Hydraulically entangled nonwoven material and method for making it

Abstract

A wetlaid or foam formed hydraulically entangled nonwoven material containing at least 30%, by weight, pulp fibres and at least 20%, by weight, man-made fibres or filaments. The material has a basis weight variation in a non-random pattern in that it comprises a plurality of higher basis weight cushions protruding from one major surface of the material. The cushions as a main component comprise pulp fibres and are surrounded by a lower basis weight network which as a main component comprises the man-made fibres or filaments. The invention further refers to a method for making the material.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a division of co-pending application Ser. No. 10 / 400,673, filed on Mar. 28, 2003, which is a non-provisional of 60 / 367,712 filed Mar. 28, 2002 the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention refers to a wetlaid or foam formed hydraulically entangled nonwoven material containing at least 30%, by weight, pulp fibres and at least 20%, by weight, man-made fibres. It further refers to a method of making such a material. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Hydroentangling or spunlacing is a technique introduced during the 1970'ies, see e g CA patent no. 841 938. The method involves forming a fibre web, which is either drylaid or wetlaid, after which the fibres are entangled by means of very fine water jets under high pressure. Several rows of water jets are directed against the fibre, web which is supported by a movable wire. The entangled fibre web is th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a hydroentangled nonwoven material that combines properties like wet strength, absorptive capacity, softness and drapability. This has been achieved by a wetlaid or foam formed hydraulically entangled nonwoven material containing at least 30%, by weight, pulp fibres and at least 20%, by weight, man-made fibres or filaments, said nonwoven material having a basis weight variation in a non-random pattern in that it comprises a plurality of higher basis weight cushions protruding from one major surface of said material, said cushions as a main component comprises pulp fibres and are surrounded by a lower basis weight network which contains a relatively higher amount of man-made fibres or filaments as compared to the cushions.

[0012] high strength due to the network of the man-made fibres;

[0014] high softness and drapability due to the plurality of bending indications provided by the network pattern.

[0015] The opposite major surface of the material is preferably substantially smooth. This will improve the capability of the material to wipe a surface dry from any remaining liquid.

Problems solved by technology

One disadvantage with using wires of this type is that the fibre web, during the hydroentanglement, is exerted to a strong action by the water jets and will penetrate into and get caught between the wire threads.

It may then be difficult to separate the final product from the wire.

It is however difficult to combine all these properties in one and the same material.

However the absorption properties of such a material will be low.

Materials containing a high amount of pulp fibres have a high absorptive capacity, but a poor wet strength and high linting.

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