Dispersible non-woven fabrics

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dispersible nonwoven fabric comprising pulp and solvent spun cellulosic fibers, characterized in that the solvent spun cellulosic fibers are fibrillated. Furthermore the invention concerns the use of the fabric in dry wipes and wet wipes.

1 . A dispersible nonwoven fabric comprising pulp and solvent spun cellulosic fibers, wherein the solvent spun cellulosic fibers are fibrillated. 
     
     
         2 . The dispersible nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibrillated solvent spun cellulosic fibers are present in an amount of 1 to 90 wt.-% based on the fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The dispersible nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibrillated solvent spun fibers are lyocell fibers. 
     
     
         4 . The dispersible nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the fabric has a weight of 30 to 100 g/m2, and a thickness of 0.1 to 0.7 mm 
     
     
         5 . The dispersible nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises a dispersing aid in an amount of 0.1 to 1% wt.-% based on the fabric. 
     
     
         6 . The dispersible nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises a binder in an amount of 0.01 to 5 wt.-% based on the fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The dispersible nonwoven fabric according to  claim 6 , wherein an acrylic resin or epichlorhydrin based wet strength resin is used as the binder. 
     
     
         8 . The dispersible nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the pulp is a pulp selected from the group consisting of a softwood pulp, a hardwood pulp or a pulp made from plants like abaca or bamboo. 
     
     
         9 . The dispersible nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is impregnated with a liquid or a lotion. 
     
     
         10 . The dispersible nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the impregnated fabric has a wet tensile strength in machine direction of 2 to 20 N/5cm, based on a basis weight of 60 g/m 2  and in cross direction 1 to 10 N/5 cm. 
     
     
         11 . The dispersible nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is disintegrating under agitation in water according to Tier 1 Test FG 511.2-Dispersability Tipping Tube Test of the “EDANA Guidance Document for Assessing the Flushability of Nonwoven Consumer Products” where at least 95% of the disintegrated size fractions pass a 12 mm screen. 
     
     
         12 . A process for production of a dispersible nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1  comprising the steps of
 a) Providing a dispersion of pulp and a dispersion of solvent spun fiber in water either separately or together as a mixture, 
 b1) Refining these dispersions separately and mixing the resulting slurries to an intimate blend to form a slurry, or, 
 b2) Co-refining the mixture of pulp and solvent spun fiber to form a slurry 
 c) Wet laying the slurry to form a sheet, and 
 d) Hydroentanglement of the sheet to form a fabric. 
 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 12 , wherein a dispersing agent is added to the dispersion in step a). 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 12 , wherein a binder is added in step b1) or b2). 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 12 , wherein the refining energy is from 20 to 400 kWh/t. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 12 , wherein the solvent spun fibers are short cut fibers with a cut length of 2 to 20 mm and a titer of 0.9 to 6.7 dtex. 
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 12 , wherein the fabric is sliced, folded and packed. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 12 , wherein the fabric is treated with a liquid or lotion before packaging. 
     
     
         19 . A product comprising a fabric according to  claim 1 .