Cleaning article having coated tow fibers

Abstract

A cleaning article for cleaning a target surface. The cleaning article has tow fibers attached to a carrier sheet. The tow fibers are advantageously provided with a primary coat mix. The primary coat mix is a mixture of castor oil ethoxylate, fatty alcohol ethoxylate, and fatty acid ester, wherein the castor oil ethoxylate and the fatty alcohol ethoxylate are present at a weight ratio of the castor oil ethoxylate to the fatty alcohol ethoxylate from about 2:1 to about 1:1, and wherein the fatty acid ester and the fatty alcohol ethoxylate are present at a weight ratio of the fatty acid ester to the fatty alcohol ethoxylate from about 5:1 to about 3:1.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cleaning article for cleaning a target surface, said cleaning article comprising:
 a carrier sheet; and   a tow fiber bundle joined to said carrier sheet, wherein said tow fiber bundle comprises tow fibers at least partially coated with a primary coat mix comprising castor oil ethoxylate, fatty alcohol ethoxylate, and fatty acid ester, wherein said castor oil ethoxylate and said fatty alcohol ethoxylate are present at a weight ratio of said castor oil ethoxylate to said fatty alcohol ethoxylate from about 2:1 to about 1:1, and wherein said fatty acid ester and said fatty alcohol ethoxylate are present at a weight ratio of said fatty acid ester to said fatty alcohol ethoxylate from about 5:1 to about 3:1.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning article according to  claim 1 , wherein said tow fiber bundle comprises from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of said tow fibers of said primary coat mix. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning article according to  claim 2 , wherein said tow fiber bundle comprises a plurality of individual tufts. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning article according to  claim 2 , wherein said tow fibers are positioned between two said carrier sheets and a bond extends along a longitudinal axis of said cleaning article, wherein said tow fiber bundle extends from said bond. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning article according to  claim 4 , wherein said tow fiber bundle has less than about 4 weight percent moisture. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning article according to  claim 5 , wherein said primary coat mix is free of wax. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning article according to  claim 1 , wherein said tow fiber bundle has less than about 4 weight percent moisture. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning article according to  claim 1 , wherein said primary coat mix is free of wax. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning article according to  claim 1 , wherein said tow fibers are at least partially coated with a secondary coating comprising mineral oil. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning article according to  claim 9 , wherein said primary coat mix is between said secondary coating and said tow fibers. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaning article according to  claim 9 , wherein said tow fiber bundle comprises from about 1% to about 18% by weight of said tow fibers said secondary coating. 
     
     
         12 . The cleaning article according to  claim 11 , wherein said tow fibers are positioned between two said carrier sheets and a bond extends along a longitudinal axis of said cleaning article, wherein said tow fiber bundle extends from said bond. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning article according to  claim 1 , wherein said castor oil ethoxylate and said fatty alcohol ethoxylate are present at a weight ratio of said castor oil ethoxylate to said fatty alcohol ethoxylate of about 1.5:1 and wherein said fatty acid ester and said fatty alcohol ethoxylate are present at a weight ratio of said fatty acid ester to said fatty alcohol ethoxylate of about 3.75:1. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning article according to  claim 13 , wherein said tow fiber bundle comprises from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of said tow fibers of said primary coat mix. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning article according to  claim 14 , wherein said tow fibers are positioned between two said carrier sheets and a bond extends along a longitudinal axis of said cleaning article, wherein said tow fiber bundle extends from said bond. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaning article according to  claim 13 , wherein said tow fiber bundle comprises a plurality of individual tufts. 
     
     
         17 . The cleaning article according to  claim 13 , wherein said tow fibers are at least partially coated with a secondary coating comprising mineral oil. 
     
     
         18 . The cleaning article according to  claim 17 , wherein said primary coat mix is between said secondary coating and said tow fibers. 
     
     
         19 . The cleaning article according to  claim 17 , wherein said tow fiber bundle comprises from about 1% to about 18% by weight of said tow fibers said secondary coating. 
     
     
         20 . The cleaning article according to  claim 17 , wherein said tow fibers are positioned between two said carrier sheets and a bond extends along a longitudinal axis of said cleaning article, wherein said tow fiber bundle extends from said bond.