Abstract: A readily attached and detached covering for large surface areas. To use the wall covering, the hook members of a hook and loop fastener system are attached to the surface to be covered. One side of the covering material is such that it can serve as a loop member for the hook member. The covering material can be secured in place and removed repeatedly without the need of special tools or precautions. The cover material is a composite having a hook member engaging layer on one side, a resilient layer and a dimensionally stable layer so that the material in place over a surface is dimensionally stable in the plane of the surface and resiliently accommodating in the direction perpendicular to the surface.

Abstract: A fabric which can be made by a wet-laid process using crimpable bicomponent fibers is disclosed which may have a high bulk and/or elasticity. The fabric can be made by a high speed continuous process wherein the fabric is pulled from a Yankee dryer by a take off roll which rotates faster than the Yankee dryer.

Abstract: A flat, cloth-like composite laminate including airlaid, nonwoven pulp web layers reinforced by a wetlaid bicomponent web layer. The bicomponent web layer has a sheath-core configuration, wherein the fiber component of the sheath member has a lower melting point than the fiber component of the core member. If desired, an adhesive material can be utilized between the bicomponent layer and the airlaid pulp web layer.

Abstract: A method for the production of a fibrous web having textile length fibers wherein a fiber furnish is formed by dispersion of the fibers in an unfoamed carrier medium of water and an associative thickener of ethylene oxide base urethane block copolymers or hydroxyethylcellulose ethers having a C.sub.10 to C.sub.24 alkyl side chain in an amount within the range of from about 1 to about 150 pounds of thickener per ton of dry fiber and including an anionic viscosity modifier in the range of 10 to 500 ppm. The furnish having a consistency in the range of 0.05 to 0.2 weight percent fibers is supplied to a high speed papermaking machine for forming a fibrous web. The textile length fibers may be polyester fibers being 1.5 denier and 3/4 inches. The high speed papermaking machine may be a twin-wire papermaking machine or a suction breast roll papermaking machine or a crescent former papermaking machine.

Abstract: A hydroentangled nonwoven fabric containing ribbon shaped staple synthetic fibers having a crenulated cross-section and formed from a wet-laid web containing such crenulated fibers, preferably a blend thereof with short natural fibers, such as wood fibers. The use of a wet-laid web containing such crenulated synthetic fibers enables optimal interaction with the hydroentanglement jets of water, and a reduced level of hydroentanglement energy is required to achieve the desired performance characteristics in the fabric.

Abstract: A wetlaid paper-like nonwoven structure having a permanent crepe which does not wash out. The paper-like structure contains a synthetic bicomponent fiber in an amount of less than 20% by weight and as such possesses both wet and dry strength and improved absorbent properties.

Abstract: A fibrous web having an enhanced capacity for water absorption is produced by impregnating an absorbent fabric with a polymer or copolymer capable of forming by cross-linking an absorbent polymer or copolymer and subsequently heating the treated fabric effecting cross-linking of the polymer to form an absorbent polymer. The product may comprise a non-woven fibrous web or mat having a water-insoluble binder on one surface and a cross-linked hydrophilic polymer or copolymer on its opposite surface.

Abstract: A flannelized film and a method of making a flannelized film are disclosed. Layers of plastic film are fed between two rollers meeting at a nip, the contiguous surfaces of the layers being coated with an adhesive or comprising a heat-softened coextruded layer. A layer of creped tissue comprising cellulosic fibers is laminated between the contiguous surfaces of the layers of plastic film to form an intermediate laminate structure. The cellulosic fibers of the intermediate laminate structure are split at the exit side of the nip such that a portion of the cellulosic fibers is adhered to each plastic layer and has components extending in a direction substantially perpendicular with respect to the plane of the plastic film. This gives the plastic film the look and feel of flannel for improving the aesthetics of disposable absorbent products such as diapers, feminine napkins and underpads.

Abstract: A method for forming a fabric web by wet-laying fibers on paper-making equipment, the web comprising staple length natural or synthetic fibers and optionally wood cellulose papermaking fibers and an adsorbed polymeric surface active agent. The method comprises making up an aqueous fiber furnish with a polymeric surfactant having a plurality of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic groupings per molecule. The polymeric surfactant is adsorbed by the fibers and may be added to the fibers or it may be included in the aqueous carrier medium. In either case, the finished web contains and is improved by the inclusion of the polymeric surfactant.

Abstract: A method for forming a fibrous web by wet-laying fibers on paper-making equipment, the web comprising staple length natural or synthetic fibers and wood cellulose paper-making fibers wherein a water furnish of the fibers is made up with an associative thickener in the absence of a conventional surfactant. A preferred associative thickener for use with hydrophobic fibers is a urethane block copolymer having a polyethylene glycol backbone, the associative thickener acting as both surfactant and thickener. With predominately cellulosic fibers, i.e. conventional wood cellulose fibers, or a mixture of conventional and contorted wood fibers, and synthetic cellulosic fibers, such as rayon, a hydroxyethyl cellulose having a long alkyl side chain is preferred. Excellent consistency of the water and fiber dispersion is obtained at relatively low viscosity with rapid drainage of water from the wire and uniform formation of the web.

Abstract: A nonwoven fibrous web is disclosed having high wet tensile strength when packed in a preservative liquid load, yet which breaks up under mild agitation conditions in a wet environment such as by the flushing action of a toilet. The wiper includes a nonwoven web made of a special blend of cellulosic fibers held together only by friction and naturally occurring hydrogen bonding. No binder is necessary to hold together the fibers. Derivatization of the fibers is not necessary for their breakapartability. The nonwoven fibrous web is produced by subjecting a wet-laid web of cellulosic fibers to hydroentanglement and drying the web without addition of a bonding agent.

Abstract: A method of making a quilted cloth-like composite laminate is produced. The method includes the steps of inserting a scrim coated with a thermoplastic binder between two nonwoven layers each of the nonwoven layers being formed of three-dimensional cellulosic fibers bound with a latex adhesive; heating the scrim and the two nonwoven layers to a temperature sufficient to activate the thermoplastic binder while maintaining unequal tension on the scrim and the two nonwoven layers; and pressing the scrim and the two nonwoven layers together to form a quilted cloth-like composite laminate having the nonwoven layers of cellulosic fibers adhered to opposite sides of the scrim. The surface of each nonwoven layer is quilted and interrupted by the scrim.

Abstract: A method of making a flat cloth-like composite laminate is produced. The method includes the steps of inserting a scrim coated with a thermoplastic binder between two nonwoven layers each of the nonwoven layers being formed of three-dimensional cellulosic fibers bound with a latex adhesive; heating the scrim and the two nonwoven layers to a temperature sufficient to activate the thermoplastic binder while maintaining equal tension on the scrim and the two nonwoven layers; and pressing the scrim and the two nonwoven layers together to form a flat cloth-like composite laminate having the nonwoven layers of cellulosic fibers adhered to opposite sides of the scrim. The surface of each nonwoven layer is planar and interrupted by the scrim.

Abstract: A method of making a cloth-like composite laminate is provided. The method includes: inserting a scrim coated with a thermoplastic binder between two nonwoven layers, each of the nonwoven layers being formed of cellulosic fibers bound with a latex adhesive and heating the scrim and the two nonwoven layers to a temperature sufficient to activate the thermoplastic binder, the heating being performed without pressing the scrim and the nonwoven layers together so as to form a cloth-like composite laminate having a nonwoven layer of cellulosic fibers continuously bound to opposite sides of the scrim. The surface of each nonwoven layer is planar and uninterrupted by the scrim. The nonwoven layer is initially formed by forming two separate layers of three-dimensional cellulosic fibers, applying to each layer of three-dimensional cellulosic fibers a latex adhesive; and drying the latex adhesive to form two separate nonwoven layers of cellulosic fibers.

Abstract: Novel hydrogel compositions of diester crosslinked polyglucans and a process for their preparation are provided. Amylose, dextran, and pullulan succinates and glutarates when crosslinked as described were found to not only have use as general fluid sorbants but also to have exceptional hemostatic activity, adherence to a wound, and bioabsorption without causing undue irritation of the tissue or toxic effects. Reticulated hydrogel sponges made of the crosslinked diesters which are particularly useful as general fluid sorbants, and those of amylose succinate and amylose glutarate are most excellent bioabsorbable hemostatic agents. The sponges are made by lyophilizing water-soluble salts of the mono- or half-esters, such as water-soluble salts of amylose succinate or amylose glutarate, under process conditions of the invention in the presence of a reticulating agent which causes a controlled melting of the salt solution as it nears the dry state during the lyophilizing step.