Wipe material with nanofiber layer

Abstract

A flexible wipe comprising at least one conformable non-woven layer and at least one adhered nanofiber layer can be used to remove a variety of particulate soils from planar, curved or complex surfaces. The nanofiber layer is configured onto the flexible non-woven in a fashion such that particulate of a broad particle size range is trapped by the nanofiber layer and efficiently removed from the contaminated surface. The nanofiber layer comprises a web of spun fibers that can incorporate and trap soil particles for efficient soil removal.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A wipe conformable to a surface, the wipe comprising at least a flexible substrate and a nanofiber layer, the flexible substrate comprising a layer having a thickness of about 0.01 to 0.2 cm, the nanofiber layer comprising fiber having a diameter of about 0.001 to about 1 micron, a basis weight of about 0.0012 to about 3.5 grams-m −2 , the layer having a pore size less than about 20 microns.  
     
     
         2 . The wipe of  claim 1  wherein the wipe comprises a woven fabric having a thickness of about 0.02 to 0.1 cm and a nanofiber layer having a fiber size of about 0.05 to 0.5 micron and a basis weight of about 0.1 to 0.5 gm-m −2 .  
     
     
         3 . The wipe of  claim 1  wherein the wipe comprises a cellulosic non-woven having a thickness of about 0.02 to 0.1 cm and a nanofiber layer having a fiber size of about 0.05 to 0.5 micron and a basis weight of about 0.1 to 0.5 gm-m −2 .  
     
     
         4 . The wipe of  claim 1  wherein the wipe comprises a blended polymer cellulosic non-woven having a thickness of about 0.02 to 0.1 cm and a nanofiber layer having a fiber size of about 0.05 to 0.5 micron and a basis weight of about 0.1 to 0.5 gm-m −2 .  
     
     
         5 . The wipe of  claim 1  wherein the substrate comprises a non-woven fabric made from both cellulosic and polymeric fiber materials.  
     
     
         6 . The wipe of  claim 1  wherein the wipe has a stiffness measured according to TAPPI T 543 om-00: “Bending Resistance of Paper (Gurley-Type Tester)” less than 300 milligrams.  
     
     
         7 . The wipe of  claim 1  wherein the wipe is combined with a liquid cleaner material wherein the nanofiber layer in contact with soil can incorporate the soil particulate into the nanofiber layer for improved cleaning.  
     
     
         8 . The wipe of  claim 1  wherein the wipe is combined with a liquid lubricant.  
     
     
         9 . The wipe of  claim 1  wherein the wipe is combined with a liquid coating composition.  
     
     
         10 . The wipe of  claim 7  wherein the liquid cleaner material comprises an aqueous cleaner.  
     
     
         11 . A wipe conformable to a surface, the wipe comprising at least a flexible substrate having a first and a second side and a non-woven nanofiber layer on both the first and the second side, the flexible substrate comprising a layer having a thickness of about 0.01 to 0.2 cm, the nanofiber comprises a layer comprising fiber having a diameter of about 0.001 to about 1 micron, a basis weight of about 0.0012 to about 3.5 grams-m −2 , the layer having a pore size less than about 20 microns.  
     
     
         12 . The wipe of  claim 11  wherein the wipe comprises a woven fabric having a thickness of about 0.02 to 0.1 cm and a nanofiber layer having a fiber size of about 0.05 to 0.5 micron and a basis weight of about 0.1 to 0.5 gm-m −2 .  
     
     
         13 . The wipe of  claim 11  wherein the wipe comprises a cellulosic non-woven having a thickness of about 0.02 to 0.1 cm and a nanofiber layer having a fiber size of about 0.05 to 0.5 micron and a basis weight of about 0.1 to 0.5 gm-m −2 .  
     
     
         14 . The wipe of  claim 11  wherein the wipe comprises a blended polymer cellulosic non-woven having a thickness of about 0.02 to 0.1 cm and a nanofiber layer having a fiber size of about 0.05 to 0.5 micron and a basis weight of about 0.1 to 0.5 gm-m −2 .  
     
     
         15 . The wipe of  claim 11  wherein the substrate comprises a non-woven fabric made from both cellulosic and polymeric fiber materials.  
     
     
         16 . The wipe of  claim 11  wherein the wipe has stiffness measured according to TAPPI T 543 om-00: “Bending Resistance of Paper (Gurley-Type Tester)” less than 300 milligrams.  
     
     
         17 . The wipe of  claim 11  wherein the wipe is combined with a liquid cleaner material wherein the nanofiber layer in contact with soil can incorporate the soil particulate into the nanofiber layer for improved cleaning.  
     
     
         18 . The wipe of  claim 11  wherein the wipe is combined with a liquid lubricant.  
     
     
         19 . The wipe of  claim 11  wherein the wipe is combined with a liquid coating composition.  
     
     
         20 . The wipe of  claim 17  wherein the liquid cleaner material comprises an aqueous cleaner.  
     
     
         21 . A film forming polishing wipe conformable to a surface, the wipe comprising a film forming composition, at least a flexible substrate and a nanofiber layer, the flexible substrate comprising a layer having a thickness of about 0.01 to 0.2 cm, the nanofiber layer comprising fiber having a diameter of about 0.001 to about 1 micron, a basis weight of about 0.0012 to about 3.5 grams-m −2 , the layer having a pore size less than about 20 microns.  
     
     
         22 . The wipe of  claim 21  wherein the wipe comprises a woven fabric having a thickness of about 0.02 to 0.1 cm and a nanofiber layer having a fiber size of about 0.05 to 0.5 micron and a basis weight of about 0.1 to 0.5 gm-m −2 .  
     
     
         23 . The wipe of  claim 21  wherein the wipe comprises a cellulosic non-woven having a thickness of about 0.02 to 0.1 cm and a nanofiber layer having a fiber size of about 0.05 to 0.5 micron and a basis weight of about 0.1 to 0.5 gm-m −2 .  
     
     
         24 . The wipe of  claim 21  wherein the wipe comprises a blended polymer cellulosic non-woven having a thickness of about 0.02 to 0.1 cm and a nanofiber layer having a fiber size of about 0.05 to 0.5 micron and a basis weight of about 0.1 to 0.5 gm-m −2 .  
     
     
         25 . The wipe of  claim 21  wherein the substrate comprises a non-woven fabric made from both cellulosic and polymeric fiber materials.  
     
     
         26 . The wipe of  claim 21  wherein the wipe has stiffness measured according to TAPPI T 543 om-00: “Bending Resistance of Paper (Gurley-Type Tester)” less than 300 milligrams.  
     
     
         27 . The wipe of  claim 21  wherein the wipe is combined with a liquid coating composition.  
     
     
         28 . The wipe of  claim 27  wherein the wipe is combined with an aqueous coating composition.