Hydroentangled web with ultrafine fibers

Abstract

A hydroentangled nonwoven fibrous composition, comprising as a hydroentangled web from 60 to 90% by weight of defibrated or refined natural cellulose fibers; and from 10 to 40% by weight of manmade sustainable fibers and a method to prepare the fibrous composition is provided. The nonwoven fibrous hydroentangled web comprises no binder, adhesive or thermal bonding fiber and has sufficient wet strength to be usable as a wipe and water dispersibility to be suitable as a flushable product for disposal in a municipal sewer system. A disposable wipe containing the hydroentangled nonwoven fibrous composition is also provided.

1 . A nonwoven fibrous composition, comprising as a hydroentangled web:
 from 60 to 90% by weight of defrbrated or refined natural cellulose fibers and from 10 to 40% by weight of manmade sustainable fibers;   wherein   the nonwoven fibrous hydroentangled web comprises no binder, adhesive or thermal bonding fiber,   a fiber length of the defrbrated or refined natural cellulose fibers is less than or equal to 3.5 mm,   a fiber length of the manmade sustainable fibers is from 6.0 to 12.0 mm,   a denier of the manmade sustainable fibers is 1.0 dpf or less,   a basis weight of the nonwoven fibrous web is from 20 g/m 2  to 100 g/m 2 , and   a thickness of the nonwoven web is from 0.25 mm to 2 mm.   
     
     
         2 . The nonwoven fibrous composition of  claim 1  wherein a CD wet strength of the hydroentangled web is at least 5N/5 cm. 
     
     
         3 . The nonwoven fibrous composition of  claim 2 , wherein the CD wet strength is from 5N/5 cm to 9N/5 cm. 
     
     
         4 . The nonwoven fibrous composition of  claim 1  wherein a Slosh Box dispersibility time is 15 minutes or less. 
     
     
         5 . The nonwoven fibrous composition of  claim 4  wherein the Slosh Box dispersibility time is less than 12 minutes. 
     
     
         6 . The nonwoven fibrous composition of  claim 3  wherein the basis weight of the nonwoven fibrous web is from 60 to 70 g/m 2 . 
     
     
         7 . The nonwoven fibrous composition of  claim 6 , wherein a Slosh Box dispersibility time is less than 12 minutes. 
     
     
         8 . The nonwoven fibrous composition of  claim 1  wherein the manmade sustainable fiber is at least one selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate, polylactic acid, esters of polylactic acid, amides of polylactic acid, lyocell, viscose and milk protein. 
     
     
         9 . The nonwoven fibrous composition of  claim 1  wherein the manmade sustainable fiber comprises a viscose, a lyocell or a mixture of a viscose and a lyocell. 
     
     
         10 . A method to prepare the nonwoven fibrous composition of  claim 1 , comprising:
 preparing a uniform mat comprising from 60 to 90% by weight of defibrated or refined natural cellulose fibers; and from 10 to 40% by weight of manmade sustainable fibers;   hydroentangling the uniform web on a carrier to consolidate the web on at least one side; and   drying the hydroentangled web to obtain the nonwoven fibrous composition;   wherein no binder, adhesive or thermal bonding fiber is employed.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the uniform mat is prepared by an air laying process comprising:
 preparing a homogeneous mixture of defibrated natural cellulose fibers and manmade sustainable fibers;   transferring the prepared homogeneous mixture into a rotating cylinder having perforations;   passing the homogenous mixture defibrated natural cellulose fibers and manmade sustainable fibers through the perforations onto a foraminous carrier to form the uniform mat.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the process from air laying to hydroentanglement is conducted continuously and the foraminous carrier transports the airlaid mat through the hydroentangling unit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the uniform mat is prepared by a wet laying process, comprising:
 preparing an aqueous dispersion of the refined natural cellulose fibers and optionally refined manmade sustainable fibers;   applying the aqueous dispersion to a supporting screen or fabric;   removing the water of the aqueous dispersion; and   forming the homogeneous mat of the refined natural cellulose fibers and optionally refined manmade sustainable fibers.   
     
     
         14 . A cleaning wipe, comprising:
 the nonwoven fibrous composition according to  claim 1 ; wherein the cleaning wipe is deemed flushable for disposal in a municipal sewer system or septic system.   
     
     
         15 . The cleaning wipe of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of a cleansing agent, a sterilizing agent, a deodorizing agent, a disinfectant, a moisturizing agent and a cosmetic remover.