Tissue products containing deliquescent materials and non-ionic surfactants

Abstract

Tissue products, such as facial tissue, bath tissue, paper towels, table napkins and the like can be improved by incorporating a sufficient amount of a deliquescent material and a non-ionic surfactant into the product. The deliquescent material is capable of maintaining a very high equilibrium amount of water in the product which can be advantageous in preventing the products from drying out and improving hand feel. The non-ionic surfactant improves the ability to incorporate the deliquescent materials into the tissue products quickly during manufacture and can help control the equilibrium moisture content of the product.

1 . A tissue product comprising a tissue sheet containing a deliquescent salt and a water-soluble non-ionic surfactant, said tissue sheet having an equilibrium moisture content of from about 10 to about 30 dry weight percent.  
   
   
       2 . The product of  claim 1  wherein the deliquescent salt is selected from the group consisting of aluminates, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, lithium chloride, sodium acetate, potassium acetate, ammonium acetate and trimethylamine n-oxide.  
   
   
       3 . The product of  claim 1  wherein the deliquescent material is lithium chloride.  
   
   
       4 . The product of  claim 1  wherein the deliquescent material is calcium chloride.  
   
   
       5 . The product of  claim 1  wherein the deliquescent material is magnesium chloride.  
   
   
       6 . The product of  claim 1  wherein the non-ionic surfactant is an acetylenic diol.  
   
   
       7 . The product of  claim 1  wherein the non-ionic surfactant is an ethoxylated fatty alcohol.  
   
   
       8 . The product of  claim 1  wherein the non-ionic surfactant is a water-soluble silicone glycol.  
   
   
       9 . The product of  claim 1  wherein the non-ionic surfactant is a silicone polyether.  
   
   
       10 . The product of  claim 1  wherein the non-ionic surfactant is an amino-functional polyether polysiloxane.  
   
   
       11 . A method for treating a tissue sheet comprising: 
 (a) providing a dry tissue sheet;    (b) preparing a surfactant/deliquescent salt solution containing about 0.0001 dry weight percent or greater of a non-ionic surfactant and from about 20 to about 80 dry weight percent of a deliquescent salt; and    c) topically applying the surfactant/deliquescent salt solution to the tissue sheet, wherein the equilibrium moisture content of the tissue sheet is increased.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the equilibrium moisture content of the tissue sheet is from about 10% to about 30% by weight of dry fibers.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the non-ionic surfactant has an HLB value of about 4 or greater.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the surfactant/deliquescent salt solution is sprayed onto the surface of the sheet.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the surfactant/deliquescent salt solution is printed onto the surface of the sheet.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the Water Drop Test value of the tissue sheet is about 12 seconds or less.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the Water Drop Test value of the tissue sheet is about 8 seconds or less.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the Water Drop Test value of the tissue sheet is about 6 seconds or less.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the Water Drop Test value of the tissue sheet is about 4 seconds or less.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the Water Drop Test value of the tissue sheet is about 1 second or less.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the tissue sheet is traveling at a speed of about 100 feet or greater per minute.