Multi-ply resilient tissue products

Abstract

The present invention provides tissue webs and products having improved z-directional properties. The improved z-directional properties may be achieved by providing the structure with a unique three-dimensional surface topography, which increases the structure's Exponential Compression Modulus (K) and Caliper Under Load (C 0 ). By improving both K and C 0 , the present inventors have also been able to provide tissue structures with relatively high Compression Energy (E), which enables the structures to be calendered at high loads without significant loss of sheet bulk or degradation of strength.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a soft and resilient tissue product comprising the steps of:
 a. forming a fiber slurry;   b. depositing the fiber slurry on a forming fabric;   c. partially dewatering the slurry to form a wet tissue web;   d. transferring the wet tissue web to a through-air drying fabric comprising a support structure and a plurality of linear elements extending in the z-direction therefrom, the elements having a height from about 0.4 to about 0.7 mm;   e. through-air drying the wet tissue web to form a dried tissue web;   f. calendering the dried tissue web;   g. plying two tissue webs together to form a two ply tissue product; and   h. winding the two ply tissue product into a rolled tissue product having a Roll Firmness less than about 7.0 mm and a sheet bulk of 15.0 cc/g or greater.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of calendering is carried out by passing the dried tissue web through a nip created by a steel roll and a polyurethane roll, the nip having a nip load from about 20 to about 200 pli. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the rolled tissue product has a caliper greater than about 550 μm. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the rolled tissue product has a TS7 less than about 10.5 and a TS750 less than about 85.0. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the rolled tissue product has a Caliper Under Load (C 0 ) from about 9.5 to about 10.5 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the rolled tissue product has a Compression Energy (E) from 0.0130 to about 0.0150 J/mm 2 . 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the plurality of linear elements comprise a continuous line element. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the continuous line elements have a pair of planar sidewalls and a rectangular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the continuous line elements are similarly sized. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the continuous line elements have a width (w) from about 0.5 to about 0.8 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the continuous elements are spaced apart from one-another from about 2.5 to about 4.0 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the continuous elements form a wave-like pattern and are evenly spaced apart from one-another from about 2.5 to about 4.0 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the continuous elements have a wavelength ranging from about 50 to about 200 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the plurality of linear elements comprise continuous line elements having a rectangular cross-section and a width from about 0.9 to about 1.5 mm, the continuous line elements arranged in a wave-like pattern with adjacent continuous line elements evenly spaced apart from one another from about 3.0 to about 4.5 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the product has a TS7 value from about 9.0 to about 10.5.