers and a resin, wherein the binder fibers comprise a polymer and the resin comprises a polymer, and the polymer of the binder fibers is in the same class as the polymer of the resin.

22. A method of filtering a fluid, the method comprising:

filtering a fluid using a filter element comprising a fiber web, the fiber web having a permeability of greater than about 500 cfm/sf, a stiffness of greater than about 500 mg, and a thickness of less than about 25 mils.

23. A method of manufacturing a fiber web comprising:

forming a fiber web that has a permeability of greater than about 500 cfm/sf, a stiffness of greater than about 500 mg, and a thickness of less than about 25 mils.