Abstract: The present invention provides a nonwoven fabric comprising a non-fibrous binder having certain solubility characteristics. It also provides a pouched product, the fabric and contents of which have certain solubility characteristics. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric for use as packaging in an oral pouched product, where the nonwoven fabric comprises a web of chemically bonded staple fibres in which a relative proportion of staple fibres and a binder is selected in conjunction with a density of the fabric to strike an optimal balance in achieving a fabric that provides a soft (e.g. low friction) mouthfeel, a wet strength capable of withstanding manipulation in a user's mouth (e.g. chewing, sucking or the like), and a resistance to unwanted leaching or leaking of flavouring or other fine particle substances used in modern oral products.

Abstract: A chewable product for oral delivery of a substance. The chewable product is an essentially homogenous portion of nonwoven fabric impregnated with the substance. For example, the chewable product may comprise a nonwoven fabric substrate having a matrix of interleaved fibres. The substance is held within the matrix and releasable therefrom by a chewing action. The nonwoven fabric substrate thus provides a frame for carrying the substance that is both resistant to chewing action (i.e. does not disintegrate when chewed, bitten or sucked) and capable of releasing the substance. The nonwoven fabric substrate may be formed by passing an initial web through a needle loom. The substance may be connected to fibres in the matrix by a binder.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric for manufacturing an oral pouched product, where the nonwoven fabric is chewable to increase its liquid permeability. When the nonwoven fabric is used to form a pouch, it may thus control the release of substances from within the pouch. The nonwoven fabric can be formed by applying a diffusion restricting treatment to a base nonwoven fabric. The diffusion restricting treatment may include any of (a) incorporating a digestible compound; (b) incorporating a superabsorbent polymer; (c) incorporating a hydrophobic material; and (d) forming a deformable barrier layer.

Abstract: A layer includes a main body having a plurality of first pores and at least one crosslinked binder.

Abstract: A layer includes a main body having a plurality of first pores and at least one crosslinked binder.

Abstract: A porous article which is formed from a polymeric material, in which characteristics of the surface of the article provided by the polymeric material are modified by having grafted to it chains of polymerized vinyl monomer units, in which the chains each comprise a number of units of a first vinyl monomer and include a unit of a second vinyl monomer which is different from the first vinyl monomer. Preferably, the ratio of the number of units of the first vinyl monomer in each chain to the number of units of the second vinyl monomer is not more than about 60. When the number of second vinyl monomer units in each chain is one, the mean number of first vinyl monomer units in each chain will be not more than 60.

Abstract: A porous article which is formed from a polymeric material, in which characteristics of the surface of the article provided by the polymeric material are modified by having grafted to it chains of polymerized vinyl monomer units, in which the chains each comprise a number of units of a first vinyl monomer and include a unit of a second vinyl monomer which is different from the first vinyl monomer. Preferably, the ratio of the number of units of the first vinyl monomer in each chain to the number of units of the second vinyl monomer is not more than about 60. When the number of second vinyl monomer units in each chain is one, the mean number of first vinyl monomer units in each chain will be not more than 60.

Abstract: Absorbent hygiene products comprising a core of an absorbent material and a top sheet through which fluid to be absorbed passes for absorption by the absorbent material are disclosed. The top sheet is porous and comprises a sheet having surfaces of a hydrophobic polymeric material modified by a graft copolymerization reaction between those surfaces and a vinyl monomer having a group capable of exhibiting hydrophilic properties. The graft polymerization reaction comprising exposure of the sheet to ultraviolet radiation while impregnated with a solution of the vinyl monomer. The grafted vinyl monomer comprises a substantially uniform coating of the sheet surface and having a mean thickness not more than about 3.0 ?m. Methods for producing this absorbent hygiene product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Non-woven fabrics are disclosed comprising substantially unbonded fibers and vinyl monomers which are capable of reacting with an acid or a base to form a salt directly or indirectly by a reaction involving exposure to ultraviolet radiation while impregnated with a solution of the vinyl monomer copolymerized to the surface of the fibers. Laminates of these non-woven fabrics as well as electrochemical devices employing them as a separator, and methods of treating such non-woven fabrics are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of making gel materials are disclosed including mixing a water soluble crosslinkable matrix polymer, a particulate polymer material which has been crosslinked to a gel content of at least 55% and an aqueous solvent, and crosslinking the matrix polymer to form a gel matrix of the matrix polymer in which the particles of particulate polymer material are dispersed, each of the crosslinked matrix polymer and the crosslinked particulate polymer material being capable of absorbing water. Gel materials are also disclosed including particles of a particulate polymer material capable of absorbing water and which is crosslinked so that it has a gel content of at least about 55% dispersed in a matrix of a polymer which has been crosslinked to reduce its solubility in water so that it swells rather than dissolves in water, the size of at least 60% by weight of the particles of particulate polymer material being less than about 100 &mgr;m.

Abstract: Non-woven fabrics are disclosed comprising substantially unbonded fibers and vinyl monomers which are capable of reacting with an acid or a base to form a salt directly or indirectly by a reaction involving exposure to ultraviolet radiation while impregnated with a solution of the vinyl monomer copolymerized to the surface of the fibers. Laminates of these non-woven fabrics as well as electrochemical devices employing them as a separator, and methods of treating such non-woven fabrics are also disclosed.

Abstract: A filter element for adsorbing gaseous components of a gas stream comprises a fabric formed from fibres of a polymeric material in which the sizes of individual fibres is not more than about 20 &mgr;m. The fibres are treated by a copolymerisation reaction with a vinyl monomer which is capable of reacting with an acid or a base to form a salt directly or indirectly under conditions which result in grafting of the vinyl monomer to the surfaces of the fibres.