Polymeric structures comprising an unsubstituted hydroxyl polymer and processes for making same

Abstract

Hydroxyl polymers, more particularly, polymeric structures, especially fibers, comprising an unsubstituted hydroxyl polymer, webs comprising such polymeric structures and processes for making such polymeric structures and/or webs are provided.

1 . A polymeric structure in the form of a fiber, wherein the fiber comprises an unsubstituted hydroxyl polymer and wherein the fiber exhibits an apparent peak wet tensile stress greater than 0.2 MPa.  
   
   
       2 . The fiber according to  claim 1  wherein the unsubstituted hydroxyl polymer has a weight average molecular weight of at least 10,000 g/mol.  
   
   
       3 . The fiber according to  claim 1  wherein the unsubstituted hydroxyl polymer comprises starch.  
   
   
       4 . The fiber according to  claim 1  wherein the fiber has an average fiber diameter of less than about 50 μm.  
   
   
       5 . The fiber according to  claim 1  wherein the fiber further comprises a substitution agent.  
   
   
       6 . The fiber according to  claim 1  wherein the fiber exhibits a pH of less than 7.  
   
   
       7 . A web comprising a fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the web exhibits an initial total wet tensile greater than about 10 g/in.  
   
   
       8 . A polymeric structure in the form of a fiber, wherein the fiber comprises an unsubstituted hydroxyl polymer and wherein the fiber exhibits an average fiber diameter of less than about 10 μm.  
   
   
       9 . The fiber according to  claim 8  wherein the unsubstituted hydroxyl polymer has a weight average molecular weight of at least 10,000 g/mol.  
   
   
       10 . The fiber according to  claim 8  wherein the unsubstituted hydroxyl polymer comprises starch.  
   
   
       11 . The fiber according to  claim 8  wherein the fiber further comprises a substitution agent.  
   
   
       12 . The fiber according to  claim 8  wherein the fiber exhibits a pH of less than 7.  
   
   
       13 . A web comprising a fiber according to  claim 8 , wherein the web exhibits an initial total wet tensile greater than about 10 g/in.  
   
   
       14 . A process for making a fiber comprising an unsubstituted hydroxyl polymer, the process comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing an unsubstituted hydroxyl polymer;    b. substituting the unsubstituted hydroxyl polymer to produce a substituted hydroxyl polymer; and    c. polymer processing the fiber from the substituted hydroxyl polymer.    
   
   
       15 . The process according to  claim 14  wherein the unsubstituted hydroxyl polymer has a weight average molecular weight of at least 10,000 g/mol.  
   
   
       16 . The process according to  claim 14  wherein the unsubstituted hydroxyl polymer comprises starch.  
   
   
       17 . The process according to  claim 14  wherein the fiber has an average fiber diameter of less than about 50 μm.  
   
   
       18 . The process according to  claim 14  wherein the fiber further comprises a substitution agent.  
   
   
       19 . The process according to  claim 14  wherein the fiber exhibits a pH of less than 7.  
   
   
       20 . The process according to  claim 14  wherein the step of substituting the unsubstituted hydroxyl polymer comprises subjecting the unsubstituted hydroxyl polymer to an alkaline pH.  
   
   
       21 . The process according to  claim 14  wherein the step of substituting the unsubstituted hydroxyl polymer further comprises reacting the unsubstituted hydroxyl polymer with a cationic agent.  
   
   
       22 . The process according to  claim 14  wherein the step of obtaining a fiber from the substituted hydroxyl polymer comprises subjecting the substituted hydroxyl polymer to an acidic pH.  
   
   
       23 . The process according to  claim 14  wherein the process further comprises a step of collecting a plurality of the fibers to form a web.