Tissue-based water barrier material

Abstract

A hydrophobic, liquid-impermeable substrate includes a hydrophilic nonwoven having a treated surface, a polyolefin dispersion disposed on the treated surface, and a hydrophobic chemistry disposed on the polyolefin dispersion. A method for preparing a hydrophobic, breathable, liquid-impermeable substrate includes providing a hydrophilic nonwoven having a treated surface, applying a polyolefin dispersion to the treated surface, and applying a hydrophobic chemistry to the polyolefin dispersion. The hydrophilic nonwoven can be tissue or paper toweling. The hydrophobic chemistry can be a water-dispersible hydrophobic polymer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hydrophobic, liquid-impermeable substrate comprising:
 a hydrophilic nonwoven having a treated surface; a polyolefin dispersion disposed on the treated surface; and a hydrophobic chemistry disposed on the polyolefin dispersion.   
     
     
         2 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic nonwoven includes tissue or paper toweling. 
     
     
         3 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic nonwoven includes cellulose. 
     
     
         4 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic nonwoven includes fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is breathable and exhibits an air permeability of 100 cfm. 
     
     
         6 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic nonwoven includes a hydrophilic surface opposite the treated surface. 
     
     
         7 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic chemistry is a water-dispersible hydrophobic polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the water-dispersible hydrophobic polymer includes a comonomer selected from acrylic monomers, acrylic precursors, and the like. 
     
     
         9 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic chemistry is a superhydrophobic chemistry. 
     
     
         10 . The substrate of  claim 9 , wherein the superhydrophobic chemistry includes a hydrophobic component selected from the group consisting of fluorinated polymers, perfluorinated polymers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The substrate of  claim 9 , wherein the superhydrophobic chemistry includes one of UNIDYNE KCO3 fluorinated water and oil repellent or the Formulation III chemistry. 
     
     
         12 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin dispersion is HYPOD 8510. 
     
     
         13 . The substrate of  claim 1 , further comprising nanoclay. 
     
     
         14 . The substrate of  claim 1 , the further comprising a surfactant, wherein the surfactant is selected from nonionic, cationic, and anionic surfactants. 
     
     
         15 . The substrate of  claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of long chain fatty acids, long chain fatty acid salts, ethylene-acrylic acid, ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers, sulfonic acid, acetic acid, and the like. 
     
     
         16 . The substrate of  claim 1 , further comprising a filler selected from the group consisting of milled glass, calcium carbonate, aluminum trihydrate, talc, antimony trioxide, fly ash, clays, and the like. 
     
     
         17 . A method for preparing a hydrophobic, breathable, liquid-impermeable substrate comprising:
 providing a hydrophilic nonwoven having a treated surface;   applying a polyolefin dispersion to the treated surface; and   applying a hydrophobic chemistry to the polyolefin dispersion.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the hydrophilic nonwoven includes tissue or paper toweling. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the hydrophobic chemistry is a water-dispersible hydrophobic polymer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the hydrophobic chemistry is a superhydrophobic chemistry.