Abstract: A fiber that has a unique surface topography in that it contains a plurality of nanohairs extending outwardly from an external surface of an elongate structure of the fiber is provided. To form the nanohairs, a polymer composition is spun that includes organofunctional nanoparticles (e.g., polyhedral organofunctional silsesquioxanes) embedded within a matrix of a base polymer. Despite being initially embedded within the polymer, the present inventors have discovered that, through selective control over the nature and relative concentration of the components of the composition, as well as the method in which the fiber is formed, a substantial portion of the nanoparticles can migrate to the surface of the fiber as it is formed and thus become arranged in the form of nanohairs.

Abstract: A technique for forming fibers (e.g., nanofibers, microfibers, etc.) from an aqueous spinning solution is provided. Through careful control over the nature and relative concentration of the components in the solution, fibers can be formed that remain relatively water resistant. To help accomplish these unique features, a pH-sensitive polymer is employed in the spinning solution that is generally soluble in water at a certain pH value, yet generally insoluble in water at a different pH value. This property allows for selective adjustment of the pH both before and after spinning to control the water-solubility of the polymer as desired.

Abstract: A printed nonwoven web having improved oil crockfastness when an ink composition is applied to an outer surface of the nonwoven is generally disclosed. For example, an ink composition that has improved resistance to rub off of the web, even if the ink composition contacts an oily substance (e.g., baby oil, lotion, etc.), can be printed on a surface of the web. The nonwoven web can be a layer in a laminate having at least a film layer and the nonwoven web layer. For example, the printed laminate can be used as the outercover of an absorbent article.

Abstract: Absorbent articles incorporating a wetness sensor for indicating the presence of a body fluid are disclosed. The wetness sensor includes an olfactory signaling device that produces a scent or odor when a body fluid is detected. For instance, in one embodiment, an odorous composition can be contained in a water degradable pouch that releases the odorous composition when contacted with moisture. Once released, the odorous composition can produce a desired scent. In other embodiments, the odorous composition can be encapsulated within a water degradable material or can be coated on a substrate. The scent or odor that is released by the odorous composition can vary depending upon the particular application. The scent, for instance, may be pleasant or unpleasant. In one embodiment, the olfactory signaling device may be used to assist in toilet training a child.

Abstract: Generally, the present invention is directed to, in one embodiment, a method for forming a composite nonwoven web configured to deliver skin wellness agents to the skin of a user. According to the method, an aqueous system of a hydrophilic polymer and a skin wellness agent is formed. The aqueous system is then electrospun onto a surface of a nonwoven web containing synthetic fibers. The resulting nanofibers have an average diameter of from about 50 nanometers to about 5000 nanometers, such as from about 200 nanometers to about 700 nanometers.

Abstract: Absorbent articles incorporating a wetness sensor for indicating the presence of a body fluid are disclosed. The wetness sensor includes an olfactory signaling device that produces a scent or odor when a body fluid is detected. For instance, in one embodiment, an odorous composition can be contained in a water degradable pouch that releases the odorous composition when contacted with moisture. Once released, the odorous composition can produce a desired scent. In other embodiments, the odorous composition can be encapsulated within a water degradable material or can be coated on a substrate. The scent or odor that is released by the odorous composition can vary depending upon the particular application. The scent, for instance, may be pleasant or unpleasant. In one embodiment, the olfactory signaling device may be used to assist in toilet training a child.

Abstract: A printed nonwoven web having improved oil crockfastness when an ink composition is applied to an outer surface of the nonwoven is generally disclosed. For example, an ink composition that has improved resistance to rub off of the web, even if the ink composition contacts an oily substance (e.g., baby oil, lotion, etc.), can be printed on a surface of the web. The nonwoven web can be a layer in a laminate having at least a film layer and the nonwoven web layer. For example, the printed laminate can be used as the outercover of an absorbent article.

Abstract: A wet wipe comprises a nonwoven material. The nonwoven material comprises a fibrous material and a binder composition. The binder composition includes a cationic ion-sensitive emulsion polymer, which can comprise the emulsion polymerization product of at least one hydrophobic monomer which has been stabilized by a solution-polymerization-derived cationic ion-sensitive polymer stabilizer. In some aspects, a solution-polymerization-derived cationic ion-sensitive polymer binder can be solution blended with the already-formed cationic ion-sensitive emulsion polymer to provide additional benefits. In other aspects, the solution-polymerization-derived cationic ion-sensitive polymer binder is the same as the s-solution-polymerization-derived cationic ion-sensitive polymer stabilizer.

Abstract: A substrate that contains an exothermic coating is provided. More specifically, the exothermic coating includes one or more components (e.g., carbon, oxidizable metal, moisture-retaining particles, etc.) that are durably adhered to the substrate. To provide the desired durability, the exothermic coating includes the combination of a certain amount of a polymer latex and polysaccharide. When appropriately selected and incorporated into the exothermic coating, the present inventors have discovered that these components may interact synergistically to improve binding capacity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wet wipe with improved sheet-to-sheet adhesion properties. The wet wipe comprises a non-woven web saturated with a wetting composition. In another embodiment, the wet wipe comprises a non-woven web with an anti-blocking composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to ion triggerable, water-dispersible cationic polymers. The present invention is also directed to a method of making ion triggerable, water-dispersible cationic polymers and their applicability as binder compositions. The present invention is further directed to fiber-containing fabrics and webs comprising ion triggerable, water-dispersible binder compositions and their applicability in water-dispersible personal care products, such as wet wipes.

Abstract: A wet wipe contains fibrous material, a binder composition for binding the fibrous material into an integral web, and a wetting composition containing water, a salt, and at least about 10 wt % of an organic solvent. The binder composition contains an ionic copolymer. The wet wipe is not dispersible in the wetting composition, and is dispersible in water containing up to 200 ppm of one or more multivalent ions. The ionic copolymer may be the polymerization product of a vinyl-functional cationic monomer and at least one non-ionic vinyl monomer. The ionic copolymer may be the polymerization product of a vinyl-functional anionic monomer and at least one non-ionic vinyl monomer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a bicomponent strengthening system and the paper webs produced with the bicomponent strengthening system. Through use of the strengthening system, paper webs may be produced in which the strength characteristics of the web may be specifically tailored. The first component of the system comprises a polymer having at least about 1.5 m-eq primary amine functionality per gram of polymer and a molecular weight of at least about 10,000 Daltons. The second component may be either a polymeric anionic compound or a polymeric aldehyde functional compound. For example, the polyamine polymer component may be a polyvinylamine or polysaccharide having primary amine functionality. In one embodiment, the second component may be a cationic polymeric aldehyde functional compound. For example, the second component may be a cationic glyoxylated polyacrylamide. In another embodiment, the second component may be a polymeric anionic compound comprising carboxy functionality.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a wet wipe product. The wet wipe product comprises a fibrous substrate and a triggerable binder formulation. The triggerable binder formulation is capable of binding the fibers in the fibrous substrate. The triggerable binder formulation may include acrylamide polymers, vinylamide/amine polymers, and mixtures. The triggerable binder formulation is insoluble in a wetting composition comprising an insolubilizing agent but is dispersible in disposal water.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a wet wipe product. The wet wipe product comprises a fibrous substrate and a triggerable binder formulation. The triggerable binder formulation is capable of binding the fibers in the fibrous substrate. The triggerable binder formulation may include acrylamide polymers, vinylamide/amine polymers, and mixtures. The triggerable binder formulation is insoluble in a wetting composition comprising an insolubilizing agent but is dispersible in disposal water.

Abstract: Textile materials, including paper webs, treated with a polyvinylamine polymer and a second agent that interacts with the polyvinylamine polymer is disclosed. The second agent added with the polyvinylamine polymer can be, for instance, a polymeric anionic reactive compound or a polymeric aldehyde-functional compound. When incorporated into a paper web, the combination of the polyvinylamine polymer and the second agent provide improved strength properties, such as wet strength properties. In an alternative embodiment, the polyvinylamine polymer and the second polymer can be applied to a textile material for increasing the affinity of the textile material for acid dyes.

Abstract: Textile materials, including paper webs, treated with a polyvinylamine polymer and a second agent that interacts with the polyvinylamine polymer is disclosed. The second agent added with the polyvinylamine polymer can be, for instance, a polymeric anionic reactive compound or a polymeric aldehyde-functional compound. When incorporated into a paper web, the combination of the polyvinylamine polymer and the second agent provide improved strength properties, such as wet strength properties. In an alternative embodiment, the polyvinylamine polymer and the second polymer can be applied to a textile material for increasing the affinity of the textile material for acid dyes.

Abstract: Textile materials, including paper webs, treated with a polyvinylamine polymer and a second agent that interacts with the polyvinylamine polymer is disclosed. The second agent added with the polyvinylamine polymer can be, for instance, a polymeric anionic reactive compound or a polymeric aldehyde-functional compound. When incorporated into a paper web, the combination of the polyvinylamine polymer and the second agent provide improved strength properties, such as wet strength properties. In an alternative embodiment, the polyvinylamine polymer and the second polymer can be applied to a textile material for increasing the affinity of the textile material for acid dyes.