Hollow fiber fabrics

Abstract

The present invention is directed to fibrous fabric comprising hollow fibers. Preferably, the fibrous fabrics will have an opacity greater than a fibrous fabric with an equivalent basis weight and made with the same material and the same fiber diameter. The fibrous fabric comprising hollow fibers may also have an opacity greater than a higher basis weight fibrous fabric containing the same material and having an equivalent fiber diameter and the same number of fibers. The perimeter of the hollow region of the hollow fibers is substantially non-concentric to the outer perimeter of the hollow polymeric fibers. The hollow fibers can be monocomponent and multicomponent, as well as monoconstituent or multiconstituent. These hollow fibers are then consolidated into woven and nonwoven fibrous fabrics that are then converted into articles.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fibrous fabric comprising hollow polymeric fibers comprising an outer perimeter and a hollow region having a perimeter, wherein the perimeter of the hollow region is substantially non-concentric to the outer perimeter of the hollow polymeric fiber.  
     
     
         2 . The fibrous fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter of the hollow region of the hollow polymeric fibers is substantially non-circular.  
     
     
         3 . The fibrous fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow region of the hollow polymeric fiber is from about 5% to about 40%.  
     
     
         4 . The fibrous fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow polymeric fiber has a diameter of from about 10 microns to about 100 microns.  
     
     
         5 . The fibrous fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow polymeric fiber is comprised of a thermoplastic polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyamide, polyimide, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylates, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The fibrous fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow polymeric fiber is comprised of a non-thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of viscose rayon, lyocell, cotton, wood pulp, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The fibrous fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material is blended with particulates comprised of materials selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, colored pigments, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The fibrous fabric of  claim 5 , wherein the hollow polymeric fiber is blended with non-thermoplastic polymeric fibers.  
     
     
         9 . The fibrous fabric of  claim 8 , wherein the non-thermoplastic polymeric fibers have a hollow region.  
     
     
         10 . The fibrous fabric of  claim 9 , wherein a perimeter of the hollow region of the hollow non-thermoplastic polymeric fibers is substantially non-concentric to an outer perimeter of the hollow non-thermoplastic polymeric fibers.  
     
     
         11 . A fibrous fabric comprising hollow polymeric fibers which comprise a polymeric material and have a hollow region, wherein the fibrous fabric has an opacity greater than a fibrous fabric produced with the same polymeric material at an equivalent fiber diameter and basis weight.  
     
     
         12 . The fibrous fabric of  claim 11 , wherein the hollow region has a perimeter and the perimeter of the hollow region is substantially non-concentric to an outer perimeter of the hollow polymeric fibers.  
     
     
         13 . The fibrous fabric of  claim 11 , wherein the perimeter of the hollow region of the hollow polymeric fibers is substantially non-circular.  
     
     
         14 . A wet wipe comprising the fibrous fabric of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         15 . The wet wipe of  claim 14  having a wet opacity greater than a wet wipe comprising the same polymeric material at an equivalent fiber diameter and basis weight.  
     
     
         16 . A wet wipe comprising the fibrous fabric of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         17 . The wet wipe of  claim 16  that has a wet opacity greater than a wet wipe comprising the same polymeric material at an equivalent fiber diameter and basis weight.  
     
     
         18 . The fibrous fabric of  claim 1  wherein the fibrous fabric has an opacity greater than a fibrous fabric comprising concentric hollow fibers comprising the same material and having an equivalent fiber diameter and basis weight.  
     
     
         19 . The fibrous fabric of  claim 10  wherein the fibrous fabric has an opacity greater than a fibrous fabric comprising concentric hollow fibers comprising the same material and having an equivalent fiber diameter and basis weight.  
     
     
         20 . The fibrous fabric of  claim 1  wherein the hollow polymeric fiber has a multicomponent configuration.