Hydroentangling process

Abstract

A hydroentangling process comprising providing fractionated cellulosic fibers having a length weighted average length of at least 2.4 mm and less than 2% on a weight basis of fines having a length no greater than 0.2 mm, forming said fibers into a mat, applying jets of fluid under pressure to the pulp fibers to entangle said fractionated cellulosic fibers. The fibers may be entangled with a nonwoven web.

1 . A hydroentangling process comprising 
 providing fractionated cellulosic fibers having a length weighted average length of at least 2.4 mm,    forming said fibers into a mat,    applying jets of fluid under pressure to the pulp fibers to entangle said fractionated cellulosic fibers.    
   
   
       2 . The hydroentangling process of  claim 1  in which the fractionated cellulosic fibers have less than 2% on a weight basis of fines having a length no greater than 0.2 mm.  
   
   
       3 . The hydroentangling process of  claim 1  in which the fractionated cellulosic fibers have a length weighted average length of at least 3.5 mm.  
   
   
       4 . The hydroentangling process of  claim 3  in which the fractionated cellulosic fibers have less than 2% on a weight basis of fines having a length no greater than 0.2 mm.  
   
   
       5 . The hydroentangling process of  claim 1  in which the fractionated cellulosic fibers have a length weighted average length in the range of 2.4 mm to 3.8 mm.  
   
   
       6 . The hydroentangling process of  claim 5  in which the fractionated cellulosic fibers have less than 2% on a weight basis of fines having a length no greater than 0.2 mm.  
   
   
       7 . The hydroentangling process of  claim 1  in which there is an increase in pressure as the web passes through the fluid jets.  
   
   
       8 . The hydroentangling process of  claim 1  in which the pressure is under 1000 psi.  
   
   
       9 . A hydroentangling process comprising 
 providing a non-woven web,    laying fractionated cellulosic fibers having a length weighted average length of at least 2.4 mm on the web,    applying jets of fluid under pressure to the pulp fibers to entangle the fractionated cellulosic fibers with the web.    
   
   
       10 . The hydroentangling process of  claim 9  in which the fractionated cellulosic fibers have less than 2% on a weight basis of fines having a length no greater than 0.2 mm.  
   
   
       11 . The hydroentangling process of  claim 9  in which the fractionated cellulosic fibers have a length weighted average length of at least 3.5 mm.  
   
   
       12 . The hydroentangling process of  claim 11  in which the fractionated cellulosic fibers have less than 2% on a weight basis of fines having a length no greater than 0.2 mm.  
   
   
       13 . The hydroentangling process of  claim 9  in which the fractionated cellulosic fibers have a length weighted average length in the range of 2.4 mm to 3.8 mm.  
   
   
       14 . The hydroentangling process of  claim 13  in which the fractionated cellulosic fibers have less than 2% on a weight basis of fines having a length no greater than 0.2 mm.  
   
   
       15 . The hydroentangling process of  claim 9  in which there is an increase in pressure as the web passes through the fluid jets.  
   
   
       16 . The hydroentangling process of  claim 9  in which the pressure is under 1000 psi.  
   
   
       17 . The hydroentangling process of  claim 9  in which said nonwoven web is made of fibers selected from the group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, rayon, lyocell, and aramid fibers and mixtures thereof.