High tensile modulus nonwoven fabric for cleaning printer machines

Abstract

A nonwoven fabric having high tensile modulus suitable for cleaning printer cylinders is formed by hydroentangling a fibrous nonwoven web formed from higher-melting polyester fibers, lower-melting binder fibers and woodpulp fibers and then thermally bonding the fabric.

1 . A high strength nonwoven fabric for cleaning cylinders comprising a spunlaced nonwoven fabric comprising between about 5 and 40 weight percent of binder fibers comprising a lower-melting component, up to about 55 weight percent of higher-melting polyester fibers wherein the lower-melting component comprises a polyester copolymer having a lower melting point than the melting point of the higher-melting polyester fibers and between about 40 and 60 weight percent of woodpulp fibers, and wherein the spunlaced fabric is thermally bonded by at least partially softening or melting the sheath component of the binder fibers to provide a thermally bonded spunlaced nonwoven fabric. 
   
   
       2 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , having a tensile modulus value measured on dry fabric in the machine direction of greater than 25 MPa at 5 to 25% elongation. 
   
   
       3 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the binder fibers are bicomponent sheath-core fibers wherein the sheath comprises the lower-melting polyester copolymer component and the core comprises poly(ethylene terephthalate). 
   
   
       4 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 3 , wherein the lower-melting polyester copolymer component is an isophthalate copolymer of poly(ethylene terephthalate). 
   
   
       5 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the thermally bonded spunlaced fabric is calendered after thermal bonding. 
   
   
       6 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 5 , wherein the calendering is conducted at about 25° C. 
   
   
       7 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the thermally bonded spunlaced fabric is apertured. 
   
   
       8 . A method for cleaning a cylinder having an outer surface comprising the steps of providing the fabric of  claim 1  and contacting the outer surface of the cylinder with the fabric. 
   
   
       9 . A method for cleaning a cylinder having an outer surface comprising the steps of providing the fabric of  claim 2  and contacting the outer surface of the cylinder with the fabric. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 8  or  9 , wherein the cylinder is a component of a printing machine. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the cylinder is an impression cylinder.