Enhancement of a cellulose-based paper product with glass fibers

Abstract

Enhancement of cellulosic paper products with coarse diameter glass wool fibers (average diameter of from about 5.5 μm to about 11 μm) results in stronger, more air resistant, and less hygroexpansive paper products. Paper products comprising cellulose pulp and coarse diameter glass wool fibers are disclosed. Additionally disclosed are methods for making coarse diameter glass wool fiber enhanced cellulosic paper products.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A paper product comprising: 
 cellulose pulp; and    coarse diameter glass wool fibers.    
     
     
         2 . The paper product of  claim 1 , wherein the coarse diameter glass wool fibers have an average diameter between about 6.0 and about 10.0 microns.  
     
     
         3 . The paper product of  claim 2 , wherein the coarse diameter glass wool fibers comprise a low-boron, high-barium composition.  
     
     
         4 . The paper product of  claim 2 , wherein the coarse diameter glass wool fibers have an average diameter between about 6.5 and about 9.5 microns.  
     
     
         5 . The paper product of  claim 4 , wherein the coarse diameter glass wool fibers comprise a low-boron, high-barium composition.  
     
     
         6 . The paper product of  claim 4 , wherein the coarse diameter glass wool fibers have an average diameter of about 7.0 microns.  
     
     
         7 . The paper product of  claim 1 , wherein the coarse diameter glass wool fibers comprise about 1% to about 25% by weight of the total dry weight of the cellulose pulp together with the coarse diameter glass wool fibers.  
     
     
         8 . The paper product of  claim 7 , wherein the coarse diameter glass wool fibers comprise about 1% to about 15% by weight of the total dry weight of the cellulose pulp together with the coarse diameter glass wool fibers.  
     
     
         9 . The paper product of  claim 8 , wherein the coarse diameter glass wool fibers comprise about 3% to about 5% by weight of the total dry weight of the cellulose pulp together with the coarse diameter glass wool fibers.  
     
     
         10 . The paper product of  claim 9 , wherein the paper product has a weight of about 160 grams per square meter, and wherein the paper product has a tearing resistance of about 145 to about 150 grams of force.  
     
     
         11 . The paper product of  claim 10 , wherein the paper product has an average air resistance of from about 108 to about 97 s/300 cm 3 .  
     
     
         12 . The paper product of  claim 11 , wherein the paper product has an average hygoexpansivity of about 0.08 to about 0.18.  
     
     
         13 . The paper product of  claim 9 , wherein the coarse diameter glass wool fibers comprise about 5% by weight of the total dry weight of the cellulose pulp together with the coarse diameter glass wool fibers.  
     
     
         14 . The paper product of  claim 13 , wherein the paper product has a weight of about 160 grams per square meter, and wherein the paper product has a tearing resistance of about 150 grams of force.  
     
     
         15 . The paper product of  claim 14 , wherein the paper product has an average air resistance of about 97 s/300 cm 3 .  
     
     
         16 . The paper product of  claim 15 , wherein the paper product has an average hygoexpansivity of about 0.18.  
     
     
         17 . A method of making a paper product comprising: 
 preparing a stock comprising cellulose pulp, coarse diameter glass wool fibers, and an aqueous solution;    applying the stock to a screen to form a web; and    drying the web to form a paper product.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the coarse diameter glass wool fibers have an average diameter between about 6.0 and about 10.0 microns.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the coarse diameter glass wool fibers comprise about 3% to about 5% by weight of the total dry weight of the cellulose pulp together with the coarse diameter glass wool fibers.