Durable hydrophilic nonwoven wipes

Abstract

A wipe comprising a nonwoven web of a wettable fiber matrix, wherein the wettable fiber matrix are thermoplastic polymeric fibers blended with at least one hydrophilic melt additive. In alternate embodiments, the nonwoven web further includes binder fibers which may be wettable or non-wettable or combinations of both.

1 - 22 . (canceled)  
     
     
         23 . A wipe comprising a nonwoven web of a wettable fiber matrix wherein said wettable fiber matrix are thermoplastic polymeric fibers blended with at least one hydrophilic melt additive, said hydrophilic melt additive comprising a mixture of hydroxy phenols and polyethylene glycols.  
     
     
         24 . A wipe comprising a nonwoven web of a wettable fiber matrix wherein said wettable fiber matrix are thermoplastic polymeric fibers blended with at least one hydrophilic melt additive, said nonwoven web further comprising non-wettable binder fibers.  
     
     
         25 . The wipe according to  claim 23  wherein said thermoplastic polymeric fibers are polypropylene staple fibers.  
     
     
         26 . The wipe according to  claim 23  wherein said thermoplastic polymeric fibers are polypropylene/polypropylene bicomponent fibers.  
     
     
         27 . The wipe according to  claim 26  wherein said polypropylene/polypropylene bicomponent fibers comprise a polypropylene sheath and a polypropylene core.  
     
     
         28 . The wipe according to  claim 24  wherein said hydrophilic melt additive is a mixture of hydroxy phenols and polyethylene glycols.  
     
     
         29 . The wipe according to  claim 24  wherein said non-wettable binder fibers are polyethylene/polypropylene bicomponent fibers.  
     
     
         30 . The wipe according to  claim 29  wherein said polyethylene/polypropylene bicomponent fibers comprise a polyethylene sheath and a polypropylene core.  
     
     
         31 . The wipe according to  claim 23  wherein said nonwoven web further comprises wettable binder fibers.  
     
     
         32 . The wipe according to  claim 31  wherein said wettable binder fibers are polyethylene/polypropylene bicomponent fibers blended with a hydrophilic melt additive.  
     
     
         33 . The wipe according to  claim 24  wherein said nonwoven web is: 
 30-90 wt. % of said wettable fiber matrix; and    10-70 wt. % of said non-wettable binder fibers.    
     
     
         34 . The wipe according to  claim 24  wherein said nonwoven web has hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions.  
     
     
         35 . The wipe according to  claim 23  wherein said nonwoven web has enhanced wettability and increased strength.  
     
     
         36 . The wipe according to  claim 24  wherein said thermoplastic polymeric fibers are polypropylene staple fibers.  
     
     
         37 . The wipe according to  claim 24  wherein said thermoplastic polymeric fibers are polypropylene/polypropylene bicomponent fibers.  
     
     
         38 . The wipe according to  claim 37  wherein said polypropylene/polypropylene bicomponent fibers comprise a polypropylene sheath and a polypropylene core.  
     
     
         39 . The wipe according to  claim 24  wherein said nonwoven web further comprises wettable binder fibers.  
     
     
         40 . The wipe according to  claim 39  wherein said wettable binder fibers are polyethylene/polypropylene bicomponent fibers blended with a hydrophilic melt additive.  
     
     
         41 . The wipe according to  claim 39  wherein said nonwoven web is: 
 up to 40 wt. % of said wettable fiber matrix;    up to 40 wt. % of said non-wettable binder fibers; and up to 30 wt. % of said wettable binder fibers.    
     
     
         42 . The wipe according to  claim 24  wherein said nonwoven web has enhanced wettability and increased strength.  
     
     
         43 . A wipe comprising a nonwoven web of a wettable fiber matrix wherein said wettable fiber matrix are thermoplastic polymeric fibers blended with at least one hydrophilic melt additive, and wherein at least some of said thermoplastic polymeric fibers are sheath/core fibers and said hydrophilic melt additive is blended into the sheath of said sheath/core fibers.  
     
     
         44 . The wipe of  claim 23  wherein the wipe is selected from the group consisting of general application wipes, hard surface wipes, cleaning wipes, and automotive wipes.