Packages for articles of commerce

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed, in part, to a package for an article of commerce. The package comprises a nonwoven substrate comprising one or more layers of fibers. A plurality of the fibers each comprise a plurality of fibrils extending outwardly from a surface of the fibers in a central longitudinal third of the fibers. The plurality of fibrils comprise a lipid ester that has a melting point greater than 35° C. The plurality of fibers are free of droplets of the lipid ester.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package for an article of commerce, the package comprising:
 a nonwoven substrate comprising a layer of fibers, wherein a plurality of the fibers each comprise a plurality of fibrils extending outwardly from a surface of the fibers in a central longitudinal third of the fibers, wherein the plurality of fibrils comprise a lipid ester, wherein the lipid ester has a melting point greater than 35° C., and wherein the plurality of fibers are free of droplets of the lipid ester.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven substrate is free of a film, and wherein the nonwoven substrate forms an outer portion of the package. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fibrils consist essentially of the lipid ester. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fibers are formed from a composition comprising a polyolefin and the lipid ester, and wherein the composition comprises 11% to 35% of the lipid ester by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the average length of the fibrils from the surfaces of the fibers to free ends of the fibrils is in the range of about 0.5 μm to about 20 μm. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the average hydraulic diameter of the fibrils is in the range of about 100 nm to about 800 nm. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the layer of fibers comprises spunbond fibers. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the layer of fibers comprises meltblown fibers. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the layer of fibers comprises fine fibers. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the fibrils extend radially outwardly from a surface of the fibers, wherein the fibrils have a first color, wherein the fibers have a second color in non-fibril areas thereof, and wherein the first color is different than the second color. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of the fibrils grow out of the surface of the fibers post-nonwoven substrate formation under ambient conditions. 
     
     
         12 . A package comprising:
 an article of commerce; and   a nonwoven substrate comprising a layer of fibers, wherein the layer of fibers comprises a plurality of bonds, each bond comprising a bond area, and wherein a plurality of fibrils extend outwardly from a surface of at least one of the bond areas.   
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of fibrils consist essentially of a lipid ester. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of fibrils comprise glycerol tristearate, and wherein the nonwoven substrate forms an outer portion of the package and surrounds a portion of the article of commerce. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein a plurality of the fibers comprise fibrils extending radially outwardly from a surface of the fibers in non-bond areas. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein the nonwoven substrate comprises a second layer of fibers, and wherein the fibers of the second layer of fibers are substantially free of fibrils. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein the nonwoven substrate comprises a second layer of fibers, and wherein a plurality of fibrils extend radially outwardly from a surface of at least some of the fibers in the second layer of fibers. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein at least some of the fibers are formed from a composition comprising 11% to 35% of a lipid ester, by weight of the composition, wherein the lipid ester has a melting point greater than 40° C., and wherein the fibers are free of droplets of the lipid ester. 
     
     
         19 . Packaging material for an article of commerce, the packaging material comprising:
 a nonwoven substrate comprising a layer of fibers, wherein a plurality of the fibers comprise fibrils extending outwardly therefrom only after a time period, and wherein the time period is greater than about 24 hours post-nonwoven substrate formation under ambient conditions.   
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein the time period is greater than about 60 hours post-nonwoven substrate formation under ambient conditions, and wherein the nonwoven substrate forms an outer portion of the package. 
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein the fibrils have a first color, wherein the plurality of fibers in non-fibril areas have a second color, and wherein the first color is different than the second color. 
     
     
         22 . A package for an article of commerce, the package comprising:
 a nonwoven substrate comprising a layer of fibers, wherein a plurality of the fibers each comprise a plurality of fibrils extending outwardly from a surface of the fibers in a central longitudinal third of the fibers, wherein the plurality of fibrils comprise a lipid ester, wherein the lipid ester has a melting point greater than 35° C., preferably greater than 40° C., and wherein the plurality of fibers are free of droplets of the lipid ester.   
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 22 , wherein the nonwoven substrate is free of a film, and wherein the nonwoven substrate forms an outer portion of the package. 
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 22  or  23 , wherein the plurality of fibrils consist essentially of the lipid ester. 
     
     
         25 . The package any of  claims 22 - 24 , wherein the plurality of fibers are formed from a composition comprising a polyolefin and the lipid ester, and wherein the composition comprises 11% to 35% of the lipid ester by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         26 . The package any of  claims 22 - 25 , wherein the average length of the fibrils from the surfaces of the fibers to free ends of the fibrils is in the range of 0.5 μm to 20 μm. 
     
     
         27 . The package any of  claims 22 - 26 , wherein the layer of fibers comprises spunbond fibers. 
     
     
         28 . The package any of  claims 22 - 27 , wherein the layer of fibers comprises meltblown fibers. 
     
     
         29 . The package any of  claims 22 - 28 , wherein the layer of fibers comprises fine fibers. 
     
     
         30 . The package any of  claims 22 - 29 , wherein the fibrils have a first color, wherein the fibers have a second color in non-fibril areas thereof, and wherein the first color is different than the second color. 
     
     
         31 . The package any of  claims 22 - 30 , wherein the layer of fibers comprises a plurality of bonds, each bond comprising a bond area, and wherein at least some of the fibrils extend outwardly from a surface of at least one of the bond areas. 
     
     
         32 . The package any of  claims 22 - 31 , wherein the plurality of fibrils comprise glycerol tristearate, and wherein the nonwoven substrate surrounds a portion of the article of commerce. 
     
     
         33 . The package of any of  claims 22 - 32 , wherein the average hydraulic diameter of the fibrils is in the range of 100 nm to 800 nm. 
     
     
         34 . The package of any of  claims 22 - 33 , wherein the nonwoven substrate comprises a second layer of fibers, and wherein the fibers of the second layer of fibers are substantially free of fibrils. 
     
     
         35 . The package of any of  claims 22 - 33 , wherein the nonwoven substrate comprises a second layer of fibers, and wherein the fibers of the second layer of fibers comprise fibrils. 
     
     
         36 . The package of  claim 34  or  35 , wherein the layer of fibers comprises spunbond fibers, and wherein the second layer of fibers comprises meltblown fibers or fine fibers.