Abstract: An apparatus and a method for ultrasonically producing a spray of liquid. The apparatus includes a die housing which defines a chamber adapted to receive a pressurized liquid and a means for applying ultrasonic energy to a portion of the pressurized liquid. The die housing further includes an inlet adapted to supply the chamber with the pressurized liquid, and an exit orifice defined by the walls of a die tip. The exit orifice is adapted to receive the pressurized liquid from the chamber and pass the liquid out of the die housing to produce a spray of liquid. When the means for applying ultrasonic energy is excited, it applies ultrasonic energy to the pressurized liquid without applying ultrasonic energy to the die tip.

Abstract: An adsorbent filter for removing caffeine from liquids. The filter is composed of a liquid permeable, electret-treated matrix of fibrous material having individual exposed surfaces; and a relatively uniform distribution of adsorbent zeolite particulate material attached to individual exposed surfaces of the electret-treated fibrous material by substantially non-transient bonding, so that passage of a liquid having a caffeine concentration ranging from about 20 to about 100 mg per 100 mL of liquid through the matrix for a contact time of less than about 2 minutes results in at least a 40 percent reduction in the caffeine concentration of the liquid. The matrix of fibrous material may be selected from woven fabrics, knit fabrics and nonwoven fabrics. Generally speaking, the filter can be adapted to provide at least a 40 percent reduction in the caffeine concentration for about 1 cup to about 40 cups of a liquid.

Abstract: An absorbent folded hand towel having improved effectiveness at hand drying based on the weight of the towel. The towel is composed of an absorbent fibrous cellulosic web having in combination: 1) a total area of less than about 500 cm.sup.2 ; 2) a basis weight of greater than about 45 gsm; 3) a TWA of greater than about 3 g/g; and 4) a unit tensile strength of less than about 1300 meters, so that the hand towel provides a hand towel utility of less than about 5 grams per hand dry event.

Abstract: An absorbent article for use in cleaning oil spills comprises a first exposed outer layer of hydrophobic, liquid-permeable, fibrous polymeric nonwoven web and an absorbent body, adjacent the outer layer, comprising oil absorbent, cellulose-based material. Desirably, the article further comprises a second exposed outer layer of hydrophobic polymeric material with the absorbent body disposed between the first and second exposed outer layers. The absorbent article is placed on a layer of oil resting on the surface of a body of water for oil spill clean up. The absorbent article selectively absorbs oil over water because the outer hydrophobic layer repels water but attracts oil and transfers the oil to the oil absorbent body encased between the exposed outer layers. This invention results in considerable savings in cost and in non-renewable resources because the bulk of the product is a cellulose-based material, which is renewable, while only a small portion is polymeric nonwoven, which is non-renewable.

Abstract: A melt-extrudable polymeric strand with altered physical properties formed by extruding an emulsion comprising a melt-extrudable polymer and an immiscible component while subjecting the emulsion to ultrasonic energy. In one embodiment, a melt-extrudable polymeric strand has a plurality of fissures in the surface of the strand such that the strand has a B.E.T. surface area to six times the B.E.T. surface area of an otherwise identical strand lacking the plurality of fissures. Desirably, the strand of this embodiment has a B.E.T. surface area of within a range from about 0.10 to about 0.18 m.sup.2 /g. In a method for making such a strand, the immiscible component of the extrudable emulsion comprises a substance that is an expandable gas upon extrusion. The expandable gas forms the fissures in the strand. According to another aspect, a polymeric strand has a continuous phase which is a melt-extrudable polymer and a disperse phase which is immiscible with the continuous phase.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of attaching a substantially uniform distribution of particulates to individual exposed surfaces of a matrix of fibrous material. The method includes the following steps: 1) electrically charging a matrix of fibrous material having individual exposed surfaces to create a substantially uniform distribution of charged sites at the exposed surfaces; 2) applying particulates to the charged matrix of fibrous material so that at least some particulates adhere at the charged sites; and 3) attaching particulates adhering to the fibrous material at charged sites by substantially non-transient bonding. Also disclosed is a fibrous composite structure composed of a matrix of fibrous material having individual exposed surfaces; and a relatively uniform distribution of particulate material attached to individual exposed surfaces of the fibrous material by substantially non-transient bonding.

Abstract: A transfer configuration for a paper making machine, the transfer configuration being composed of: 1) a first carrier fabric having a first surface on which a fibrous web is transported to the transfer configuration at a first velocity; 2) a second carrier fabric having a second surface on which the fibrous web is transported away from the transfer configuration at a second velocity that is less than the first velocity; 3) a lengthened transfer zone that begins at a transfer shoe and terminates at a portion of a transfer head and has a machine direction oriented length ranging from about 0.