Treated non-woven fabric comprising functional additive and a method of preparing a treated non-woven fabric

Abstract

Provided is a treated non-woven fabric having an improved tactile property. Also provided are products comprising the treated non-woven fabrics. Methods of preparing the treated non-woven fabrics are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A treated non-woven fabric having an improved tactile property, comprising a non-woven fabric comprising a functional additive in a suitable amount to improve a tactile property, wherein the functional additive is selected from the group consisting of Additive A, Additive B, Additive C, Additive D, Additive E, Additive F, Additive G, Additive H (as each is described in columns 2 and 3 of Table 1); a blend of Additives G and F (“Additive BA”), a blend of Additives F and B (“Additive BB”) and a blend of Additives F and H (“Additive BC”). 
     
     
         2 . The treated non-woven fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the non-woven fabric comprises a plastic selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyamide, and polyolefin. 
     
     
         3 . The treated non-woven fabric of  claim 2 , wherein the non-woven fabric comprises 1) a polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and polyethylene; or 2) a polyester and the polyester is polylactide. 
     
     
         4 . The treated non-woven fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the functional additive is present substantially on the surface of the fabric and optionally in voids present on the surface of the fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The treated non-woven fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is partially or fully impregnated with the functional additive. 
     
     
         6 . The non-woven fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the functional additive is Additive A and the non-woven fabric comprises: i) about 0.007 to about 0.054 g Additive A per square meter non-woven fabric; or ii) about 0.05 to about 0.040 wt. % Additive A (relative to dry untreated fabric weight). 
     
     
         7 . The non-woven fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the functional additive is Additive B and the non-woven fabric comprises: i) about 0.095 to about 0.135 g Additive B per square meter non-woven fabric; or ii) about 0.70 to about 1.0 wt. % Additive B (relative to dry untreated fabric weight). 
     
     
         8 . The non-woven fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the functional additive is Additive C and the non-woven fabric comprises: i) about 0.068 to about 0.135 g Additive C per square meter non-woven fabric; or ii) about 0.50 to about 1.0 wt. % Additive C (relative to dry untreated fabric weight). 
     
     
         9 . The non-woven fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the functional additive is Additive D and the non-woven fabric comprises: i) about 0.081 to about 0.135 g Additive D per square meter non-woven fabric; or ii) about 0.60 to about 1.0 wt. % Additive D (relative to dry untreated fabric weight). 
     
     
         10 . The non-woven fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the functional additive is Additive E and the non-woven fabric comprises: i) about 0.081 to about 0.135 g Additive E per square meter non-woven fabric; or ii) about 0.60 to about 1.0 wt. % Additive E (relative to dry untreated fabric weight). 
     
     
         11 . The non-woven fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the functional additive is Additive F and the non-woven fabric comprises: i) about 0.203 to about 0.324 g Additive F per square meter non-woven fabric; or ii) about 1.5 to about 2.4 wt. % Additive F (relative to dry untreated fabric weight). 
     
     
         12 . The non-woven fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the functional additive is Additive G and the non-woven fabric comprises: i) about 0.3513 to about 0.378 g Additive G per square meter non-woven fabric; or ii) about 2.6 to about 2.84 wt. % Additive G (relative to dry untreated fabric weight). 
     
     
         13 . The non-woven fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the functional additive is Additive H and the non-woven fabric comprises: i) about 0.230 to about 0.270 g Additive H per square meter non-woven fabric; or ii) about 1.7 to about 2.0 wt. % Additive H (relative to dry untreated fabric weight). 
     
     
         14 . The non-woven fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the functional additive is Blend BA, wherein the ratio of Additive G to Additive F is about 1:1. 
     
     
         15 . The non-woven fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the functional additive is Blend BB, wherein the ratio of Additive F to Additive B is about 10:3. 
     
     
         16 . The non-woven fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the functional additive is Blend BC, wherein the ratio of Additive F to Additive H is about 1:1. 
     
     
         17 . A non-woven product for use in contacting skin, the product comprising a non-woven fabric to contact skin, wherein the non-woven fabric is the treated non-woven fabric of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . A method for preparing a treated non-woven fabric having an improved tactile property, the method comprising:
 contacting a surface of a non-woven fabric with an aqueous surface modifying composition comprising functional additive, and   drying the contacted surface to produce the treated non-woven fabric,   wherein the functional additive is selected from the group consisting of Additive A, Additive B, Additive C, Additive D, Additive E, Additive F, Additive G, and Additive H, (as each is described in columns 2 and 3 of Table 1), a blend of Additives G and F (“Additive BA”), a blend of Additives F and B (“Additive BB”) and a blend of Additives F and H (“Additive BC”); and   wherein the treated non-woven fabric comprises the functional additive in a suitable amount to improve a tactile property.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of contacting the surface of the non-woven fabric comprises spraying the surface with the aqueous surface modifying composition comprising functional additive. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the non-woven fabric comprises a plastic selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyamide, and polyolefin.