Nonwoven melamine fiber surface preparation and cleaning material

Abstract

Provided is a nonwoven surface preparation or cleaning material comprising melamine fibers and a process for preparing the material. The nonwoven material, in one embodiment, comprises from 20 to 100% by weight melamine fibers. Other synthetic and natural fibers can be used in conjunction with the melamine fibers. However, it is the melamine fibers which are important, and the actual amount can be varied based on the nature of the surface to be cleaned, cleaning difficulty and material cost.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nonwoven surface preparation or cleaning material comprising melamine fibers. 
     
     
         2 . The nonwoven material of  claim 1 , comprising from 20-100 wt % melamine fibers. 
     
     
         3 . The nonwoven cleaning material of  claim 1 , comprising from 30-70 wt % melamine fibers. 
     
     
         4 . The nonwoven material of  claim 1 , further comprising rayon, Tencel®, bicomponent, polyesters, wood pulp, polyolefins, cotton, jute, bamboo or nylon fibers, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The nonwoven material of  claim 1 , prepared by carding melamine fibers with a carding machine having no main roll cylinder, only at least two small cylinders, and then hydroentangling the carded melamine fibers in order to prepare the nonwoven cleaning materials. 
     
     
         6 . The nonwoven material of  claim 1 , prepared by carding and then needling a web of fibers comprising melamine fibers. 
     
     
         7 . The nonwoven material of  claim 1 , prepared by wetlaying fibers comprised of melamine fibers. 
     
     
         8 . The nonwoven cleaning material of  claim 1 , comprising melamine fibers and polyester fibers. 
     
     
         9 . The nonwoven cleaning material of  claim 1 , comprising melamine fibers, viscose fibers and polyester fibers. 
     
     
         10 . The nonwoven cleaning material of  claim 1 , the cleaning material having a basis weight in the range of from about 20-1200 g/square meter. 
     
     
         11 . A method of preparing the nonwoven material of  claim 1 , which comprises the steps of:
 (i) carding melamine fibers with a carding machine having no main roll cylinder, only at least two small cylinders, and   (ii) hydroentangling the carded melamine fibers in order to prepare the nonwoven cleaning materials.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the carding machine used has at least four small cylinders. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the melamine fibers are mixed with rayon, Tencel®, bicomponent, polyester, wood pulp, polypropylene, cotton, jute, bamboo or nylon fibers. 
     
     
         14 . A method of preparing the nonwoven material of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of carding and then needling a web of fibers comprising melamine fibers. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the needling is on both sides of the nonwoven. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the web comprises from 30-60 wt % rayon, Tencel®, bicomponent, polyester, wood pulp, polypropylene, cotton, jute, bamboo or nylon fibers. 
     
     
         17 . A method of preparing the nonwoven material of  claim 1 , wherein fibers, comprising melamine fibers, are wetlaid. 
     
     
         18 . A method of cleaning a surface which comprises wiping the surface with the nonwoven material of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein only water is used with the material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a combination of chemical cleaners, surfactants, detergents or disinfectants is used with the material. 
     
     
         21 . A method of polishing a surface, which comprises rubbing the surface with the nonwoven material of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         22 . A method of buffing a floor, which comprises buffing the floor with the nonwoven material of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         23 . The nonwoven material of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven material is free of any surfactants, cleaning detergent or binder. 
     
     
         24 . The nonwoven material of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven material comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of chemical cleaners, surfactants, detergents, disinfectants, and mixtures thereof.