Compositions and methods for treating lofty nonwoven substrates

• US 20040121680A1
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Yahiaoui, Ali, Kepner, Eric Scott, Freese, Chad Michael, Zelazoski, Leonard Eugene
• Application Number:
  US10/327,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20040121680A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 442/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/537 characterised by a layer facilitating or inhibiting flow in one direction or plane, e.g. a wicking layer A61F13/538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 13/165 Ethers D06M13/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 13/17 Polyoxyalkyleneglycol ethers
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 13/224 Esters of carboxylic acids; Esters of carbonic acid
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/03 Polysaccharides or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/647 containing polyether sequences
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 2200/00 Functionality of the treatment composition and/or properties imparted to the textile material
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/04 Processes in which the treating agent is applied in the form of a foam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2139 Coating or impregnation specified as porous or permeable to a specific substance [e.g., water vapor, air, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2484 Coating or impregnation is water absorbency-increasing or hydrophilicity-increasing or hydrophilicity-imparting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2861 Coated or impregnated synthetic organic fiber fabric

Abstract

A treatment composition and a method for treating substrates that includes contacting at least a portion of the substrate with an aqueous treatment that includes from about 50 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of water; and at least about 5 weight percent of a mixture of additives that includes from about 4 parts to about 8 parts of a first additive that is a blend of ethoxylated hydrogenated castor oil and sorbitan monooleate; from about 1 to about 3 parts of a second additive that is an alkyl polyglycoside or a derivative of an alkyl polyglycoside; and from about 1 to about 3 parts of a third additive that is an ethoxylated polyalkyl siloxane.

Claims

1. An aqueous treatment composition for treating a substrate, the aqueous treatment composition comprising:

from about 50 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of water; and

at least about 5 weight percent of a mixture of additives comprising

from about 4 parts to about 10 parts by weight of a first additive that includes a blend of ethoxylated hydrogenated castor oil and sorbitan monooleate;

from about 1 to about 4 parts by weight of a second additive that is an alkyl polyglycoside or a derivative of an alkyl polyglycoside; and

from about 1 to about 4 parts by weight of a third additive that is an ethoxylated polyalkyl siloxane.

2. The aqueous treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the aqueous treatment composition comprises from about 70 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of water.

3. The aqueous treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the aqueous treatment composition comprises at least about 7 weight percent of the mixture of additives.

4. The aqueous treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the mixture of additives comprises

from about 4 parts to about 8 parts by weight of the first additive;

from about 1 to about 3 parts by weight of the second additive; and

from about 1 to about 3 parts by weight of the third additive.

5. The aqueous treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the mixture of additives comprises from about 2 to about 4 parts by weight of the first additive, from about 1 to about 2 parts by weight of the second additive and about 1 part by weight of the third additive.

6. The aqueous treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the mixture of additives comprises about 3 parts by weight of the first additive, about 1 part by weight of the second additive and about 1 part by weight of the third additive.

7. The aqueous treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the alkyl polyglycoside or the derivative of an alkyl polyglycoside is an octylpolyglycoside.

8. The aqueous treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the mixture of additives consists essentially of from about 2 to about 4 parts by weight of the first additive, from about 1 to about 2 parts by weight of the second additive and about 1 part by weight of the third additive.

9. The aqueous treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the aqueous treatment composition is a foamed treatment composition.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the mixture of additives in included in an aqueous treatment composition comprises from about 80 weight percent to about 90 weight percent of water.

10. An aqueous treatment composition for a substrate, the aqueous treatment composition comprising:

from about 70 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of water;

from about 1.5 weight percent to about 15 weight percent of sorbitan monooleate;

from about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent of an ethoxylated, hydrogenated castor oil;

from about 0.5 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of an alkyl polyglycoside or a derivative of an alkyl polyglycoside; and

from about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent of an ethoxylated polyalkyl siloxane.

11. The aqueous treatment composition of claim 10, wherein the aqueous treatment composition comprises from about 80 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of water.

12. The aqueous treatment composition of claim 10, wherein the aqueous treatment composition comprises at least about 3 weight percent of sorbitan monooleate, at least about 2 weight percent of the ethoxylated, hydrogenated castor oil, at least about 1 weight percent of the alkyl polyglycoside, and at least about 2 weight percent of the ethoxylated polyalkyl siloxane.

13. The aqueous treatment composition of claim 10, wherein from about 80 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of water;

from about 2 weight percent to about 10 weight percent of sorbitan monooleate;

from about 1.5 weight percent to about 10 weight percent of an ethoxylated, hydrogenated castor oil;

from about 0.75 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of an alkyl polyglycoside or a derivative of an alkyl polyglycoside; and

from about 1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of an ethoxylated polyalkyl siloxane.

14. Fibers comprising a surface treated with a surfactant mixture comprising an ethoxylated, hydrogenated castor oil;

sorbitan monooleate;

an ethoxylated polyalkyl siloxane; and

an alkyl polyglycoside or a derivative of an alkyl polyglycoside.

15. The fibers of claim 14, wherein the fibers are multicomponent fibers.

16. The fibers of claim 14, wherein the fibers are bicomponent fibers.

17. The fibers of claim 14, wherein the fibers are bicomponent fibers comprising a polyethylene component and a polypropylene component in a side-by-side configuration.

18. A porous thermoplastic substrate treated with an ethoxylated, hydrogenated castor oil;

sorbitan monooleate;

an ethoxylated polyalkyl siloxane; and

an alkyl polyglycoside or a derivative of an alkyl polyglycoside.

19. The porous thermoplastic substrate of claim 18, wherein the porous thermoplastic substrate is a lofty nonwoven fabric.

20. The porous thermoplastic substrate of claim 18, wherein the porous thermoplastic substrate is a lofty nonwoven fabric that comprises multicomponent fibers.

21. The porous thermoplastic substrate of claim 18, wherein the porous thermoplastic substrate is a lofty nonwoven fabric that comprises bicomponent fibers.

22. The porous thermoplastic substrate of claim 18, wherein the porous thermoplastic substrate is a lofty nonwoven fabric that comprises bicomponent fibers comprising a polyethylene component and a polypropylene component in a side-by-side configuration.

23. A personal care article comprising the thermoplastic substrate of claim 18.

24. A health care article comprising the thermoplastic substrate of claim 18.

25. An absorbent article comprising the thermoplastic substrate of claim 18.

26. A method of treating a nonwoven substrate comprising contacting a substrate with a composition that comprises a mixture of additives comprising:

from about 2 parts to about 10 parts of an ethoxylated, hydrogenated castor oil;

from about 2 parts to about 10 parts of sorbitan monooleate;

from about 1 part to about 5 parts of a an alkyl polyglycoside or a derivative of an alkyl polyglycoside; and

from about 1 part to about 10 parts of an ethoxylated polyalkyl siloxane.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the mixture of additives in included in an aqueous treatment composition that comprises from about 50 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of water.

29. The aqueous treatment composition of claim 26, wherein the mixture of additives comprises:

from about 3 parts to about 6 parts of an ethoxylated, hydrogenated castor oil;

from about 2 parts to about 5 parts of sorbitan monooleate;

from about 1 part to about 2 parts of an alkyl polyglycoside or a derivative of an alkyl polyglycoside; and

from about 1 parts to about 4 parts of an ethoxylated polyalkyl siloxane.

30. The aqueous treatment composition of claim 26, wherein the mixture of additives comprises:

from about 3 parts to about 6 parts of an ethoxylated, hydrogenated castor oil;

from about 2.5 parts to about 5 parts of sorbitan monooleate;

from about 1 part to about 2 parts of an alkyl polyglycoside or a derivative of an alkyl polyglycoside; and

from about 2 parts to about 4 parts of an ethoxylated polyalkyl siloxane.

31. A method of enhanced fluid handling properties to a lofty bicomponent nonwoven substrate, the method comprising contacting a lofty bicomponent nonwoven substrate with an aqueous treatment composition that comprises:

from about 50 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of water;

from about 1.5 weight percent to about 20 weight percent of sorbitan monooleate;

from about 1.5 weight percent to about 15 weight percent of an ethoxylated, hydrogenated castor oil;

from about 0.75 weight percent to about 7.5 weight percent of an alkyl polyglycoside or a derivative of an alkyl polyglycoside; and

from about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent of an ethoxylated polyalkyl siloxane.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the aqueous treatment composition comprises

from about 80 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of water;

from about 1.5 weight percent to about 6 weight percent of sorbitan monooleate;

from about 1.5 weight percent to about 6 weight percent of an ethoxylated, hydrogenated castor oil;

from about 0.75 weight percent to about 3 weight percent of an alkyl polyglycoside or a derivative of an alkyl polyglycoside; and

from about 1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of an ethoxylated polyalkyl siloxane.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the aqueous treatment composition is applied as a foam.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the aqueous treatment is applied uniformly to the lofty bicomponent nonwoven substrate so that a durable hydrophilic character is imparted to the lofty bicomponent nonwoven substrate.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the aqueous treatment is applied to one side of the lofty bicomponent nonwoven substrate.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the aqueous treatment is applied to both sides of the lofty bicomponent nonwoven substrate.

37. An aqueous treatment composition that comprises water and a mixture of additives that consists essentially of from about 2 to about 4 parts by weight of the first additive, from about 1 to about 2 parts by weight of the second additive and about 1 part by weight of the third additive