Hydrophobic treatment on hydrophilic nonwoven

Abstract

A liquid-impermeable barrier material includes a hydrophilic nonwoven web having two surfaces, the nonwoven web including fibers; and a hydrophobic composition disposed on a surface, wherein the barrier material is breathable. The barrier material exhibits a positive hydrohead value. The hydrophobic composition can include a hydrophobic component selected from the group consisting of fluorinated polymers, perfluorinated polymers, and mixtures thereof. The barrier material can include a hydrophilic surface opposite the surface having the hydrophobic composition. The nonwoven web can include tissue, cellulose, or other suitable material. A barrier material has a hydrophobic surface and includes a hydrophilic nonwoven substrate treated with a composition including a hydrophobic component and water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid-impermeable barrier material comprising:
 a hydrophilic nonwoven web having two surfaces, the nonwoven web including fibers; and   a hydrophobic composition disposed on a surface, wherein the barrier material is breathable.   
     
     
         2 . The barrier material of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier material exhibits a positive hydrohead value. 
     
     
         3 . The barrier material of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic composition includes a hydrophobic component selected from the group consisting of fluorinated polymers, perfluorinated polymers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The barrier material of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier material includes a hydrophilic surface opposite the surface having the hydrophobic composition. 
     
     
         5 . The barrier material of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven web includes tissue. 
     
     
         6 . The barrier material of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven web includes cellulose. 
     
     
         7 . The barrier material of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic composition is a film-like structure between a portion of the fibers. 
     
     
         8 . A barrier material having a hydrophobic surface, the barrier material comprising:
 a hydrophilic nonwoven substrate treated with a composition including a hydrophobic component and water.   
     
     
         9 . The barrier material of  claim 8 , wherein the barrier material includes a hydrophilic surface opposite the hydrophobic surface. 
     
     
         10 . The barrier material of  claim 8 , wherein the hydrophobic component is selected from the group consisting of fluorinated polymers, perfluorinated polymers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The barrier material of  claim 8 , the composition further comprising nano-structured particles. 
     
     
         12 . The barrier material of  claim 11 , wherein the nano-structured particles are selected from the group consisting of fumed silica, hydrophobic titania, zinc oxide, nanoclay, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The barrier material of  claim 8 , the composition further comprising a surfactant, wherein the surfactant is selected from nonionic, cationic, and anionic surfactants. 
     
     
         14 . The barrier material of  claim 8 , wherein the hydrophobic component is a water-dispersible hydrophobic polymer. 
     
     
         15 . The barrier material of  claim 14 , wherein the water-dispersible hydrophobic polymer includes a comonomer selected from acrylic monomers, acrylic precursors, and the like. 
     
     
         16 . The barrier material of  claim 8 , the composition 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. 
     
     
         17 . The barrier material of  claim 8 , the composition 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. 
     
     
         18 . The barrier material of  claim 8 , wherein the nonwoven substrate is a tissue product.