Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Barbara Jean Burns

James Jay Tanner

John Joseph Lassig

Victor Michael Gentile

Monica C Fontenot

Alan Grady Shuman

Terry Pearce Ford

Jonathan Robert Owen

Mike Thomas Goulet

David Martin Jackson

Lawrence Howell Sawyer

Michael John Rekoske

Sylvia Bandy Little

Tamara Lee Mace

David Charles Potts

Timothy M McFarland

Michael Allen Daley

Michael William Veith

James Martin Kaun

David Michael Matela

Nancy Donaldson Kollin

Thomas William VanDenBogart

Dmitry Yavich

Louise Cynthia Ellis Coe

Amy Michele Achter

Gregory Marc Lefkowitz

Peter Robert Elliker

Bruce Wilfuhr Achter

Cynthia Marie Phillips

Alberto Ricardo Negri

Daniel Scott Westbrook

Werner F W Lonsky

Kevin Wilson Wood

A paper product containing hardwood fibers that are treated with certain hydrolytic enzymes, such as endo-glucanases, is provided. Moreover, the paper product includes other types of fibers, such as softwood fibers, that may also be treated with certain hydrolytic enzymes. In addition, other ingredients, such as cross-linking agents, debonders, strength agents, etc., can be applied to further enhance the properties of the paper product. In particular, paper products formed according to the present invention can be strong, soft, and have low lint and slough production.

Soft paper products with low lint and slough

There is provided an intake/retention/transfer material for personal care products like feminine hygiene products, which is a heterogeneous composite containing between 5 and 25 weight percent of a superabsorbent or gelling material and having a density less than 0.17 g/cc. A more particular embodiment contains less than 20 weight percent and a still more particular embodiment contains 15 weight percent or less of a superabsorbent or gelling material. Also provided are absorbent articles which contain the class of intake/transfer materials mentioned above along with additional absorbent layers such that the absorption of a menses simulant provides fluid partitioning of less than 72% of fluid in the intake/transfer/retention composite. Additionally said composite should have retention capacity values greater than 2.7 g/g.

Personal care product with fluid partitioning

The present invention pertains to an airlaid composite which is made of pulp fibers, at least about 2% by weight bicomponent fiber, and moisture. This airlaid composite is unique in that a uniformly even composite is made which upon calendering, becomes a thin structure which maintains significant absorbency when saturated. The bicomponent fibers of the present invention include a first polymer component and a second polymer component, and the first polymer component melts at a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the second polymer component. Mixing of the pulp fibers with the bicomponent fibers is done in such a way that the fibers are evenly dispersed in the airlaid composite. This airlaid composite is then heated such that at least a portion of the first polymer component of the bicomponent fiber is melted, which bond the bicomponent fibers to many of the pulp and bicomponent fibers when cooled. Moisture is added on to the composite to further facilitate bonding when the composite is subsequently subjected to calendering. Optionally, a sheet layer may be attached to the airlaid composite to form a multi-layered absorbent structure. Such composites and absorbent structures are characterized by a drape stiffness of at least about 5 cm, an absorbency of at least about 12 g/g, and a dry tensile strength of at least about 1300.

Absorbent structure including a thin, calendered airlaid composite and a process for making the composite

Pulp fibers can be treated with adsorbable chemicals with a minimal amount of unadsorbed chemical additives present later in the papermaking process water. A method for adding an adsorbable chemical to pulp includes mixing pulp fibers that have never been dried with water to form a fiber slurry. An adsorbable chemical additive is added to the fiber slurry. The fiber slurry having the adsorbable chemical additive is transported to a web-forming apparatus where a wet fibrous web is formed. The wet fibrous web may be dried to a predetermined consistency thereby forming a dried fibrous web having from between about 10 to about 100 percent retention of the adsorbable chemical additive. The dried fibrous web is transported to a paper machine where the dried fibrous web is mixed with water to form a wet slurry. In other embodiments, the fiber slurry can be processed to provide crumb fibers or wet lap fibers. The wet slurry containing the fibers having the adsorbable chemical additive adhered thereto is transported through the paper machine to form a finished paper or tissue product having enhanced quality due to the retention of the adsorbable chemical additive on the pulp fibers.

Method for adding an adsorbable chemical additive to pulp during the pulp processing and products made by said method

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Appleton, WI, United States of America

Barbara Jean Burns