CA2426782A1

CA2426782A1 - Tension activatable substrate

Info

Publication number: CA2426782A1
Application number: CA002426782A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Junan Kao; Michelle Renee Gannon; Michael Gomer Stelljes Jr.; Paul Dennis Trokhan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 2000-11-03
Filing date: 2001-10-31
Publication date: 2002-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-31
Also published as: AU2002227066A1; BR0115151A; JP2004512144A; CN1547634A; WO2002036084A3; AR031187A1; US6989075B1; KR20030068146A; CN100455722C; CA2682106C; CA2681895C; EP1366238A2; PE20020704A1; MXPA03003913A; TW530003B; CA2682106A1; JP2008237903A; WO2002036084A2; HK1070930A1; CA2681895A1

Abstract

A dual intensive property tissue. The tissue has a first set of intensive properties including density, surface area, thickness and void volume as presented to the consumer. The consumer plastically activates the tissue by pulling it in tension. A series of slits 44 or other lines of weakness elongate in a direction parallel to the line of tension, allowing the tissue to achieve a second state of intensive properties. The value of the second state of intensive properties is different after activation. The change in value of the intensive properties allows for economies in shipping, where a higher density product is shipped to the consumer. At the point of use, the consumer activates the product to achieve the increase surface area and lower density. The increase in surface area and concomitant decrease in density provides for increased efficacy in cleaning. The plastically activatable state may be provided by a series of slits 44 or other lines of weakness in the tissue. The tissue may comprise cellulosic and/or synthetic fibers. The tissue may be used as a facial tissue, bath tissue, paper towel, napkin, body wipe, mophead, etc.

Claims

1. A generally planar substrate of tissue paper, said substrate having a length direction and a width direction defining an XY plane and a Z-direction perpendicular thereto, said substrate having a thickness taken in the Z-direction, said substrate being extensible in at least one of said length direction and said width direction, whereby plastic extension of said substrate to a percentage in either said length direction or said width direction of said XY plane yields a percentage increase in thickness greater than said percentage elongation in said XY plane.

2. A substrate according to Claim 1 wherein said substrate has apertures therethrough prior to said plastic extension, preferably wherein said apertures are elongate, and more preferably wherein said elongate apertures are generally parallel, and even more preferably wherein said elongate apertures are unilaterally offset from adjacent apertures.

3. A multi-ply tissue product, said tissue product defining an XY plane and a Z-direction perpendicular thereto, said tissue product having a thickness of at least 2 mm and a density of less than 0.01 g/cm3.

4. A tissue product according to Claim 3, having a machine direction and a cross machine direction orthogonal thereto, said tissue product having a cross machine direction flexibility of less than 0.01 kg/cm2.

5. A tissue paper, said tissue paper having a first thickness, said tissue paper being plastically activatable in tension whereby said tissue has a second thickness upon activation, the ratio of said second thickness to said first thickness defining a thickness index, wherein said thickness index is at least 4, preferably wherein said thickness index is at least 6, and more preferably wherein said thickness index is at least 10.

6. A tissue paper according to Claim 5, wherein said tissue comprises cellulosic fibers and preferably wherein said tissue paper has a machine direction and a cross machine direction orthogonal thereto, said tissue paper having an elongation in said cross machine direction of at least 30% without rupture and preferably wherein said tissue paper has an elongation in the cross machine direction of at least 60% without rupture.

7. A tissue paper according to Claim 5, wherein said tissue comprises synthetic fibers.

8. A generally planar tissue paper comprising at least two plies joined in face-to-face relationship, said tissue paper having a length direction and a width direction defining an XY plane in a Z-direction perpendicular thereto, said tissue paper having a thickness in said Z-direction, said tissue paper being plastically extensible in at least one of said length direction and said width direction, whereby plastic extension of said tissue paper causes an increase in said thickness of said tissue paper.

9. A tissue paper according to Claim 8, comprising at least three plies joined in face-to-face relationship, two outboard plies and at least one center ply therebetween, each of said plies comprising a tissue paper substrate having a pattern of lines of weakness therein, said pattern of lines of weakness of said center ply being different than said pattern of lines of weakness of at least one of said outboard plies.

10. A multi-ply tissue paper comprising apertures therethrough, said multi-ply tissue paper having a coefficient of friction of at least 1.8 and preferably having a coefficient of friction of at least 2.2.

11. A tissue paper according to Claim 10, wherein said tissue paper is activatable from a first state to a second state yielding a load elongation curve, said load elongation curve having a bandwidth of at least about 0.5 and preferably having a bandwidth of at least about 0.9.

12. A process for producing an activatable tissue paper, said process comprising the steps of:

providing a forming wire, said forming wire defining an XY plane and a Z-direction perpendicular thereto, said forming wire having a plurality of upstanding protuberances thereon, said protuberances being upstanding in said Z-direction, said protuberances being elongate in said XY plane, wherein said protuberances have an aspect ratio of at least 10;

providing an aqueous slurry of cellulosic fibers;

depositing said aqueous slurry on said forming wire, whereby said aqueous slurry comprises a Z-direction thickness at the point of deposition which is greater than the projection of said protuberances above said forming wire;

drying said aqueous slurry to yield a high basis weight continuous network and discrete low basis weight regions, said discrete low basis weight regions corresponding in geometry to said protuberances, said discrete low basis weight regions having a major axis and a minor axis orthogonal thereto, whereby said discrete low basis weight regions have an aspect ratio of at least 10; and removing said aqueous slurry from said cellulosic fibrous structure.

13. A process according to Claim 12 further comprising the step of activating said tissue paper, said step of activating said tissue paper comprising the step of applying opposed tensile forces to said tissue paper, whereby said tissue paper is extended within said XY plane, said direction of said opposed tensile forces being generally perpendicular to said major axis of said protuberances, whereby said cellulosic fibers in said low density zones are displaced upon activation to have at least one free end and preferably wherein said step of activating said tissue paper comprises the step of two dimensionally auxetically activating said tissue paper.

14. A tissue paper having a basis weight of 10 to 140 grams per square meter, said tissue paper having a plurality of lines of weakness therein, said tissue paper being activatable in a first direction, whereby opposed tensile forces causes strain in said tissue paper parallel to said direction- of opposed tensile forces, said thickness of said tissue paper increasing in response to said strain and preferably wherein said tissue paper may be elongated to a predetermined strain without reaching a peals load on a load elongation curve in either of two orthogonal directions, said strain in said first direction being at least twice as great as said strain in said second direction.