Fibrous Elements and Fibrous Structures Employing Same

Abstract

Fibrous elements, such as filaments, and more particularly to fibrous elements employing a polymer and a wetting agent, methods for making such fibrous elements, fibrous structures employing such fibrous elements, methods for making such fibrous structures and packages containing such fibrous structures are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A roll of paper towel comprising a co-formed fibrous structure, wherein the co-formed fibrous structure comprises from about 30% to 90% by dry weight of the co-formed fibrous structure of a plurality of wood pulp fibers and about 10% to about 70% by dry weight of the co-formed fibrous structure of a plurality of meltblown filaments derived from a polymer composition comprising 100% by weight of the polymer composition of one or more biodegradable, thermoplastic polymers selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polycaprolactone, and mixtures thereof, wherein the co-formed fibrous structure exhibits a contact angle of less than 80° and wherein the plurality of wood pulp fibers are commingled with the plurality of meltblown filaments. 
     
     
         2 . The roll of paper towel according to  claim 1  wherein the co-formed fibrous structure exhibits a contact angle of less than 75°. 
     
     
         3 . The roll of paper towel according to  claim 1  wherein the co-formed fibrous structure further comprises a wetting agent, wherein the wetting agent comprises a surfactant. 
     
     
         4 . The roll of paper towel according to  claim 1  wherein the co-formed fibrous structure further comprises a wetting agent selected from the group consisting of: silicone surfactants, polyethylene glycols, glycols and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The roll of paper towel according to  claim 1  wherein the co-formed fibrous structure further comprises a wetting agent, wherein the wetting agent is a melt additive wetting agent. 
     
     
         6 . The roll of paper towel according to  claim 1  wherein the one or more biodegradable, thermoplastic polymers comprises polylactic acid. 
     
     
         7 . The roll of paper towel according to  claim 1  wherein the co-formed fibrous structure comprises from about 40% to 80% by dry weight of the co-formed fibrous structure of the plurality of wood pulp fibers and from about 20% to about 60% by dry weight of the co-formed fibrous structure of the plurality of meltblown filaments. 
     
     
         8 . The roll of paper towel according to  claim 7  wherein the co-formed fibrous structure step of comprises from about 50% to 70% by dry weight of the co-formed fibrous structure of a plurality of wood pulp fibers and from about 30% to about 50% by dry weight of the co-formed fibrous structure of the plurality of meltblown filaments. 
     
     
         9 . A package containing a roll of paper towel, wherein the roll of paper towel comprises a co-formed fibrous structure, wherein the co-formed fibrous structure comprises from about 30% to 90% by dry weight of the co-formed fibrous structure of a plurality of wood pulp fibers and about 10% to about 70% by dry weight of the co-formed fibrous structure of a plurality of meltblown filaments derived from a polymer composition comprising 100% by weight of the polymer composition of one or more biodegradable, thermoplastic polymers, wherein the co-formed fibrous structure exhibits a contact angle of less than 80° and wherein the plurality of wood pulp fibers are commingled with the plurality of meltblown filaments. 
     
     
         10 . The package according to  claim 9  wherein the co-formed fibrous structure exhibits a contact angle of less than 75°. 
     
     
         11 . The package according to  claim 9  wherein the co-formed fibrous structure further comprises a wetting agent, wherein the wetting agent comprises a surfactant. 
     
     
         12 . The package according to  claim 9  wherein the co-formed fibrous structure further comprises a wetting agent selected from the group consisting of: silicone surfactants, polyethylene glycols, glycols and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The package according to  claim 9  wherein the co-formed fibrous structure further comprises a wetting agent, wherein the wetting agent is a melt additive wetting agent. 
     
     
         14 . The package according to  claim 9  wherein the one or more biodegradable, thermoplastic polymers comprises polylactic acid. 
     
     
         15 . The package according to  claim 9  wherein the co-formed fibrous structure comprises from about 40% to 80% by dry weight of the co-formed fibrous structure of the plurality of wood pulp fibers and from about 20% to about 60% by dry weight of the co-formed fibrous structure of the plurality of meltblown filaments. 
     
     
         16 . The package according to  claim 15  wherein the co-formed fibrous structure step of comprises from about 50% to 70% by dry weight of the co-formed fibrous structure of a plurality of wood pulp fibers and from about 30% to about 50% by dry weight of the co-formed fibrous structure of the plurality of meltblown filaments.