Conductive webs

• US 8,381,536 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2011
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Nhan, Davis-Dang H., Shukoski, Duane Joseph, Rekoske, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fortuna, Jose A
• Application Number:
  US13/297,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20120055641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 162/109, 162/118, 162135-138, 162/141, 162/145, 162/158, 162/164.1, 162/168.1, 162204-207, 427/180, 427/358, 427/361, 427/391
• US Class Current: 62/109
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/4234 Metal fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/4242 Carbon fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/425 Cellulose series
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/43835 Mixed fibres, e.g. at least two chemically different fibres or fibre blends
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 13/10 Organic non-cellulose fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 13/36 Inorganic fibres or flakes
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 13/48 Metal or metallised fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 13/50 Carbon fibres
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249945 Carbon or carbonaceous fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2918 including free carbon or carbide or therewith [not as steel]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/30 Self-sustaining carbon mass or layer with impregnant or other layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/608 Including strand or fiber material which is of specific structural definition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/609 Cross-sectional configuration of strand or fiber material is specified
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/664 Including a wood fiber containing layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/668 Separate nonwoven fabric layers comprise chemically different strand or fiber material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/696 Including strand or fiber material which is stated to have specific attributes [e.g., heat or fire resistance, chemical or solvent resistance, high absorption for aqueous compositions, water solubility, heat shrinkability, etc.]

Abstract

Conductive nonwoven webs are disclosed. The nonwoven webs contain pulp fibers combined with conductive fibers. In one embodiment, the webs are made in a wetlaid tissue making process.

Claims

1. A process for producing a conductive paper web comprising:

depositing an aqueous suspension of fibers onto a porous forming surface to form a wet web, the aqueous suspension of fibers comprising pulp fibers and conductive fibers, the conductive fibers comprising carbon fibers, the carbon fibers being present in the wet web in an amount of at least about 2% by weight based upon the total fiber weight;

placing the wet web onto a surface of a rotating heated Yankee dryer drum and drying the web;

removing the dried web from the surface of the Yankee dryer drum without creping the web; and

wherein the forming surface includes areas having substantially no porosity, the formed wet web including non-conductive zones corresponding to where the areas are located on the forming surface.

2. A process as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of applying a release agent to the surface of the Yankee dryer drum for facilitating removal of the dried web from the surface.

3. A process as defined in claim 1, wherein the aqueous suspension of fibers is deposited onto the forming surface in distinct layers, the wet web including at least a first layer and a second layer, the conductive fibers all being contained in the second layer.

4. A process as defined in claim 1, wherein the wet web is combined with a second wet web prior to being dried.

5. A process for producing a conductive paper web comprising:

depositing an aqueous suspension of fibers onto a porous forming surface to form a wet web, the aqueous suspension of fibers comprising pulp fibers and conductive fibers, the conductive fibers comprising carbon fibers, the carbon fibers being present in the wet web in an amount of at least about 2% by weight based upon the total fiber weight;

pressing the wet web against a plurality of heated cylinders to dry and densify the web, the resulting dried web having a bulk of less than about 2 cc/g; and

wherein the forming surface includes areas having substantially no porosity, the formed wet web including non-conductive zones corresponding to where the areas are located on the forming surface.

6. A process as defined in claim 5, further comprising the step of coating at least one surface of the web with a binder.

7. A process as defined in claim 5, wherein the resulting dried web has a tensile strength of at least 1500 grams per inch in the machine direction.