Water-degradable multicomponent fibers and nonwovens

• US 5,916,678 A
• Filed: 10/16/1996
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Jackson, David Martin, Estey, Paul Windsor, Mumick, Pavneet Singh, Pomplun, William Seal
• Primary Examiner(s): Krynski, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRAY, JILL M
• Application Number:
  US08/730,951
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 428/373, 428/374, 428/370, 428/395, 442/361, 442/362, 442/363, 442/364, 442/394
• US Class Current: 428/373
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51023 being polymeric fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 8/06 with at least one polyolefin as constituent
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 8/10 with at least one other macromolecular compound obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds as constituent
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 8/14 with at least one polyester as constituent
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/4334 Polyamides
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/435 Polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/43828 sheath-core
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/43832 side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/43835 Mixed fibres, e.g. at least two chemically different fibres or fibre blends
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/54 by welding together the fibres, e.g. by partially melting or dissolving in combination with needling D04H1/485
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2924 Composite
• 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 428/2931 Fibers or filaments nonconcentric [e.g., side-by-side or eccentric, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2969 Polyamide, polyimide or polyester
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/637 Including strand or fiber material which is a monofilament composed of two or more polymeric materials in physically distinct relationship [e.g., sheath-core, side-by-side, islands-in-sea, fibrils-in-matrix, etc.] or composed of physical blend of chemically different polymeric materials or a physical blend of a polymeric material and a filler material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/638 Side-by-side multicomponent strand or fiber material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/64 Islands-in-sea multicomponent strand or fiber material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/641 Sheath-core multicomponent strand or fiber material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/674 Nonwoven fabric with a preformed polymeric film or sheet

Abstract

Disclosed herein are multicomponent fibers wherein at least one component will permit bonding of the fibers to themselves and other types of fibers and wherein the same first component is also degradable in an aqueous medium. Such fibers can be used to form fibrous nonwoven webs which can be used as components in such end-use products as medical and health care related items, wipes and personal care absorbent articles.

Claims

1. A multicomponent fiber comprising:

a first component and at least a second component,

said second component comprising a thermoplastic polymer,

said first component forming an exposed surface on at least a portion of said fiber,

said first component comprising a heat bondable polymer,

said first component further comprising a water-dispersible polymer that remains stable in the presence of an aqueous solution having greater than about 1000 ppm of a kosmotrope and disperses in a period not exceeding 30 minutes in an aqueous solution having less than about 1000 ppm of a kosmotrope.

2. A multicomponent fiber according to claim 1 wherein said first component comprises water-dispersible polyester.

3. A multicomponent fiber according to claim 1 wherein said first component comprises water-dispersible polyamide.

4. A multicomponent fiber according to claim 2 wherein said first component comprises a water-dispersible copolyester.

5. A multicomponent fiber according to claim 1 wherein said first component disperses in a period not exceeding 15 minutes.

9. A nonwoven web comprising a plurality of fibers, at least a portion of said plurality of fibers comprising the multicomponent fibers of claim 1.

10. A personal care absorbent article which includes a nonwoven web according to claim 9.

11. A wiper including a nonwoven web according to claim 9.

12. A diaper including a nonwoven web according to claim 9.

13. A training pant including a nonwoven web according to claim 9.

14. An incontinence garment including a nonwoven web according to claim 9.

15. A sanitary napkin including a nonwoven web according to claim 9.

16. A panti-liner including a nonwoven web according to claim 9.

17. A bandage including a nonwoven web according to claim 9.

6. A multicomponent fiber comprising:

a first component and at least a second component,

said second component comprising a thermoplastic polymer,

said first component forming an exposed surface on at least a portion of said fiber,

said first component comprising a heat bondable polymer,

said first component further comprising a water-dispersible polymer having a first peak tensile stress in the presence of an aqueous solution having greater than about 1000 ppm of a kosmotrope, and a second peak tensile stress in the presence of an aqueous solution having less than about 1000 ppm of a kosmotrope, said second peak tensile stress being at least 90% less than said first peak tensile stress.

7. A multicomponent fiber according to claim 6 wherein said first component comprises a water-dispersible copolyester.

8. A multicomponent fiber according to claim 6 wherein said second peak tensile stress is at least 95% less than said first peak tensile stress.