Water-soluble printable paper and methods of making and using the same

Abstract

Water-soluble, printable paper is disclosed. Methods of making and using water-soluble, printable paper are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Water-soluble paper comprising:
 a single layer of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers having opposite first and second major outer surfaces, wherein said water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers represent at least 20 wt % of a total number of fibers present within said paper.   
     
     
         2 . The paper of  claim 1 , wherein said water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers represent at least 50 wt % of a total number of fibers present within said paper. 
     
     
         3 . The paper of  claim 2 , wherein said water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers represent at least 90 wt % of a total number of fibers present within said paper. 
     
     
         4 . The paper of  claim 3 , wherein said water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers represent 100 wt % of a total number of fibers present within said paper. 
     
     
         5 . The paper of  claim 1 , wherein said single layer comprises a spunlaced nonwoven fabric of said water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers. 
     
     
         6 . The paper of  claim 1 , further comprising a water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol resin impregnating coating applied onto said single layer. 
     
     
         7 . The paper of  claim 1 , wherein said paper has a basis weight of from about 30 to about 90 gsm. 
     
     
         8 . The paper of  claim 1 , wherein said paper has a basis weight of about 60 gsm. 
     
     
         9 . The paper of  claim 1 , wherein said paper consists essentially of polyvinyl alcohol. 
     
     
         10 . The paper of  claim 1 , wherein said paper consists of polyvinyl alcohol. 
     
     
         11 . The paper of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one of said first and second major outer surfaces has a surface smoothness that enables printing by an ink jet printer or laser printer thereon. 
     
     
         12 . The paper of  claim 1 , wherein said paper is soluble in water having a water temperature of greater than 50° C. 
     
     
         13 . The paper of  claim 1 , wherein said paper is soluble in water having a water temperature of greater than 90° C. 
     
     
         14 . The paper of  claim 1 , wherein said paper is sized to be printable within a laserjet or ink jet printer. 
     
     
         15 . The paper of  claim 1 , wherein said paper has a rectangular shape and a width of about 8.5 inches (in) and a length of about 11 in. 
     
     
         16 . A ream of paper comprising mulitple sheets of paper, where each sheet of paper comprises the paper of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A roll of paper comprising a single sheet of paper having and a width of less than about about 36 in, where said single sheet of paper comprises the paper of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . The paper of  claim 1 , further comprising printed material along at least one of said first and second major outer surfaces. 
     
     
         19 . A method of making the water-soluble paper of  claim 1 , said method comprising:
 forming the single layer of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers;   contacting the single layer of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers with an aqueous solution comprising water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol; and   drying the single layer of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers.   
     
     
         20 . A method of using the water-soluble paper of  claim 1 , said method comprising:
 printing one or more indicia onto at least one major surface of the water-soluble paper.