Flexible Soft Wipe Comprising Individualized Bast Fibers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a nonwoven substrate comprising individualized flax fibers comprising specific cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents.

1 . Nonwoven substrate comprising:
 from 40% to 95% of wood fibers by weight relative to the total weight of fibers of the substrate, and   from 5% to 60% of individualized bast fibers by weight relative to the total weight of fibers of the substrate,   
       characterized in that the individualized bast fibers have, relative to the dry weight of the individualized bast fibers, a cellulose content greater than or equal to 80%, a hemicellulose content less than or equal to 10%, and a lignin content less than or equal to 9.5%. 
     
     
         2 . Nonwoven substrate according to  claim 1 , in which the bast fibers are chosen from hemp fiber, Indian hemp fiber, jute fiber, kenaf fiber, kudzu fiber, coin vine fiber, flax fiber, okra fiber, nettle fiber, papyrus fiber, ramie fiber, sisal fiber, esparto fiber and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . Nonwoven substrate according to  claim 1  comprising additional fibers chosen from lyocell fibers, viscose fibers, cellulose acetate fibers, biodegradable polymer fibers and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . Nonwoven substrate according to  claim 3 , in which the amount of additional fibers is less than or equal to 15% by weight relative to the total weight of fibers of the substrate. 
     
     
         5 . Nonwoven substrate according to  claim 1 , in which the fibers are entangled. 
     
     
         6 . Wipe comprising the substrate as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . Process for producing a nonwoven substrate as defined in  claim 1 , comprising the following steps:
 a) treating bast fibers under pressure in a solvent in order to obtain the individualized bast fibers,   b) mixing the individualized bast fibers and wood fibers in order to obtain a fiber mixture, and   c) producing a nonwoven substrate from the fiber mixture by a wetlaid process, by a drylaid process or by an airlaid process.   
     
     
         8 . Process according to  claim 7 , in which the treatment step a) is carried out at a pressure between 5 bar and 10 bar. 
     
     
         9 . Process according to  claim 7 , in which the temperature of the solvent during the treatment step a) is between 50° C. and 250° C. 
     
     
         10 . Process according to  claim 7 , in which the solvent is an aqueous solvent. 
     
     
         11 . Process according to  claim 7 , in which the solvent comprises an additive. 
     
     
         12 . Process according to  claim 11 , in which the additive is an acid or a base. 
     
     
         13 . Process for producing a nonwoven substrate as defined in  claim 7 , in which the nonwoven substrate produced during step c) of the process undergoes an entanglement treatment step d). 
     
     
         14 . Process for producing a wipe, comprising a step e) of cutting the substrate produced by the process according to  claim 7 .