Abstract: There is disclosed a tactile imaging paper comprising a tactile sheet and a backing sheet laminated together. The tactile sheet is a cellulosic sheet formed from a highly dilute furnish of from 30% to 60% chemically modified high alpha pulp, 35% to 70% solftwood pulp (or a mixture of softwood pulp and hardwood pulp with the hardwood pulp comprising up to 50% of the mixture), and 0.5% to 6% polyvinyl alcohol fiber. The tactile sheet is formed from the furnish without any wet pressing of the tactile sheet. Once the tactile sheet is dry, it is dry calendered to a density of from 0.3 to 0.9 grams per cubic centimeter. Moreover, the tactile sheet has a porosity of greater than 1000 centimeters per minute. The tactile sheet has a basis weight from 75 to 200 grams per square meter and with a laminated backing sheet the tactile imaging paper has a basis weight of about 190 gsm.

Abstract: A heatseal porous plugwrap made with a naturally porous combiner wrap and spray-applied hot melt adhesive. The natural porosity of the combiner wrap paper and the superficial location of sprayed adhesive greatly inhibit the penetration of adhesive to the outer surface of the paper, thus minimizing the possibility that the adhesive will interfere with the tipping process. The use of a sprayer to apply the adhesive allows for only the required amount of adhesive to be utilized and thus eliminates waste.

Abstract: A process for removing stickies and/or PCDD's and PCDF's from cellulose-containing fibers such as waste paper is provided. The process comprises contacting the fibers with supercritical or near supercritical propane for a period of time sufficient to extract a substantial portion of the stickies and/or PCDD's and PCDF's without substantially damaging the fibers. Extraction efficiencies of up to 95% for PCDD's or PCDF's and of about 70% to 95% for stickies have been achieved with the technique.

Abstract: A process for removing PCDD's and PCDF's from paper mill sludge is provided. The process comprises combining the sludge with an oxidant and then oxidizing the sludge under supercritical or near supercritical conditions to destroy the PCDD's and PCDF's. Using this process, destruction efficiencies of greater than 98% have been achieved for 2,3,7,8-TCDD, which is reportedly the most toxic of the dioxins.

Abstract: Sheet material containing sodium carboxymethyl cellulose especially useful in forming wrappers for smokeable articles such as cigarettes that results in reduced sidestream smoke. The sheet is preferably formed by incorporating as a filler in a cellulosic web an amount of high superficial surface area filler in the range generally of from about 5 to 50 percent by weight in the finished sheet. The cellulosic material may be flax fiber or other natural cellulosic fibers conventionally used for such wrappers. Additional fillers may be used up to a total of about 50 percent, and, preferably, a burn modifier, carboxylic acid salt, preferably a nonhydroxy acid salt such as succinic acid salt is included in an amount of 4 to 15 percent by weight. The sheet can be formed by any conventional papermaking method.

Abstract: A polymeric fabric having enhanced wettability, a method for producing such wettable polymeric fabric, and composition for us in the method are provided. The polymeric fabric comprises a primary surfactant on the surface of the polymeric fabric, the primary surfactant having a low solubility in water and dispersible in water. The primary surfactant is applied to the fabric in an aqueous solution. The primary surfactant is preferably applied to the fabric in a composiiton comprising the primary surfactant, water, and a co-surfactant functional to wet the polymeric fabric with the composition during application of the composition to the polymeric fabric. The co-surfactant is present in the composition in an amount sufficient to provide for substantially uniform distribution of the primary surfactant onto the polymeric fabric.

Abstract: Hand or wiper towels are made according to a process which includes the steps of: forming a furnish of cellulosic fibers; depositing the furnish on a traveling foraminous belt, thereby forming a fibrous web on top of the traveling foraminous belt; subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying to remove the water from the fibrous web; and removing the dried fibrous web from the traveling foraminous belt. The dried fibrous web is not creped. These hand towels possess superior levels of absorbent capacity, absorbent rate, softness, and strength to other prior art hand or wiper towels with the same or about the same basis weight. Embossing of the hand or wiper towels enhances the superior qualities of the towels. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transfer of the fibrous web from a foraminous belt of a higher speed to a foraminous belt of a lower speed produces a towel with enhanced strength and softness.

Abstract: There is disclosed nonwoven composite fabric comprising a central melt-blown web preferably formed of collected, entangled, elastic or adhesive nonwoven fibers comprising poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate), where the central web is polar and of relatively low melting point. This central web is positioned next to or bonded to two other insulative nonwoven webs of non-polar, melt-blown fibers, which in turn are positioned next to or bonded to two outer nonwoven webs of spun-bonded fibers. The composites are useful for health care fabrics such as drapes, protective covers, and the like.

Abstract: There is disclosed a nonwoven wiper comprising a composite web made of a number of interbonded layers of meltblown thermoplastic fibers. The outer layers have average pore sizes greater than 20 microns and preferably greater than 40 microns for rapid pick up of liquid. The internal layers have average pore sizes between 10-20 microns for liquid holding capacity.

Abstract: A holder for flexible material, for example a disposable floor mat, comprises a base (4) on which the material (18) rests, at least part of the base having an integral wall (12) so arranged as to form a recess (6). The recess is dimensioned so as to receive the material in a close fit and means are provided to hold the material in place. The holding means may comprise a lip (14) integral with the wall of the holder which extends above the recess (16) and means (19) may be provided on the surface of the holder to act as a guide for the correct placement of the material (18). Additionally or alternatively the base (4) of the holder may include holding means (20,26), such as "Klettostop", which comprises a plurality of upwardly extending hooks or spikes formed from a plastic material. Means (26) may also be provided for retaining the holder (2) on a support surface.

Abstract: A process for removing PCDD's and PCDF's from cellulose-containing fibers such as waste paper is provided. The process comprises contacting the fibers with supercritical or near supercritical carbon dioxide for a period of time sufficient to extract a substantial portion of the PCDD's and PCDF's without substantially damaging the fibers. Extraction efficiencies of greater than 95% have been achieved with the technique.

Abstract: A process for removing sticky contaminants ("stickies") from cellulose-containing fibers such as waste paper is provided. The process comprises contacting the fibers with supercritical or near supercritical carbon dioxide for a period of time sufficient to extract a substantial portion of the stickies without substantially damaging the fibers.

Abstract: There is disclosed a package with controlled humidity for storing products such as tobacco and food. Teh package is an enclosed container with a humidistat pad inside which pad serves as a spacer and holds a humectant solution in its liquid phase in an absorbent interior layer. The pad has a liquid impervious backing layer to protect the walls of the container from the liquid humectant solution. The pad also has a liquid permeable cover which can rapidly transfer the humectant solution deposited on it to the absorbent layer during filling of the container with the product.

Abstract: Germicidal compositions for direct application to human skin are provided. The compositions include an organic acid, e.g., malic acid, and an anionic surfactant, e.g., a sodium alpha-olefin sulfonate, as active ingredients, and can optionally include an alcohol, e.g., specially denatured ethyl alcohol, as an additional active ingredient. When formulated as soaps and lotions, the compositions have been found to produce more than a 2.0 log reduction in bacteria applied to skin.

Abstract: An improved tow and method of making comprising a mixture of thermoplastic microfibers having an average diameter in the range of up to about 10 microns and being discontinuous but with a very high length to diameter ratio. The mixture is formed by physically entangling microfibers containing 10% to 90% of shorter fibers with the microfibers being predominantly aligned parallel to the axis of the tow and the mixture being bonded at contact points between microfibers and the shorter fibers. The method includes the steps of forming a melt with thermoplastic material and extruding it through one or more series of orifices arranged in a rounded configuration. The extruded melt is contacted with a first gas stream whereby a network of physically entangled microfibers is formed. A second gas stream is formed and the shorter fibers entrained therein are merged to form a mixture with the microfibers.

Abstract: Nonwoven web comprising thermoplastic meltblown fibers or filaments predominantly present as agglomerates or multiple fused fiber areas. Such agglomerates in the web act as columns and impart a desired degree of strength and resistance to compaction. In contrast to prior art webs where such agglomerates have been considered undesirable, the webs of the present invention find particular utility when formed into cylinders as filter plugs for smoking articles. In smoking articles of the invention, the filter plugs have a desired pressure drop while demonstrating an unexpected degree of firmness, all at an economically attractive cost. Preferred embodiments include those where the machine direction strength to cross machine direction grab tensile ratios in the range of from about 1:1 to 4:1 and the fibers or filaments are made from polypropylene. Other embodiments include webs and filter plugs containing additives distributed throughout the web.

Abstract: There is disclosed a lock to prevent casual theft from dispensers. The lock includes a catch on one wall and a rotatable cam and a release spring with a latch on a second wall. The second wall has a bore for a key slot, an integral mounting post for the release spring, and integral mounting brackets for a retainer plate to hold the release spring and rotatable cam in position. The lock has a rotatable bore cover to inhibit operation of or damage to the lock. The cam is restricted in rotation and has cam profiles which cause the release spring to return to its closed position when the key is released.