Fibrous Structures Comprising a Polymer Structure

Abstract

Polymer structures and methods for making such polymer structures are provided. More particularly, polymer structures comprising a hydroxyl polymer structure, such as a fiber comprising a hydroxyl polymer are provided. Even more particularly, fibrous structures comprising a hydroxyl polymer structure, such as a fiber comprising a hydroxyl polymer, wherein the fibrous structure exhibits a CETM Factor of less than 20 and/or a CETM*L 2 Factor of less than 950 are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fibrous structure comprising a hydroxyl polymer structure and naturally occurring cellulose fibers, wherein the fibrous structure exhibits a CETM Factor of less than 20. 
     
     
         2 . The fibrous structure according to  claim 1  wherein the hydroxyl polymer structure comprises a hydroxyl polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol derivatives, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, starch, starch derivatives, chitosan, chitosan derivatives, cellulose derivatives, gums, arabinans, galactans, proteins, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The fibrous structure according to  claim 2  wherein the hydroxyl polymer structure comprises at least two different classes of hydroxyl polymers. 
     
     
         4 . The fibrous structure according to  claim 1  wherein the hydroxyl polymer structure is present in an unfused region and a fused region of the fibrous structure. 
     
     
         5 . The fibrous structure according to  claim 4  wherein the unfused region and the fused region exhibit different values of a common intensive property relative to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The fibrous structure according to  claim 5  wherein the common intensive property is selected from the group consisting of: density, substrate basis weight, substrate caliper, substrate thickness, substrate elevation, substrate opacity, substrate crepe frequency and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The fibrous structure according to  claim 4  wherein a plurality of fused regions is in the form of a non-random repeating pattern within the fibrous structure. 
     
     
         8 . The fibrous structure according to  claim 1  wherein the hydroxyl polymer structure comprises a crosslinked hydroxyl polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The fibrous structure according to  claim 1  wherein the hydroxyl polymer structure comprises a plasticizer. 
     
     
         10 . The fibrous structure according to  claim 1  wherein the hydroxyl polymer structure is substantially continuous throughout the fibrous structure. 
     
     
         11 . A single- or multi-ply sanitary tissue product comprising one or more fibrous structures according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A fibrous structure comprising a hydroxyl polymer structure and naturally occurring cellulose fibers, wherein the fibrous structure exhibits a CETM*L 2  Factor of less than 950. 
     
     
         13 . The fibrous structure according to  claim 12  wherein the hydroxyl polymer structure comprises a hydroxyl polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol derivatives, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, starch, starch derivatives, chitosan, chitosan derivatives, cellulose derivatives, gums, arabinans, galactans, proteins, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The fibrous structure according to  claim 13  wherein the hydroxyl polymer structure comprises at least two different classes of hydroxyl polymers. 
     
     
         15 . The fibrous structure according to  claim 12  wherein the hydroxyl polymer structure is present in an unfused region and a fused region of the fibrous structure. 
     
     
         16 . The fibrous structure according to  claim 15  wherein the unfused region and the fused region exhibit different values of a common intensive property relative to each other. 
     
     
         17 . The fibrous structure according to  claim 16  wherein the common intensive property is selected from the group consisting of: density, substrate basis weight, substrate caliper, substrate thickness, substrate elevation, substrate opacity, substrate crepe frequency and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The fibrous structure according to  claim 15  wherein a plurality of fused regions is in the form of a non-random repeating pattern within the fibrous structure. 
     
     
         19 . The fibrous structure according to  claim 12  wherein the hydroxyl polymer structure comprises a crosslinked hydroxyl polymer. 
     
     
         20 . The fibrous structure according to  claim 12  wherein the hydroxyl polymer structure comprises a plasticizer. 
     
     
         21 . The fibrous structure according to  claim 12  wherein the hydroxyl polymer structure is substantially continuous throughout the fibrous structure. 
     
     
         22 . A single- or multi-ply sanitary tissue product comprising one or more fibrous structures according to  claim 12 .