Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.

Patrick Pachih Chen

Michael Alan Hermans

Mark Alan Burazin

Thomas Gerard Shannon

Daniel Robert Sprangers

Wen Zyo Schroeder

Robert Eugene Krautkramer

Michael John Smith

Pau-Lin Pawar

Graciela Jimenez

Claudia H Javenkoski

Michael J Smith

Tissue webs, such as are useful for making bath tissue, can be surface-treated in a pattern with selected papermaking chemicals, such as debonders and strength agents, to selectively improve the directional properties of the resulting tissue product, particularly the cross-machine direction strength properties. The pattern can be applied to the tissue sheet by spraying the selected chemical outwardly through a pattern of open areas in the shell of a rotating hollow roll, where the pattern of open areas corresponds to the desired pattern of chemical deposited on the surface of the tissue web.

Surface treating tissue webs via patterned spraying

Single-ply throughdried tissue sheets, particularly suitable as bath tissue, are produced with at least three layers. One or both of the outer layers suitably contain predominantly softwood fibers and a chemical bonding agent. One or more of the inner layers suitably contains a chemical debonder. The resulting tissues have a high level of durability and softness.

Soft durable tissue

The present invention is generally directed to a tissue product with improved flushability. Specifically, the incorporation of both a temporary wet strength agent and an alkaline reagent into the tissue product results in the tissue product having high initial wet tensile strength and a high rate of wet tensile loss. The high rate of wet tensile loss is caused by the high pH of the alkaline reagent that is incorporated during the dry end of a tissue manufacturing process. The temporary wet strength agent is added in the wet end of a tissue manufacturing process. In certain embodiments of the present invention, glyoxylated polyacrylamide may be used as the temporary wet strength agent, while the alkaline reagent may be in dry form or may be encapsulated.

Sanitary tissue products with improved flushability

A method for forming a paper web with two surfaces having elevated regions is provided. The elevated regions can be imparted onto the surfaces of the tissue utilizing various papermaking techniques and devices, such as using patterned fabrics, wire-mesh, and/or pressure rolls. A tissue formed according to the present invention can have a substantial fiber density gradient in the &minus;z direction and a relatively low fiber density gradient in the x-y plane. Moreover, the tissue can also have a substantial pore size distribution gradient in the &minus;z direction and a relatively low pore size distribution gradient in the x-y plane for improved absorption properties.

Method of forming a tissue with surfaces having elevated regions

A tissue with two surfaces having elevated regions is provided. The elevated regions can be imparted onto the surfaces of the tissue utilizing various papermaking techniques and devices, such as using patterned fabrics, wire-mesh, and/or pressure rolls. A tissue of the present invention can have a substantial fiber density gradient in the -z direction and a relatively low fiber density gradient in the x-y plane. Moreover, the tissue can also have a substantial pore size distribution gradient in the -z direction and a relatively low pore size distribution gradient in the x-y plane for improved absorption properties.

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Patrick Pachih Chen