Flushable moist wipe or hygiene tissue and a method for making it

Abstract

A flushable moist wipe or hygiene tissue including a hydraulically entangled nonwoven material impregnated with a wetting composition is provided. The nonwoven material contains at least 70%, by fibre weight, pulp fibres and at least 5%, by fibre weight, poly(lactic acid) fibres having a length between 8 and 20 mm and a fineness between 0.5 and 3 dtex. The poly(lactic acid) fibres are non-melted, and the moist wipe or hygiene tissue is free from added binders and wet-strength agents.

1 . A flushable moist wipe or hygiene tissue comprising a hydraulically entangled nonwoven material impregnated with a wetting composition, said nonwoven material containing at least 70%, by fibre weight, pulp fibres,
 wherein said moist wipe or hygiene tissue comprises at least 5%, by fibre weight, poly(lactic acid) fibres having a length between 8 and 20 mm and a fineness between 0.5 and 3 dtex, said poly(lactic acid) fibres are non-melted, and wherein the moist wipe or hygiene tissue is free from added binders and wet-strength agents.   
     
     
         2 . A moist wipe or hygiene tissue as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said moist wipe or hygiene tissue comprises up to 10%, by fibre weight, regenerated cellulose staple fibres and/or natural fibers having a fibre length of at least 4 mm. 
     
     
         3 . A moist wipe or hygiene tissue as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the poly(lactic acid) fibres have a length between 12 and 18 mm. 
     
     
         4 . A moist wipe or hygiene tissue as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the poly(lactic acid) fibres have a fineness between 1 and 2 dtex. 
     
     
         5 . A moist wipe or hygiene tissue as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the poly(lactic acid) fibres are monocomponent fibres having a melting point of at least 140° C. 
     
     
         6 . A moist wipe or hygiene tissue as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said moist wipe or hygiene tissue has a basis weight between 40 and 100 g/m 2 . 
     
     
         7 . A moist wipe or hygiene tissue as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said moist wipe or hygiene tissue is a moist toilet paper. 
     
     
         8 . A moist wipe or hygiene tissue as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said moist wipe or hygiene tissue has a wet strength in cross direction between 25 and 200 N/m. 
     
     
         9 . A moist wipe or hygiene tissue as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the poly(lactic acid) fibres form an open interlaid structure mechanically bonded to the pulp fibers and the optional regenerated cellulose staple fibers and/or natural fibres. 
     
     
         10 . A moist wipe or hygiene tissue as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the poly(lactic acid) fibres have a modulus according to ASTM method D2256/D3822 of between 20 and 50 g/denier. 
     
     
         11 . A method of making a moist wipe or hygiene tissue comprising the steps of:
 foam-forming a fibre mixture of at least 70%, by fibre weight, pulp fibres and at least 5%, by fibre weight, poly(lactic acid) fibres having a length between 8 and 20 mm and a fineness between 0.5 and 3 dtex, hydroentangling said mixture to form a hydroentangled nonwoven web, drying said web,   wherein said web is free from added binders and wet-strength agent, and   wherein the poly(lactic acid) fibres are non-melted, and impregnating the web with a wetting composition.   
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the fibre mixture comprises up to 10%, by fibre weight, manmade staple fibres other than poly(lactic acid) fibres. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the poly(lactic acid) fibres have a length between 12 and 18 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the poly(lactic acid) fibres have a fineness between 1.5 and 2 dtex. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein that the poly(lactic acid) fibres are monocomponent fibres having a melting point of at least 140° C.