Biodegradable cotton composites

Abstract

A non-woven composite is disclosed, comprising a first layer, further comprising a biodegradable component; and a second layer, further comprising a biodegradation enhancement component, the second layer being bonded to the first layer. As each of these two layers has a biodegradable component, overall biodegrading is enhanced. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of producing a non-woven composite, comprising: 
 a. creating a first layer, the first layer comprising a first biodegradable component;    b. creating a second layer, the second layer comprising a biodegradation enhancement component; and    c. bonding the first layer to the second layer.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a. the biodegradable component comprises at least one of (i) a wetting agent or (ii) a hydrophilic biodegradable material    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a. adding a non-elastic thermoplastic component to the biodegradable component in the first layer; and    b. heat-stretching the non-elastic thermoplastic component and the biodegradable component in the machine direction.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a. adding a non-elastic thermoplastic component to the biodegradable component in the first layer; and    b. heat-stretching the non-elastic thermoplastic component and biodegradable component in the cross-machine direction.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a. the second layer further comprises at least one of (i) a spunbond material or (ii) a meltblown material.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 a. a wetting agent is added topically to the spunbond material.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a. creating a third layer, the third layer comprising a nonbiodegradable component; and    b. bonding the first layer to the third layer;    c. wherein the third layer is on a side of the first layer opposite the second layer.    
     
     
         8 . A non-woven composite, comprising: 
 a. a first layer, further comprising a biodegradable component; and    b. a second layer, further comprising a biodegradation enhancement component, the second layer being bonded to the first layer.    
     
     
         9 . The non-woven composite of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 a. the biodegradation enhancement component is at least one of (i) a wetting agent or (ii) a hydrophilic biodegradable material.    
     
     
         10 . The non-woven composite of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 a. the wetting agent makes the non-woven composite more wettable.    
     
     
         11 . The non-woven composite of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 a. the second layer is bonded to the first layer using at least one of (i) calender patterned bonding, (ii) ultrasonic patterned bonding, (iii) infrared bonding, or (iv) hot air bonding.    
     
     
         12 . The non-woven composite of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 a. the second layer comprises at least one of (i) a spunbond non-woven material or (ii) a meltblown non-woven material.    
     
     
         13 . The non-woven composite of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 a. the first layer further comprises a thermoplastic biodegradable fiber, the thermoplastic biodegradable fiber further comprising at least one of (i) EASTAR BIO, (ii) poly(lactide), (iii) polyvinyl alcohol, (iv) other biodegradable fibers, or (v) a bicomponent fiber with biodegradable components.    
     
     
         14 . The non-woven composite of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a. a third layer;    b. wherein: 
 i. the second layer comprises a meltblown layer bonded on a first outer surface of the first layer; and  
 ii. the third layer comprises a spunbond layer bonded to a second outer surface of the first layer disposed opposite the first outer surface.  
   
     
     
         15 . The non-woven composite of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 a. the first layer further comprises a cellulosic fiber blended with a thermoplastic fiber, the thermoplastic fiber further comprising at least one of (i) polyethylene, (ii) polypropylene, (iii) polyester, (iv) nylon, (v) low melting point fibers, or (vi) bicomponent fibers; and    b. at least one of the outer spunbond or meltblown layers comprise a biodegradable polymer, the biodegradable polymer further comprising at least one of (i) poly(lactide), (ii) EASTAR BIO, (iii) polyvinyl alcohol, or (iv) other biodegradable polymers.