MOISTURE-PROOF, WATER-DISINTEGRATABLE FIBER COMPOSITE MATERIAL

Abstract

Moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable fiber composite material (1) featuring improved shelflife.

Description

The invention relates to a moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable fiber composite material, comprising a fiber component, a binder component, and a moistening component.

These kinds of moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable fiber composite materials, and fiber products produced from them, are known, basically, in numerous fields of use and application. From the standpoints in particular both of wastewater and environmental technology, such fiber composite materials are required to show rapid and complete disintegration or rapid and complete decomposability on contact with water. Fiber composite materials exhibiting such moisture coherence are intended accordingly, on contact with water, to decompose or disintegrate as quickly and completely as possible, allowing, for example, deposits and blockages of wastewater and piping systems to be avoided.

In order to bring about decomposition properties of this kind, the prior art has seen various fiber composite material compositions proposed, exhibiting on the one hand sufficient moisture coherence and on the other hand a low wet strength, i.e., a high disintegration or decomposition capacity on contact with water.

A problem affecting such moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable fiber composite material compositions, however, may be the shelflife in a state in which they are packed in a closed pack, i.e., for example, a film pack. A possibility here, especially under fluctuating climatic conditions, i.e., in particular, where there are gradients and/or changes in temperature, and over prolonged storage times, is that evaporation and subsequent condensation events within the pack may give rise to the formation of condensation products, which, on contact with the moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable fiber composite material, may result in unwanted irreversible local swelling or decomposition of the moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable fiber composite material within the pack. A particular problem is the evaporation and condensation of water, since corresponding aqueous condensation products lead to irreversible local swelling or decomposition of the moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable fiber composite material.

A further problem, typically accompanying such evaporation and condensation events, may be the onset of and/or increase in microbial loading—that is, in particular, bacteriological and mycological loading—of the moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable fiber composite material, attributable to local depletion of corresponding antimicrobial substances in the moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable fiber composite material on contact with an aqueous condensation product. For storage, accordingly, the evaporation and condensation of water in the pack is problematic, even taking account of all relevant processing protocols, because of the conditions in cases of such fluctuating climatic conditions, i.e., in particular, gradients or changes in temperature, within the pack.

The object of the invention, therefore, is that of specifying a moisture-coherent fiber composite material which is improved in this respect, in particular in relation to its shelflife in closed packs, and preferably also on (repeated) opening of such a pack.

The object is achieved by means of a moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable fiber composite material in accordance with claim 1. The claims dependent from the latter relate to possible embodiments of the moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable fiber composite material.

The moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable fiber composite material described herein, referred to hereinafter for short as “fiber composite material”, exhibits particular properties as a material; the fiber composite material displays firstly a comparatively high moisture coherence, i.e., a comparatively high mechanical strength in the moist state, and secondly a comparatively low wet strength, i.e., a comparatively low mechanical strength on contact with water. The comparatively low wet strength enables rapid and complete disintegration or rapid and complete decomposition of the fiber composite material into individual fiber elements on contact with water. Accordingly, under brief mechanical stressing, by rubbing on the skin, for example, the fiber composite material exhibits sufficiently high mechanical moisture coherence. After introduction into water, the fiber composite material displays a sufficiently low wet strength or high disintegrability or decomposability, and so, after disposal of the fiber composite material, in drains, toilets, etc., for example, blockages in a wastewater system are avoided and/or the fiber composite material need not be especially separated off in the treatment plant ahead of the actual cleaning of the wastewater. The fiber composite material is therefore suitable especially for use as moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable hygiene paper, especially as moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable cosmetic or cleaning paper, or as moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable toilet paper; the fiber composite material may have embodiment or be embodied, therefore, as moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable hygiene paper, in particular as moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable cosmetic or cleaning paper, or as moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable toilet paper.

The term “moisture-coherence” is understood to refer to the strength of the fiber composite material in particular in the presence of an aqueous liquid comprising at least one organic component. The at least one organic component may be selected, for example, from the following group: aliphatic alcohols, aliphatic ethers, aliphatic esters, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and mixtures and/or combinations thereof. The moisture coherence may be ascertained, for example, through a strip tensile test in accordance with DIN EN ISO 13934-1 (issue date: 1999-04).

The fiber composite material preferably has a moisture coherence, determined by strip tensile testing according to DIN EN ISO 13934 at 20° C. and a relative humidity of 65%, of more than 3 N, more particularly in a range between 3 N and 250 N, preferably in a range between 4 N and 150 N, more preferably in a range between 4.5 N to 120 N, more preferably in a range between 5 N and 80 N, more preferably in a range between 6 N to 55 N.

Where the fiber composite material is configured as moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable toilet paper, the fiber composite material has for example a moisture coherence, determined by strip tensile testing according to DIN EN ISO 13934 at 20° C. and a relative humidity of 65%, in a range between 6 N and 30 N, preferably in a range between 8 N and 20 N. A moisture coherence of less than 8 N leads typically to a mechanical stability which is too low when used as moist toilet paper; conversely, a moisture coherence of more than 30 N when configured as moist toilet paper entails tactile qualities which are too stiff or too firm. Exceptions both upward and downward are conceivable, of course, depending on the requirements profile of a specific end product.

The term “wet strength” is understood to refer to the strength of the fiber composite material on contact with water or in the presence of an excess of water. The wet strength may be ascertained, for example, by a wet tensile test in accordance with DIN EN ISO12625, Part 5 (issue date: 2005-09) “Determination of wet tensile strength”.

The fiber composite material preferably has a wet strength, determined by wet tensile testing according to DIN EN ISO12625 at 20° C. and a relative humidity of 65%, of at most 2 N, preferably of at most 1 N, more preferably of at most 0.5 N.

More particularly the fiber composite material, especially for a moisture coherence of more than 3 N, preferably in a range between 3 N and 250 N, more preferably in a range between 6 N and 210 N, more preferably in a range between 5 N and 80 N, more preferably in a range between 6 N and 55 N, more preferably in a range between 5 and 20 N, has a wet strength of at most 2 N, preferably at most 1 N, more preferably at most 0.5 N.

In spite of a comparatively high moisture coherence, therefore, the fiber composite material enables (largely) complete decomposition on contact with water, in other words, in particular, after introduction into water. After introduction into water the fiber composite material typically disintegrates or decomposes within less than 1 hour, preferably within less than 15 minutes, preferably within less than 1 minute, more preferably within less than 30 seconds. As mentioned, there are individual fiber elements present after decomposition, which are no longer joined to one another and—because of a comparatively short fiber length—in dispersion can also no longer be joined to one another, hence making it possible to avoid, for example, deposits, clumps or blockages in/of wastewater systems. As becomes apparent below, the fiber length is typically so short that the plugging of fiber elements in a (turbulent) flow field, of a wastewater system, for example, is not possible.

Even on accidental release into nature and environment, the low wet strength and also the generally good biodegradability and bioavailability of the fiber composite material, meaning, besides the fiber component, in particular the degradability of the binder component and moistening component constituents, leads to rapid and complete disintegration and even to complete metabolization of the fiber composite material.

The moisture coherence and the wet strength of the fiber composite material are defined by the composition of the components forming the fiber composite material and can be targetedly defined by targeted variation of the composition of the components forming the fiber composite material. In particular it is possible to tailor the moisture coherence and the wet strength of the fiber composite material to a particular application or use of the fiber composite material through targeted variation of the composition of the components forming the fiber composite material.

Essential components of the fiber composite material comprise at least one fiber component, at least one binder component, and at least one moistening component. Specific embodiments of the individual components of the fiber composite material are elucidated in more detail later on below.

The fiber component comprises a number of fiber elements. The fiber elements are wettable in water or in an aqueous solution. The fiber elements may be swellable on contact with water. The fiber elements or fiber component may therefore have a certain uptake capacity for water, leading on contact with water to a swelling (volume increase) of the fiber elements or fiber component. The fiber component serves as the basic matrix of the fiber composite material.

It is essential that the fiber elements have a particular fiber geometry, i.e., more particularly, a certain fiber length, which after disintegration of the fiber composite material hinders or prevents the fiber elements becoming connected to one another. The chosen length of the fiber elements is typically so short, these elements more particularly having a fiber length of less than 6 mm, that a mechanical connection with one another, formed for example by intercoiling, interlooping or plugging, is unable to form either in the dry, moist or wet state or in the state of decomposition after introduction of the fiber composite material. The fiber elements therefore typically have a fiber length below an optionally fiber-element-specific plugging limit, above which a mechanical connection of the fiber elements, formed by intercoiling, interlooping or plugging, for example, would be possible. By the plugging limit, also considered as or referred to as limiting fiber length of plugging, is meant a concentration-dependent and fiber-material-dependent fiber length which in the flow field leads to the formation of mechanically stable fiber-fiber agglomerates or fiber-fiber bonds.

It is evident from this that the structural cohesion and the resultant mechanical properties, i.e., in particular, the strength, of the fiber composite material in the dry, moist or wet state is produced typically solely by the binder component and/or its setting process. Typically, therefore, the binder component alone serves to form or to ensure a sufficiently stable connection of the fiber elements or between the fiber elements, formed typically by chemical or physicochemical fixing, i.e., in particular, the development of hydrogen bonds, fiber element-fiber element bridges or binder films. For this purpose, at least in sections and more particularly completely, the fiber elements are surrounded by the binder component or embedded therein or fixed to one another at contact points and fiber element-fiber element crossing points (interstitial region).

The preferably water-soluble binder component comprises at least one binder which is swellable on contact with water or an aqueous solution and which comprises at least one organic binder component formed in particular of or comprising at least one polysaccharide containing acid groups, i.e., polysaccharide having at least one acid group. The binder present in the case of application, for example, for example as an aqueous solution and/or as foam, or the binder component present, for example, as an aqueous solution and/or as foam, therefore has a certain uptake capacity for water, this capacity being retained even after setting of the binder and leading, on renewed contact with water, to swelling (volume increase) and/or to dissolution of the binder or the binder component. The binder component serves, as mentioned, to join the fiber elements of the fiber component to one another, adhesively and/or cohesively, for example. After application to the fiber elements and subsequent drying, the binder, for example, may attach to the fiber elements, thereby adhesively and/or cohesively connecting the fiber elements to one another. The binder may, as mentioned, be connected via hydrogen bonds to the fiber elements of the fiber component.

The moistening component comprises a moistener. The moistener comprises a number of moistener components, i.e., in particular, organic compounds and water. The moistening component serves for accommodating and storing moisture, and gives the fiber composite material a moist tactility or a certain moisture content. The moistener also serves to diminish or prevent the drying-out of the fiber composite material, by, for example, binding moisture (atmospheric humidity) or water and/or diminishing the evaporation of water. The moistening component serves further for modifying the swelling properties of the binder, especially in relation to swelling of the binder by water present in the moistening component.

The fiber composite material is notable for a particular composition of its components, especially of the moistening component, which takes account of the problems described in connection with the prior art described at the outset, i.e., in particular enabling an improved shelflife of the moistening material in a closed pack.

Critical for this is that the moistening component or the moistener comprises at least one volatile organic moistener component. The volatile organic moistener component is more volatile than (pure) water. The volatile organic moistener component has a constitution such that a condensation product (condensate), in the form, for example, of a drop or film of condensation, formed by evaporation and subsequent condensation of the volatile organic moistener component and also, optionally, of further constituents of the moistening component on a condensation surface, i.e., for example, a pack wall, an adjacently disposed fiber composite material in the pack, or within the fiber composite material itself, leads, on contact with the fiber composite material, to more negligible swelling of the fiber elements and/or of the binder than a condensation product formed of pure water. In particular, such a condensation product, on contact with the fiber composite material, leads to more negligible swelling of the fiber elements and/or of the binder than a condensation product containing no volatile organic moistener component or a condensation product containing no more-volatile organic moistener component.

The volatile organic moistener component therefore has a constitution, and is present in correspondingly sufficient concentration in relation to a specific composition of the moistener, such that the properties, i.e., for example, the water fraction, of a condensation product formed by evaporation and condensation are/is (considerably) reduced, and so contact of the condensation product with the fiber composite material leads, if at all, to a considerably more negligible swelling of the fiber elements and/or of the binder. The condensation product formed by evaporation and subsequent condensation of the volatile organic moistener component and also, optionally, of further constituents of the moistening component on a condensation surface is therefore not water (of greater or lesser purity), which on contact with the fiber composite material would lead to unwanted irreversible local swelling or decomposition of the fiber composite material and to an associated loss of coherence of the fiber composite material within a pack, but is instead the volatile moistener component or a solution comprising the volatile moistener component or more-volatile moistener component(s) in sufficient concentration, which on contact with the fiber composite material does not lead to unwanted irreversible local swelling or decomposition of the fiber composite material and does not lead to any associated loss of coherence of the fiber composite material within a pack.

The proportional composition of the moistening component is therefore selected, through the presence of a (more-)volatile moistener component in a sufficiently high concentration, such that an evaporation product arising through evaporation (vapor phase) comes about, especially temperature-independently in relation to the resultant concentrational fractions of the evaporation product, in such a way that a condensation product formed by condensation of the evaporation product on a condensation surface does not, on contact with the fiber composite material, adversely affect the particular properties, i.e., in particular, coherence, of the fiber composite material.

The use of a volatile organic moistener component enables a desired tailoring of the vapor pressures of the evaporable or evaporating moistener components present in the moistener. Here, typically, the volatile organic moistener component has the highest vapor pressure or partial pressure—the vapor pressure of the volatile organic moistener component is therefore typically higher than the vapor pressure of all the other moistener components—and so the volatile organic moistener component undergoes preferential evaporation and constitutes an essential fraction of the evaporated moistener components contained in the vapor phase. The vapor pressure of the volatile organic moistener component is typically higher, at any rate, than the vapor pressure of water. As seen hereinafter, the moistener may comprise, as one or more further moistener components, for example, at least one organic component which is of low(er) volatility (in comparison to the volatile organic moistener component), more particularly a monomeric, oligomeric or polymeric diol or polyol compound, and/or at least one hygroscopic moistener component.

The volatile organic moistener component lowers the water vapor partial pressure of the water contained in the moistener, and so reduces the fraction of water in the evaporation product. Correspondingly, of course, even a condensation product formed by condensation from the evaporation product has a reduced water fraction; the reduced water fraction in the condensation product ensures that on contact with the fiber composite material, the condensation product does not lead to unwanted local swelling or decomposition of the fiber composite material in a closed pack.

The moistener component may comprise inorganic and organic moistener components which have different volatilities, in other words different vapor pressures and different evaporation rates. In comparison to water, volatile moistener components have a (significantly) increased vapor pressure and a higher volatility and/or a higher evaporation rate. Moistener components of low(er) volatility in comparison to water have a (significantly) lower vapor pressure and a lower volatility and/or a lower evaporation rate.

In combination with aqueous moistener components, the fraction of the (more-)volatile moistener components leads typically to the formation of a positively azeotropic mixture, in which the vapor pressure of the moistener component of the mixture lies above the vapor pressure of the individual moistener components in the mixture. The vapor pressure of the (more-)volatile moistener component is higher than the vapor pressure of the low(er)-volatility moistener component; the fraction of the (more-)volatile moistener component in a corresponding condensation product is therefore higher than the fraction of the low(er)-volatility moistener components.

The fiber composite material is notable for a particularly stable shelflife, even, in particular, under changing climatic conditions. Also countered is the problem, described at the outset, of the local depletion, occurring on contact with an aqueous condensation product, of bactericidal and/or bacteriostatic or fungicidal and/or fungiostatic substances in the fiber composite material. In this context it should be mentioned that the volatile organic moistener component may also itself have bactericidal and/or bacteriostatic or fungicidal and/or fungiostatic properties. All in all the fiber composite material present is improved.

The volatile organic moistener component may further have a constitution such that through evaporation of the volatile organic moistener component and also any further moistener components, a positively azeotropic evaporation product, i.e., an evaporation product with positively azeotropic properties (positive-azeotropic mixture), can be or is formed. Consequently, preferential evaporation of the volatile organic moistener component may result in an evaporation product or condensation product for which the fraction of water of water in the evaporation product (vapor phase) or the condensation product is reduced, this fraction being the fraction significant for the unwanted local swelling or decomposition of the fiber composite material.

The at least one volatile organic moistener component may be a volatile alcohol or a mixture of at least two volatile alcohols. A corresponding volatile alcohol, present optionally in a mixture of two volatile alcohols, may be methanol, ethanol or propanol, butanol, pentanol; despite a higher vapor pressure than water, butanol and pentanol typically do not produce positively azeotropic mixtures as a condensation product. The volatile organic moistener component is preferably a nontoxic volatile alcohol.

The volatile organic moistener component may have a weight fraction of 1 to 90 wt %, more particularly below 50 wt %, preferably below 35 wt %, more preferably below 20 wt %, very preferably below 10 wt %, based on the total weight of the moistener or the moistening component. Investigations have shown that even comparatively low concentrations of the volatile organic moistener component in the moistener lead to a disproportionately high fraction of the volatile organic moistener component in an evaporation product. It has been possible, for example, to show that a weight fraction of around 20 wt % of a volatile organic moistener component leads to a molar fraction of more than 50% in an evaporation product. The volatile organic moistener component may accordingly have a constitution such that it has a molar fraction of 5 to 95%, more particularly 7 to 50%, preferably 10 to 50%, of an evaporation product formed by evaporation of the volatile organic moistener component and also of any further moistener components of the moistener. A general rule is that the moistening component or the moistener may have a proportional composition of volatile organic moistener component in a range between 1 to 90 wt %, more particularly below 50 wt %, i.e., in particular, between 1 and 50 wt %, preferably less than or equal to 35 wt %, i.e., in particular, between 1.5 and 35 wt %, more preferably less than or equal to 20 wt %, i.e., in particular, between 2 and 20 wt %, very preferably less than or equal to 10 wt %, i.e., in particular, between 3 and 10 wt %, based in each case on the total weight of the moistener or the moistening component and residual weight fraction of water.

It has already been mentioned that the moistener, in addition to the volatile organic moistener component, comprises further moistener components. The further moistener components may more particularly be low-volatility moistener components or those whose volatility is lower in comparison to the volatile organic moistener component.

The further moistener components serve typically (also) to (largely) ensure the particular properties, i.e., in particular, the moisture coherence properties and the decomposition properties in water, of the fiber composite material, even on (repeated) opening and at least partial reclosing of a pack accommodating the fiber composite material, or when using the fiber composite material outside a pack with associated at least partial evaporation of the volatile organic moistener component. The fiber composite material therefore (largely) has its particular properties even on (repeated) opening and at least partial reclosing of a pack accommodating the fiber composite material, or when using the fiber composite material outside a pack with associated at least partial evaporation of the volatile organic moistener component. As a further moistener component it is possible in particular to use organic and/or inorganic substances—compounds, complexes or salts—which are water-structuring, i.e., for example, chaotropic or kosmotropic, and/or hygroscopic and/or osmotically active or effective.

The further moistener components are in comparison typically less volatile than the volatile organic moistener component. The further moistener components may accordingly, as mentioned, be organic moistener components that are of low(er) volatility in comparison to the volatile organic moistener component. The weight fraction of these low(er)-volatility moistener components is typically below 0 and 90 wt %, more particularly between 5 and 70 wt %, preferably between 10 and 50 wt %, more preferably between 15 and 35 wt %, based in each case on the total weight of the moistener or the moistening component (the residual weight fraction being water).

Corresponding low(er)-volatility organic moistener components are, accordingly, typically of lower volatility than (pure) water. Examples of such further moistener components are polyhydric alcohols of low molecular mass, especially 1,2-propanediol (propylene glycol), and hygroscopic substances and/or salts. As a further moistener component, therefore, the moistener may comprise a hygroscopic moistener component, especially 1,2-propanediol, and/or a salt, i.e., in particular, a metal cation salt of an amino acid, preferably a calcium salt of an amino acid, such as calcium lysinate, for example. The use of one or more hygroscopic moistener components reduces the water fraction in the evaporation product (vapor phase) or in the condensation product further and ensures that the properties of the fiber composite material remain sufficiently stable and maintained even after partial or complete volatilization of the volatile organic moistener component, in the case, for example, of over-storage of opened or inadequately closed packs. The same applies to the use of osmotically active moistener components, their use being a scenario conceivable alternatively or additionally.

The volatile moistener component therefore serves in particular to improve the shelflife of the fiber composite material and to that extent may be termed or considered a functional additive, since it typically has little or no influence on the moisture coherence and/or wet strength properties described for the fiber composite material.

For all embodiments it is the case that the fiber composite material may comprise moisteners. The fiber composite material may have a moistener content in a range between 50 wt % and 450 wt %, preferably between 90 wt % and 390 wt %, more preferably between 110 wt % and 340 wt %, more preferably between 150 wt % and 310 wt %, more preferably between 160 wt % and 200 wt %, more preferably between 230 wt % and 280 wt %, based in each case on the total weight of the fiber composite material in the dry state.

The fiber component may comprise fiber elements of natural, i.e., animal or plant, or synthetic inorganic and/or organic fiber composite materials. The fiber elements are preferably formed of natural organic fiber composite materials. Mixtures may of course also be present of different fiber elements, in other words fiber elements differing in at least one chemical, geometric or physical property. Examples of inorganic fiber elements are basalt, glass, silica, mineral, and carbon fibers. Examples of organic fiber elements are hemp or cellulose fibers. Examples of synthetic organic fiber elements are polyester, polyamide, polyimide, polyamideimide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride fibers.

Preference is given to using primarily natural fiber elements, i.e., in particular, cellulose fibers. It is further possible, for example, to use rayon, cotton, wool, acetate or Tencel fibers. In one preferred embodiment the fiber component comprises 40 to about 98 wt %, more preferably 60 to 95 wt %, of cellulose fibers, based in each case on the total weight of the dry fiber composite material. The cellulose fibers used may be obtained by chemical digestion of plant fibers or by use of recycled fibers. It is possible to use wood fibers, fibers from palms or annual plants, such as, for example, hay, straw, bagasse, kenaf or bamboo, and mixtures or combinations thereof. It is possible, furthermore, to use any wood pulp, i.e., both hardwood pulp and softwood pulp.

The fiber component preferably has fiber elements with a length of at least 0.1 mm, preferably in a range between 0.1 mm and 10 mm, more preferably in a range between 0.2 and 6 mm, more preferably in a range between 1 mm and 4 mm, more preferably in a range between 1.1 and 3 mm. The fiber composite material preferably has no fiber elements which have a fiber length of more than 6 mm. After dissolution of the fiber composite material in wastewater, for example, the use of such short fiber elements prevents mechanical joining, i.e., for example, intertangling, interlooping, felting and/or plugging, of individual or plural fiber elements to form fiber element aggregates, which fiber element aggregates can lead to blocking. As mentioned, the fiber elements therefore typically have a fiber length below a concentration-dependent and fiber-material-dependent plugging limit. Independently of their geometry, the fiber elements are preferably soluble and/or dispersible in water.

For all embodiments it is the case that the fiber composite material, as well as the at least one fiber component, the at least one binder component, and the at least one moistening component, may optionally further comprise at least one, preferably water-soluble, organic amphoteric component (referred to hereinafter for short as “amphoteric organic component”). The amphoteric organic component, which, as emerges below, is more particularly an amphoteric amine or amine salt, may serve both as an acceptor and a donor of protons, i.e., may react both as a Brønsted acid and as a Brønsted base. The amphoteric organic component may serve in combination with the binder component especially to form a (structuring) polysalt and/or a polymeric aggregate, which together with the moistener of the moistening component is nonsoluble or nondispersible.

The preferably water-soluble organic amphoteric component may as mentioned be an amphoteric amine or amine salt. The organic amphoteric component is not a surfactant, i.e., more particularly, not an amphoteric surfactant. The organic amphoteric component is hence not a surfactant, i.e., more particularly, not a surfactant based on an amine or amine salt. Typically, quaternary or long-chain amphoteric amines of high molecular mass are (also) not suitable as organic amphoteric component, because, as plasticizers and/or with a permanent cationic charge, they act dispersingly or to destroy structure, and prevent or adversely affect the moisture coherence of the fiber composite material.

A corresponding amine suitable as amphoteric organic component may be a preferably water-soluble aminocarboxylic acid, preferably alpha-aminocarboxylic acid, which is selected preferably from the following group: alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, citrulline, cysteine, S-methylcysteine, cystine, creatine, homocysteine, homoserine, norleucine, 2-aminobutanoic acid, 2-amino-3-mercapto-3-methylbutanoic acid, 3-aminobutanoic acid, 2-amino-3,3-dimethylbutanoic acid, 4-aminobutanoic acid, 2-amino-2-methylpropanoic acid, 2-amino-3-cyclohexylpropanoic acid, 3-aminopropanoic acid, 2,3-diaminopropanoic acid, 3-aminohexanoic acid, gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (3-aminopropane-1,1,3-tricarboxylic acid), glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, hydroxyproline, p-hydroxyphenylglycine, isoleucine, isovaline, leucine, lysine, methionine, ornithine ((S)-(+)-2,5-diaminopentanoic acid), phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, salts thereof, complexes thereof, and mixtures or combinations thereof, preferably from alanine, arginine, glycine, proline, lysine, histidine, glutamine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, ornithine, salts thereof, complexes thereof, and mixtures or combinations thereof, more preferably from alanine, arginine, glycine, proline, lysine, ornithine, salts thereof, complexes thereof, and mixtures or combinations thereof, more preferably arginine, lysine, ornithine, salts thereof, complexes thereof, and mixtures or combinations thereof, more preferably alanine, glycine, proline, salts thereof, complexes thereof, and mixtures or combinations thereof, more preferably histidine, glutamine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, salts thereof, complexes thereof, and mixtures or combinations thereof.

It is additionally possible for short-chain peptides, i.e., for example, dipeptides, tripeptides, up to oligomeric peptides or oligopeptides having up to eight amino acid units, consisting of one amino acid or different amino acids, to serve and hence be used as amphoteric organic component.

Furthermore, all nonphysiological amines and amino acids, especially those of low molecular mass, and also derivatives thereof, may serve and hence be used as amphoteric organic component.

The organic amphoteric component, where present, has preferably at least one protonatable and/or protonated amino group and additionally at least one deprotonatable and/or deprotonated acid group, more preferably carboxyl group. The protonatable and/or protonated amino group is preferably selected from the following group: primary amino group, secondary amino group, and combinations thereof. An amphoteric amine is preferably an aminocarboxylic acid and/or a salt and/or a complex thereof, more preferably an alpha-amino acid and/or a salt and/or a complex thereof.

A salt of an amphoteric amine is more particularly a salt of a polyvalent metal cation, usefully with a uniform spherical charge distribution on the surface, i.e., preferably Ca²⁺ and/or Zn²⁺.

A complex of an amphoteric amine is more particularly a complex of a polyvalent metal cation, preferably Ca²⁺ and/or Zn²⁺. More preferably an amphoteric amine has a first, preferably protonatable and/or protonated, amino group and a first acid group, preferably carboxyl group, and also, optionally and additionally, a second, preferably protonatable and/or protonated, amino group and/or a second acid group, preferably carboxyl group. An amphoteric amine preferably has no permanently positively charged nitrogen atoms, more preferably no quaternary ammonium group—tetraalkylammonium group, for example.

The fiber composite material may accordingly comprise metal cations, especially polyvalent metal cations, or metal cation salts, more particularly polyvalent metal cation salts, for complexing with further constituents of the moisture-coherent fiber composite material, especially with the binder component and/or with a or the amphoteric organic component. Such metal cations and metal cation salts may in particular be water-structuring and/or hygroscopic and/or osmotically active or effective. Examples of such salts may be organic salts based on low molecular mass organic acids or amino acids with polyvalent metal cations, e.g., calcium, magnesium, and zinc ions, and/or inorganic metal cation salts, e.g., calcium chloride, zinc chloride, in general preferably strongly hygroscopic metal cations or metal cation salts, and also mixtures of different metal cations or metal cation salts. The weight fraction of such metal cations or metal cation salts is in particular between 0.01 and 20 wt %, preferably between 0.1 and 10 wt %, more preferably between 0.2 and 8 wt %, very preferably between 0.3 and 5 wt %.

Preference is given to selecting suitable polyvalent metal cations from the group consisting of polyvalent, i.e., more particularly, divalent and trivalent, ions of the transition metals, polyvalent ions of the metals of the 3^rd and 4^th main groups of the periodic table of the elements, ions of the alkaline earth metals, ions of the transition metals, and mixtures or combinations thereof. Further or accordingly it is possible to select suitable polyvalent metal cations from the group consisting of Al³⁺, Mg²⁺, Co²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, and mixtures or combinations thereof, especially preferably Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, and mixtures or combinations thereof.

Suitable metal cations may be introduced, for example, in the form of water-soluble salts and/or complexes of the corresponding metal cations, preferably as hydrogencarbonate, chloride, acetate, lactate, tartrate, fumarate, as carboxylate and/or complex of one of the abovementioned aminocarboxylic acids or a mixture thereof, preferably as chloride, carboxylate and/or complex of one of the abovementioned aminocarboxylic acids or a mixture thereof, of the corresponding metal cations, into the preferably aqueous solution, preferably lotion.

Suitable amphoteric amines are preferably selected from the group consisting of aminocarboxylic acids, which may be unsubstituted or substituted, salts thereof, complexes thereof, and mixtures or combinations thereof. Suitable aminocarboxylic acids, which may be unsubstituted or substituted, are organic compounds, preferably having at least one carboxyl group and at least one amino group. Suitable amphoteric amines are, as mentioned, not surfactants, i.e., more particularly, not amphoteric surfactants.

Suitable aminocarboxylic acids are selected preferably from the group consisting of alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, citrulline, cysteine, S-methylcysteine, cystine, creatine, homocysteine, homoserine, norleucine, 2-aminobutanoic acid, 2-amino-3-mercapto-3-methylbutanoic acid, 3-aminobutanoic acid, 2-amino-3,3-dimethylbutanoic acid, 4-aminobutanoic acid, 2-amino-2-methylpropanoic acid, 2-amino-3-cyclohexylpropanoic acid, 3-aminopropanoic acid, 2,3-diaminopropanoic acid, 3-aminohexanoic acid, gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (3-aminopropane-1,1,3-tricarboxylic acid), glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, hydroxyproline, p-hydroxyphenylglycine, isoleucine, isovaline, leucine, lysine, methionine, ornithine ((S)-(+)-2,5-diaminopentanoic acid), phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, salts thereof, complexes thereof, and mixtures or combinations thereof, preferably of alanine, arginine, glycine, proline, lysine, histidine, glutamine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, ornithine, salts thereof, complexes thereof, and mixtures or combinations thereof, more preferably of alanine, arginine, glycine, proline, lysine, ornithine, salts thereof, complexes thereof, and mixtures or combinations thereof, more preferably arginine, lysine, ornithine, salts thereof, complexes thereof, and mixtures or combinations thereof, more preferably alanine, glycine, proline, salts thereof, complexes thereof, and mixtures or combinations thereof, more preferably histidine, glutamine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, salts thereof, complexes thereof, and mixtures or combinations thereof.

In a further-preferred embodiment, the at least one amphoteric amine is selected from the group of above-stated peptides consisting of one or various of the amino acids recited immediately above.

Metal cations, preferably polyvalent metal cations, may form salts and/or complexes with one of the abovementioned aminocarboxylic acids. With further preference it is possible to use aforementioned amphoteric amines, preferably aforementioned aminocarboxylic acids, as salts and/or complexes of polyvalent metal cations, preferably Ca²⁺ and/or Zn²⁺.

As mentioned, a corresponding amphoteric amine, preferably the at least one aminocarboxylic acid, which may be unsubstituted or substituted, and/or a salt thereof and/or a complex thereof with a residue containing acid groups, preferably a residue containing carboxyl groups, of the at least one, preferably water-soluble, polysaccharide may, after application to the fiber component, form a polysalt.

As mentioned, it is possible to improve the control of the wet strength, i.e., of the decomposability, of the fiber composite material by using at least one organic amphoteric component, i.e., more particularly, an amphoteric amine, preferably at least one aminocarboxylic acid, and/or a salt thereof and/or a complex thereof. More particularly it is possible to exert a positive influence over the moisture coherence of the fiber composite material through the abovementioned formation of salts and/or complexes and/or polysalts of organic amphoteric components, i.e. more particularly, aminocarboxylic acids, and metal cations.

An amphoteric amine of this kind, selected preferably from the group of aforesaid aminocarboxylic acids, which may be substituted or unsubstituted, salts thereof, complexes thereof, and mixtures or combinations thereof, preferably has in a fraction in a range between 0.1 wt % and 30 wt %, preferably in a range between 0.5 wt % and 20 wt %, more preferably in a range between 0.7 wt % and 17 wt %, more preferably in a range 2 wt % between 15 wt %, more preferably in a range between 3.3 wt % and 13 wt %, based in each case on the total weight of the dry fiber composite material.

The binder component comprises, as mentioned, at least one binder which is swellable on contact with water and which comprises at least one organic binder component in particular formed of or comprising at least one, preferably water-soluble, polysaccharide containing acid groups. The polysaccharide containing acid groups typically has at least one residue containing acid groups or containing carboxyl groups. The polysaccharide is preferably selected from the following group: carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), carboxymethylstarch (CMS), and mixtures or combinations thereof.

Besides the volatile organic moistener component, the moistening component has, as mentioned, further moistener components. These are, as well as water, at least one organic component selected from the following group: aliphatic alcohols, aliphatic ethers, aliphatic esters, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and mixtures or combinations thereof, preferably aliphatic alcohols, aliphatic ethers, and mixtures or combinations thereof, more preferably ethane-1,2-diol, propane-1,2-diol, propane-1,3-diol, 1,2,3-propanetriol, and mixtures or combinations thereof. As a further moistener component, the moistener may therefore include at least one organic component, which from aliphatic alcohols, aliphatic ethers, aliphatic esters, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and mixtures or combinations thereof. The further organic moistener component may, moreover, comprise at least one polyvalent metal cation, especially Ca²⁺ and/or Zn²⁺.

The moistening component or the moistener may be solid or liquid, preferably liquid, under standard conditions (temperature 25° C., pressure 1013 mbar). Preferably the moistener is liquid, preferably aqueous, under standard conditions, and the organic moistener components may under standard conditions be solid or liquid, preferably liquid. For example, an organic moistener component which is solid under standard conditions may be present in dispersion and/or solution in a moistener which is liquid under standard conditions.

As mentioned, the organic amphoteric component, where present, may together with the binder form at least one polysalt or polymeric aggregate which together with the moistener belonging to the moistening component is nonsoluble or nondispersible. A “polysalt” is understood to be a polymeric substance which is or at least comprises at least one, preferably water-soluble, polysaccharide having at least one ionically dissociated, acid group-containing residue, more preferably carboxyl group-containing residue, which forms a bond, preferably an ionic bond, with a group of opposite charge. An ionically dissociated group bonded to such a polysaccharide is preferably an anionically charged group, preferably a deprotonated acid group, more preferably a carboxylate group. In the formation of a polysalt, anionically charged functional groups of the binder, as for example deprotonated acid groups of the at least one acid group-containing residue, and cationically charged functional groups of the organic amphoteric component, as for example protonated amino groups, are able to bind to one another, through ionic interaction of oppositely charged residues, for example, thereby making it possible to eliminate or restrict the solubility in the presence of the moistener. Through the organic amphoteric component, the moistener, and the binder, or their interaction, therefore, it is possible to increase the moisture coherence of the fiber composite material.

Following introduction of the fiber composite material into water, such as mains water, gray water or wastewater, for example, the moistener is diluted or dissolved in water. As a result, water is able to attach to the binder or the binder is able to take up water and swell, thereby reducing or negating the binding capacity of the binder. In particular, following introduction of the fiber composite material into water having an acidic, neutral or alkaline pH, there may be partial, preferably complete, dissolution or swelling of a corresponding polysalt, resulting in an increase in the water solubility and/or water dispersibility of the binder, thereby weakening or destroying the structural integrity of the fiber composite material. The connections between the fiber elements may in this way be loosened, weakened, stretched and/or destroyed. Through mechanical influences, such as the flow influences occurring in wastewater, for example, the structural integrity of the fiber composite material is further weakened, preferably destroyed.

Attachment of water to the binder and/or to the organic amphoteric component, where present, may result in at least partial, more particularly complete, dissolution of a corresponding polysalt and/or polymeric aggregate. Through partial or complete dissolution of the polysalt and/or of the polymeric aggregate, the connection between the binder and the organic amphoteric component may be at least partly, especially completely, interrupted. Through interruption of the connection between the binder and the organic amphoteric component it is possible to facilitate the attachment of water to the binder and/or to increase the water solubility of the binder.

The binder component or the binder have a fraction in the fiber composite material in a range between 1 wt % and 35 wt %, preferably in a range between 3 wt % and 30 wt %, more preferably in a range between 4 wt % and 25 wt %, more preferably in a range between 5 wt % and 20 wt %, more preferably in a range between 6 wt % and 15 wt %, more preferably in a range between 7 wt % and 13 wt %, based in each case on the total weight of the dry fiber composite material. More particularly the binder component or the binder may have a fraction in the fiber composite material in a range between 2 and 8 wt % based on the total weight of the dry fiber composite material.

As mentioned, the at least one further organic moistener component may be selected from the following group: aliphatic alcohols, aliphatic ethers, aliphatic esters, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and mixtures or combinations thereof. Suitable aliphatic alcohols may be acyclic or cyclic and also saturated or unsaturated. Suitable aliphatic alcohols are preferably saturated, more preferably acyclic and saturated.

Suitable aliphatic alcohols have preferably 1 to 12 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 9 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 3 carbon atoms, which may in each case be unbranched or branched, and at least one OH group, preferably 1 to 12 OH groups, more preferably 1 to 9 OH groups, more preferably 1 to 6 OH groups, more preferably 1 to 4 OH groups, more preferably 2 to 3 OH groups.

Suitable aliphatic alcohols are selected more preferably from the group consisting of aliphatic monohydric alcohols having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 9 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 3 carbon atoms, which may in each case be unbranched or branched, and have 1 OH group; aliphatic polyhydric alcohols having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 9 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 6 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 4 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 3 carbon atoms, which may in each case be straight-chain or branched, and have 2 to 12 OH groups, more preferably 2 to 9 OH groups, more preferably 2 to 6 OH groups, more preferably 2 to 4 OH groups, more preferably 2 to 3 OH groups; and mixtures or combinations thereof.

Suitable aliphatic monohydric alcohols have 1 OH group and 1 to 12 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 9 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 3 carbon atoms, which may in each case be unbranched or branched, and are selected preferably from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-methyl-2-propanol, 1-pentanol, 2-pentanol, 3-pentanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 2-methyl-2-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-2-butanol, 2,2-dimethyl-1-propanol, 1-hexanol, 1-heptanol, and mixtures or combinations thereof, more preferably methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-methyl-2-propanol, and mixtures or combinations thereof.

Aliphatic polyhydric alcohols are preferably selected from the group consisting of alkanediols having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 9 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 6 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 4 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 3 carbon atoms, which may in each case be unbranched or branched, alkanetriols having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, more preferably 3 to 9 carbon atoms, more preferably 3 to 6 carbon atoms, more preferably 3 to 4 carbon atoms, which may in each case be unbranched or branched, alkanetetraols having 4 to 12 carbon atoms, more preferably 4 to 9 carbon atoms, more preferably 4 to 6 carbon atoms, which may in each case be unbranched or branched, alkanepentaols having 5 to 12 carbon atoms, more preferably 5 to 9 carbon atoms, more preferably 5 to 6 carbon atoms, which may in each case be unbranched or branched, alkanehexaols having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, more preferably 6 to 9 carbon atoms, which may in each case be unbranched or branched, and mixtures or combinations thereof.

Suitable aliphatic polyhydric alcohols are preferably selected from the group consisting of ethane-1,2-diol (ethylene glycol, 1,2-glycol), propane-1,2-diol (propylene glycol), propane-1,3-diol (trimethylene glycol), butane-1,2-diol (1,2-butylene glycol), butane-1,3-diol (1,3-butylene glycol), butane-1,4-diol (tetramethylene glycol), butane-2,3-diol (2,3-butylene glycol), pentane-1,5-diol (pentamethylene glycol), hexane-1,6-diol (hexamethylene glycol), octane-1,8-diol (octamethylene glycol), nonane-1,9-diol (nonamethylene glycol), decane-1,10-diol (decamethylene glycol), 1,2,3-propanetriol (glycerol), 1,2,6-hexanetriol, 1,2,3,4-butanetetraol, 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexanehexaol (sorbitol) or mixtures or combinations thereof, more preferably ethane-1,2-diol, propane-1,2-diol, propane-1,3-diol, butane-1,2-diol, butane-1,3-diol, butane-1,4-diol, butane-2,3-diol, pentane-1,5-diol, hexane-1,6-diol (hexamethylene glycol), octane-1,8-diol (octamethylene glycol), nonane-1,9-diol (nonamethylene glycol) or mixtures or combinations thereof, more preferably ethane-1,2-diol, propane-1,2-diol, propane-1,3-diol, butane-1,2-diol, butane-1,3-diol, butane-1,4-diol, butane-2,3-diol, 1,2,3-propanetriol, 1,2,3,4-butantetraol, or mixtures or combinations thereof, more preferably ethane-1,2-diol, propane-1,2-diol, propane-1,3-diol or mixtures or combinations thereof.

Suitable aliphatic ethers are preferably ethers of polyhydric aliphatic alcohols; suitable aliphatic ethers are more preferably glycol ethers, polyethers of polyhydric aliphatic alcohols or mixtures or combinations thereof. Polyethers of polyhydric aliphatic alcohols are preferably polyethers of aforesaid polyhydric aliphatic alcohols, more preferably of aforesaid alkanediols.

Suitable polyethers have preferably 4 to 40 carbon atoms and at least 2 OH groups, preferably (exactly) 2 OH groups, and are preferably selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycols having 4 to 40 carbon atoms, polypropylene glycol having 6 to 40 carbon atoms and mixtures or combinations thereof, more preferably from polyethylene glycols having 4 to 40 carbon atoms and mixtures or combinations thereof. Suitable polyethylene glycols having 4 to 40 carbon atoms, which may preferably be unbranched or branched, are, for example, 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethanol (diethylene glycol), 2-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethanol (triethylene glycol), PEG-4, PEG-6, PEG-7, PEG-8, PEG-9, PEG-10, PEG-12, PEG-14, PEG-16, PEG-18, PEG-20 or mixtures or combinations thereof. A suitable polypropylene glycol having 6 to 40 carbon atoms, which may preferably be unbranched or branched, is, for example, dipropylene glycol, which preferably is a mixture of the structural isomers 2,2′-oxydi-1-propanol, 1,1′-oxydi-2-propanol and 2-(2-hydroxypropoxy)-1-propanol.

Suitable glycol ethers have preferably 3 to 80 carbon atoms and are ethers of aforesaid alkanediols having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, which may in each case be unbranched or branched, aforesaid polyethylene glycols having 4 to 40 carbon atoms, which may be unbranched or branched, aforesaid polypropylene glycols having 6 to 40 carbon atoms, which may be unbranched or branched, or combinations thereof with aforesaid aliphatic monohydric alcohols. Suitable glycol ethers are selected preferably from the group consisting of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (methyl glycol), ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (ethyl glycol), ethylene glycol monopropyl ether (2-propoxyethanol), ethylene glycol monoisopropyl ether (2-isopropoxyethanol), ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (2-butoxyethanol), ethylene glycol monohexyl ether (2-hexoxyethanol), diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol mono-n-hexyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether (1-methoxy-2-propanol), propylene glycol monobutyl ether (1-butoxy-2-propanol), propylene glycol monohexyl ether (1-hexoxy-2-propanol), dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether, dipropylene glycol monohexyl ether, polyethylene glycol ether, polypropylene glycol ether, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether (dimethoxyethane), ethylene glycol diethyl ether (diethyl glycol), ethylene glycol dibutyl ether (dibutoxyethane), dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether, and mixtures or combinations thereof.

As mentioned, the at least one further organic moistener component may be selected from the following group: aliphatic alcohols, aliphatic ethers, aliphatic esters, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and mixtures or combinations thereof.

Monosaccharides in this sense have preferably 3 to 9 carbon atoms, including 1 carbonyl group [C(═O)], which is in the form of an aldehyde group or keto group, and also at least two hydroxyl group (OH group). Monosaccharides are more preferably selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxyaldehydes (aldoses) of the general formula (I):

H—[CH(OH)]_n—C(═O)H  (I)

and also cyclic hemiacetals derived therefrom, polyhydroxyketones (ketoses) of the general formula (II):

H—[CH(OH)]_a—C(═O)—[CH(OH)]_b—H  (II)

and also cyclic hemiacetals derived therefrom, and mixtures or combinations thereof, where n in each case independently of any other denotes an integer from 2 to 8 and where a and b in each case independently of one another denote an integer from 1 to 7, with the proviso that a+b is an integer in a range of 2 to 8. Cyclic hemiacetals (lactols) of aforesaid aldoses and ketoses come about preferably through intramolecular hemiacetalization between the carbonyl group and an OH group of a monosaccharide.

Oligosaccharides in this sense have preferably 8 to 40 carbon atoms and are constructed preferably of 2 to 9, preferably 2 to 6, identical or different monosaccharides, each joined to one another by glycosidic bonds. Oligosaccharides may be unbranched or branched.

Suitable glycol esters have preferably 3 to 60 carbon atoms and are preferably monoesters, diesters or mixtures or combinations thereof of aforesaid alkanediols, aforesaid polyethylene glycols, aforesaid polypropylene glycols, or combinations thereof, with aliphatic carboxylic acids, for example monocarboxylic acids with preferably 1 to 9 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 7 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 3 carbon atoms, which may in each case be unbranched or branched, hydroxycarboxylic acids with preferably 1 to 9 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 7 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 3 carbon atoms, which may in each case be unbranched or branched, polycarboxylic acids with preferably 2 to 9 carbon atoms, preferably 2 to 7 carbon atoms, preferably 2 to 3 carbon atoms, which may in each case be unbranched or branched, or combinations thereof, more preferably hydroxycarboxylic acids with preferably 1 to 9 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 7 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 3 carbon atoms, which may in each case be unbranched or branched, polycarboxylic acids with preferably 2 to 9 carbon atoms, preferably 2 to 7 carbon atoms, preferably 2 to 3 carbon atoms, which may in each case be unbranched or branched, or mixtures or combinations thereof.

Examples of suitable glycol esters are acetic acid ethylene glycol methyl ether ester (2-methoxyethyl acetate), acetic acid ethylene glycol monoethyl ether ester (2-ethoxyethyl acetate), acetic acid ethylene glycol monobutyl ether ester (2-butoxyethyl acetate), acetic acid diethylene glycol monobutyl ether ester [2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethyl acetate], acetic acid propylene glycol methyl ether ester (1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate) or combinations or mixtures or combinations thereof.

The at least one further organic moistener component is specifically selected from the group consisting of 2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-methyl-2-propanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 2-methyl-2-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-2-butanol, 2,2-dimethyl-1-propanol, 1-hexanol, ethane-1,2-diol, propane-1,2-diol, propane-1,3-diol, butane-1,2-diol, butane-1,3-diol, butane-1,4-diol, butane-2,3-diol, 1,2,3-propanetriol, 1,2,3,4-butanetetraol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexanehexol, 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethanol, 2-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethanol, PEG-4, PEG-6, PEG-7, PEG-8, PEG-9, PEG-10, PEG-12, PEG-14, PEG-16, PEG-18, PEG-20 and mixtures or combinations thereof.

According to one preferred embodiment, the moistener comprises ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, ethane-1,2-diol, propane-1,2-diol, propane-1,3-diol, 1,2,3-propanetriol or mixtures or combinations thereof.

The moistener typically has an organic fraction of at least 5 wt %, preferably in a range between 6 wt % and 98 wt %, preferably in a range between 8 wt % and 95 wt %, more preferably in a range between 10 wt % and 85 wt %, more preferably in a range between 12 wt % and 65 wt %, more preferably in a range between 17 wt % and 55 wt %, based in each case on the total weight of the moistener.

The moistener may comprise nonaqueous constituents. The nonaqueous constituents, i.e., all constituents of the moistener that are not water, may have a fraction of at least 30 wt %, preferably in a range between 35 wt % and 98 wt %, more preferably in a range between 40 wt % and 93 wt %, more preferably in a range between 55 wt % and 92 wt %, more preferably in a range between 70 wt % and 90 wt %, based in each case on the total weight of the moistener.

The moistener typically has a water fraction of at most 70 wt %, preferably in a range between 2 wt % and 65 wt %, more preferably in a range between 5 wt % and 60 wt %, more preferably in a range between 7 wt % and 57 wt %, more preferably in a range between 9 wt % and 45 wt %, more preferably in a range between 10 wt % and 30 wt %, based in each case on the total weight of the moistener. More particularly the moistener has a water fraction in a range between 40 and 65 wt % based on the total weight of the moistener.

All of the fractions of the constituents of the moistener of course add up to 100 wt %.

The moistening component may under standard conditions (temperature 25° C., pressure 1013 mbar) take the form of a lotion, in which case the at least one organic moistener component selected from the group consisting of aliphatic alcohols, aliphatic ethers, aliphatic esters, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and mixtures or combinations thereof, preferably aliphatic alcohols, aliphatic ethers, and mixtures or combinations thereof, may be present, for example, in solution in the lotion and/or may form an organic phase of the lotion. A “lotion” is understood accordingly to be a liquid aqueous or aqueous-organic, preferably aqueous-alcoholic, preparation or an oil-in-water emulsion or a water-in-oil emulsion.

The moistening component may have a pH of less than or equal to 6.4, preferably a pH of less than or equal to 6.1, preferably a pH of less than or equal to 5.9. Preferably In accordance the pH of the moistening component is situated in a range between pH 4.0 and 6.4, preferably in a range between pH 4.5 and 6.1, preferably in a range between pH 4.9 and 5.9, preferably in a range between pH 5.0 and 5.6.

In connection with the production of the fiber composite material it is conceivable, after the application and setting of the binder component to the fiber component, for the the fiber elements to be joined to one another at least partly, preferably completely, by the binder. Following the application of the organic amphoteric component, where present, to the binder-containing fiber component, the binder and the organic amphoteric component are at least partly, more particularly completely, in the form of a polysalt or polymeric aggregate. Alternatively the at least one organic amphoteric component, where present, may be applied together with the binder to the fiber component, in which case the binder and the organic amphoteric component likewise take the form at least partly, more particularly completely, of a polysalt or polymeric aggregate.

The fiber composite material is obtained after application of the moistening component or the moistener. The application of the moistener may take place with the application of the organic amphoteric component, where present; for example, the moistener and the organic amphoteric component, where present, may be applied in particular as a mixture, simultaneously to the fiber component, or may be applied to the fiber component nonsimultaneously, i.e., with a time offset.

As mentioned, the binder may be joined for example via hydrogen bonds to the fiber elements of the fiber component. On introduction of the fiber composite material into water with preferably a pH of greater than or equal to 7.0 (standard conditions 25° C., 1013 mbar), the hydrogen bonds may be undone and the connections between the binder and the fiber elements may be at least partly, more particularly completely, dissolved, so enabling the binder to part from the fiber elements.

As mentioned, the binder comprises at least one organic binder component, more particularly formed of or comprising at least one polysaccharide containing acid groups. By a “polysaccharide” are meant homopolysaccharides, heteropolysaccharides, and mixtures or combinations thereof, which may consist preferably of the same or different monosaccharides and may have a linear or branched molecular structure. For industrial use of the fiber composite material it is possible for high molecular mass polysaccharide biopolymers to be functionalized and/or degraded partially, preferably by thermomechanical and/or chemical and/or enzymatic modification. The partially degraded and/or reconstructed polysaccharides resulting from the treatment preferably have better solubility in water; the solutions become more stable and/or the coatings or films formed from them develop a higher binding power and strength/coherence.

The dynamic viscosity of a solution of a polysaccharide, generally a solution of a binder, may be adjusted by thermomechanical and/or chemical and/or enzymatic modification of the polysaccharide in such a way as to enable the solution to be used readily in suitable operations of application to the fiber component. For example, a 2 wt % solution, based on the total weight of the solution, of a polysaccharide in water at 20° C. has a dynamic viscosity in a range between 1 mPas and 10 000 mPas, preferably in a range between 50 mPas and 3000 mPas, more preferably in a range between 550 mPas and 2500 mPas. The viscosity is determined, for example, by means of a Searle rotary viscometer of type Haake® Viscotester® 550 (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Karlsruhe (DE)) with cylinder measuring facility, MV measuring cup, at a rotational speed of 2.55 s⁻¹.

Depending on the nature of the modification and the composition of the binder, i.e. more particularly, of the polysaccharide in branched or preferably unbranched form, solutions of a modified polysaccharide may have a different dispersity, preferably polydispersity. For example, solutions of a modified polysaccharide may have a varying molar mass distribution, which preferably enables the dynamic viscosity of the solution to be tailored to the application system, by virtue of an adjustable viscoelasticity and/or structural viscosity of the solution, for example. A solution of a modified polysaccharide, for example, may include polysaccharide molecules each constructed from a different number of monosaccharides joined to one another via a glycosidic bond. Moreover, a solution of a modified polysaccharide may comprise monosaccharides and/or oligosaccharides. An oligosaccharide preferably has 2 to 9 identical or different monosaccharides, each joined to one another via a glycosidic bond. A polysaccharide preferably has at least 10, preferably at least 50, identical or mutually different monosaccharides each joined to one another via a glycosidic bond. A polysaccharide preferably has on average about 10 to 20 000, preferably 110 to 2000, identical or different monosaccharides, each joined to one another via a glycosidic bond.

A polysaccharide in this sense may be cellulose, hemicellulose, starch, agarose, algin, alginate, chitin, pectin, gum arabic, xanthan, guaran or a mixture thereof, preferably cellulose, hemicellulose, starch or derivatives, or a mixture thereof.

Hemicellulose is a collective term for naturally occurring mixtures of polysaccharides in variable constitution, which may be isolated from plant biomass, for example. The polysaccharides of the hemicelluloses may be constructed from different monosaccharides. Such monosaccharides are preferably pentoses, as for example xylose and/or arabinose, hexoses, as for example glucose, mannose and/or galactose, and also modified monosaccharides, such as sugar acids, preferably uronic acids, which are selected for example from the group of the hexuronic acids, such as glucuronic acid, methylglucuronic acid and/or galacturonic acid, for example, or deoxymonosaccharides, preferably deoxyhexoses, such as rhamnose, for example. A deoxymonosaccharide is a monosaccharide in which at least one OH group has been replaced by a hydrogen atom.

Cellulose is a polysaccharide, which is preferably unbranched. Cellulose preferably consists on average of about 50 to 1000 cellobiose units. Cellobiose is a disaccharide made up of two glucose molecules, which are linked β-1,4-glycosidically to one another. A suitable cellulose has on average in particular about 100 to 20 000, preferably 110 to 2000, glucose molecules.

Starch is a polysaccharide made up of D-glucose units linked to one another via α-glycosidic bonds. Starch may likewise comprehend amylose, amylopectin, and mixtures or combinations thereof. Amylose is an unbranched polysaccharide made up of D-glucose units which are linked only α-1,4-glycosidically. Amylopectin is a branched polysaccharide made up of D-glucose units which are linked α-1,4-glycosidically. About every 15-30 monomers there may be a side chain which is linked α-1,6-glycosidically and is made up of D-glucose units linked α-1,4-glycosidically. A side chain preferably has at least 5 glucose units which are linked α-1,4-glycosidically. More preferably a side chain has 7 to 60 glucose units, preferably 10 to 50 glucose units, preferably 12 to 30 glucose units, each linked α-1,4-glycosidically.

A binder component comprising a polysaccharide may have at least one acid group-containing residue, which is joined to the polysaccharide preferably through an ether group. The polysaccharide and the at least one acid group-containing residue may therefore form a polysaccharide ether, preferably by partial or complete substitution of the hydrogen atoms of the hydroxyl groups in the monosaccharide units of the polysaccharide by acid group-containing residues. The acid group-containing residues may be identical to or different from one another. An “acid group-containing residue” is understood to refer to organic residues which are able to enter into an equilibrium reaction with water or other protonatable solvents. The product in the case of water is preferably the oxonium ion H₃O⁺, while the acid group-containing residue gives up a proton to the water solvent and forms an anionically charged functional group, for example a carboxylate group. The term “acid group-containing residue” is understood preferably to refer to carboxyl group-containing residues, phosphate-containing residues, phosphonic acid-containing residues, and combinations thereof, more preferably to carboxyl group-containing residues.

More preferably the at least one acid group-containing residue is at least one —O-alkylcarboxyl residue, at least one —O-alkylphosphate residue, at least one —O-alkylphosphonic acid residue or a combination thereof, where in each case independently of one another the alkyl radical, which may be unbranched or branched, has 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 3 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 2 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 carbon atom. The at least one acid group-containing residue is preferably a carboxyl group-containing residue, preferably an alkylcarboxyl residue, more preferably an —O-alkylcarboxyl residue, where in each case independently of one another, the alkyl radical, which may be unbranched or branched, has 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 3 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 2 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 carbon atom.

A corresponding polysaccharide and a corresponding acid group-containing residue, preferably —O-alkylcarboxyl residue, —O-alkylphosphate residue, —O-alkylphosphonic acid residue or a combination thereof, more preferably —O-alkylcarboxyl residue, preferably form a polysaccharide ether, preferably by partial or complete substitution of the hydrogen atoms of the hydroxyl groups in the monosaccharide units of the at least one polysaccharide by acid group-containing residues, preferably alkylcarboxyl residues, alkylphosphate residues, alkylphosphonic acid residues or a combination thereof, more preferably alkylcarboxyl residues, which each independently of one another may be identical to or different from one another and where in each case the alkyl radical, which may be unbranched or branched, has 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 3 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 2 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 carbon atom.

A polysaccharide used as binder component preferably has a mean degree of substitution (DS) by the aforementioned at least one acid group-containing residue, preferably the at least one carboxyl group-containing residue, preferably the at least one —O-alkylcarboxyl residue, where in each case the alkyl radical, which may be unbranched or branched, has 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 3 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 2 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 carbon atom, from a range from more than 0.4 to 2.0, preferably from a range from 0.5 to 1.5, preferably from a range from 0.6 to 1.1, preferably from a range from 0.7 to 0.9. The mean degree of substitution (DS) pertains to the average number of acid group-containing residues, preferably carboxyl group-containing residues, preferably —O-alkylcarboxyl residues, where in each case the alkyl radical, which may be unbranched or branched, has 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 3 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 2 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 carbon atom, which are bonded per monosaccharide unit, preferably through an ether bond.

The aforesaid acid group-containing residues, preferably carboxyl group-containing residues, preferably aforesaid —O-alkylcarboxyl residues, may be identical to or different from one another. If different acid group-containing residues, preferably carboxyl group-containing residues, preferably —O-alkylcarboxyl residues, are bonded to monosaccharide units, the mean degree of substitution (DS) pertains to the average number of all aforesaid acid group-containing residues, preferably carboxyl group-containing residues, preferably —O-alkylcarboxyl residues, which are bonded in each case per mole of monosaccharide units, preferably through an ether bond.

Preferably hereinafter the mean degree of substitution (DS) by the at least one acid group-containing residue, preferably the at least one carboxyl group-containing residue, preferably the at least one —O-alkylcarboxyl residue, is referred to as “mean degree of substitution (DS)”. The mean degree of substitution (DS) of the polysaccharide by acid group-containing residues, preferably carboxyl group-containing residues, preferably —O-alkylcarboxyl residues, may be determined for example in analogy to the method described in ASTM D 1439-03/Method B for the sodium salt of carboxymethylcellulose.

A suitable polysaccharide having at least one acid group-containing residue, preferably at least one carboxyl group-containing residue, preferably at least one of the aforesaid —O-alkylcarboxyl residues, may additionally have alkyl radicals which in each case independently of one another may be unbranched or branched and have 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 3 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 2 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 carbon atom, hydroxyalkyl radicals which in each case independently of one another may be unbranched or branched and have 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 3 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 2 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 carbon atom, or a combination thereof, where the alkyl radicals and/or hydroxyalkyl radicals are preferably likewise bonded through an ether bond to monosaccharide units of the polysaccharide.

The binder is preferably formed of or comprises at least one, preferably water-soluble, polysaccharide which is selected from the following group: carboxyalkyl polysaccharides, carboxyalkyl alkyl polysaccharides, carboxyalkyl hydroxyalkyl polysaccharides, carboxyalkyl alkyl hydroxyalkyl polysaccharides, and mixtures or combinations thereof, where aforesaid alkyl radicals each independently of one another may be unbranched or branched and have 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 3 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 2 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 carbon atom.

With further preference the binder is formed of or comprises at least one, preferably water-soluble, polysaccharide which is selected from the following group: carboxymethyl polysaccharides, carboxymethyl methyl polysaccharides, carboxymethyl hydroxymethyl polysaccharides, carboxymethyl methyl hydroxymethyl polysaccharides, and mixtures or combinations thereof.

For example, a preferred binder is formed of or comprises at least one, preferably water-soluble, polysaccharide which is selected from the following group: carboxyalkyl cellulose, carboxyalkyl alkyl cellulose, carboxyalkyl hydroxyalkyl cellulose, and mixtures or combinations thereof, where aforesaid alkyl radicals in each case independently of one another may be unbranched or branched and have 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 3 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 2 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 carbon atom.

A preferred binder may be formed of or comprise at least one, preferably water-soluble, polysaccharide which is selected from the following group: carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), carboxymethylstarch (CMS), carboxyethylcellulose (CEC), carboxypropylcellulose, carboxymethyl-methylcellulose (CMMC), carboxymethylethylcellulose, carboxymethylpropylcellulose, carboxyethylmethylcellulose, carboxyethylethylcellulose, carboxymethylhydroxymethylcellulose, carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose (CMHEC), carboxymethylhydroxypropylcellulose, carboxyethylhydroxymethylcellulose, carboxyethylhydroxyethylcellulose, and mixtures or combinations thereof.

The binder may comprise an alkali metal salt, preferably a sodium salt, of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) having a mean degree of substitution (DS) by carboxymethyl groups, determined in accordance with ASTM D 1439-03/Method B, from a range from more than 0.4 to 1.5, preferably from a range from 0.6 to 1.1, preferably from a range from 0.7 to 0.9, carboxymethyl groups per anhydroglucose unit.

Suitable commercially available binders are, for example, the sodium carboxymethylcelluloses Rheolon® 30, Rheolon® 30N, Rheolon® 100N or Rheolon® 300, Rheolon® 300N, Rheolon® 500G and Rheolon® 1000G, each available, for example, from Ugur Seluloz Kimya (Aydin, TR). Further suitable commercially available binders are, for example, the carboxymethylcelluloses of the Calexis® and Finnfix® types, each of which are available, for example, from CP Kelco Germany GmbH (Grossenbrode, DE).

The fiber composite material comprises the binder in particular in a fraction in a range between 1 g/m² and 30 g/m², preferably in a range between 2 g/m² and 20 g/m², more preferably in a range between 1.3 g/m² and 17 g/m², more preferably in a range between 3.0 g/m² and 15 g/m2, more preferably in a range between 3.5 g/m² and 13 g/m², more preferably in a range between 4 g/m² and 11 g/m², more preferably in a range between 4.5 g/m² and 9 g/m², based in each case on the area of the dry fiber composite material.

The fiber composite material may besides the fiber component comprise a filler component. The filler component may targetedly influence the spectrum of properties of the fiber composite material; by using suitable fillers, titanium dioxide particles for example, it is possible for example to adjust the opacity of the fiber composite material. The filler component is formed by or comprises inorganic and/or organic fillers or filler particles. The filler particles may be joined by at least one binder to the fiber composite material, i.e., more particularly, to the fiber component. The particle size of the filler particles is preferably below 1 mm or below 0.9 mm. The ratio of length to diameter of the filler particles is preferably less than 5:1 or less than 4:1.

Suitable organic fillers may be fibers comminuted, by grinding, for example, precipitated polymers or precipitation polymers, which may each be formed for example from polyamide, polyester, polyethylene, crosslinked polyacrylates, noncrosslinked polyacrylates, mixtures or combinations thereof, or copolymers thereof. Suitable organic fillers may also be particles of cellulose, of regenerated cellulose and/or of other natural fibers, flours, modified or unmodified starches, or mixtures or combinations thereof.

Suitable inorganic fillers may comprise or consist of natural mineral powders, precipitated mineral salts or combinations thereof, which comprise or consist of, for example, dolomite, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, aluminum hydroxide, precipitated silica, kaolin and other clays, silicatic minerals, or combination thereof.

Depending on application and amount, suitable fillers may be incorporated into the fiber composite material or applied together, for example, with the binder to the surface of the fiber component or fiber composite material.

The filler component has in particular a fraction in a range between 0 and 30 wt %, more preferably in a range between 0.1 and 25 wt %, based in each case on the total weight of the dry fiber composite material.

The fiber composite material may be of single-ply or multi-ply embodiment. In the case of one preferred multi-ply embodiment, the fiber composite material has 1 to 4 plies, preferably 1 to 3 plies. Typically none of these plurality of plies is impervious to aqueous media.

The moistening component may comprise, as a further moistener component, at least one preservative, which is able, for example, to impart protection from microorganisms during long-term storage. The preservative preferably provides an antimicrobial activity, including antibacterial activity, antifungal activity or antiviral activity, or a combination thereof.

The fiber composite material may, moreover, comprise active skin-protection and/or skin-healing and/or skin-care substances that give the skin an advantage above and beyond a mere sensory and/or cosmetic advantage. For example, active skincare may be provided in the form of a stimulation of skin regeneration, support to skin physiology, reinforcement of the barrier function of the skin.

The fiber composite material preferably has a basis weight in a range between 30 g/m² and 150 g/m², preferably in a range between 40 g/m² and 80 g/m², preferably in a range between 45 g/m² and 60 g/m².

The fiber composite material may be used as mentioned in particular as moisture-coherent hygiene paper, especially as moisture-coherent cosmetic paper or as moisture-coherent toilet paper. Application is generally as a hygiene article, i.e., more particularly, as a wet wipe, cleansing wipe, caring wipe, hygiene wipe, or tissue. A wet wipe may be embodied, for example, for personal care, for instance as a cosmetic wipe or as a disinfecting wipe, or as a wipe in household use.

The fiber composite material may also be embodied as a pouch, casing or envelope, which may be closed or open, preferably at one end. A pouch, a casing or an envelope made of a fiber composite material preferably further surrounds a deodorant composition and/or a fluid-absorbing composition, as for example one or more copolymers of acrylic acid and sodium acrylate (superabsorbents). For example, a fiber composite material in the form of a pouch, casing or envelope may be a diaper, more particularly an infant diaper.

Besides the fiber composite material, the invention also relates to a moistening component for a fiber composite material as described. A feature of the moistening component is that it comprises at least one moistener which comprises at least one volatile organic moistener component which has a constitution such that a condensation product formed on a condensation surface by evaporation and subsequent condensation of the volatile organic moistener component and also of possible further constituents of the moistening component leads to more negligible swelling of the fiber elements and/or of the binder than a condensation product formed of pure water. All observations in connection with the fiber composite material are valid analogously for the moistening component.

The invention further relates to an arrangement for storing and packing a fiber composite material as described. The arrangement comprises a storage and packing facility, a pack for short, having a closed storage or packing volume for storing and packing a fiber composite material, and at least one ply of a fiber composite material accommodated in the storage or packaging volume. The storage and packing facility may be an optionally reclosable pack made from a suitable packaging material, in particular a plastics material. All observations in connection with the fiber composite material are valid analogously for the arrangement.

The invention relates, moreover, to a method for producing a fiber composite material as described. All observations in connection with the fiber composite material are valid analogously for the method. The method comprises the following steps:

• • providing a fiber component comprising a number of fiber elements,
  • forming the moisture-coherent fiber composite material by applying or adding an organic amphoteric component (optional), a binder component comprising at least one binder which is soluble and/or swellable on contact with water and which comprises at least one organic binder component, more particularly formed of or comprising at least one polysaccharide containing acid groups, and a moistening component comprising at least one moistener which comprises at least one volatile organic moistener component which has a constitution such that a condensation product formed on a condensation surface by evaporation and subsequent condensation of the volatile organic moistener component and also optionally of further constituents of the moistening component leads to more negligible swelling and/or dissolution of the fiber elements and/or of the binder than a condensation product formed of pure water, to the fiber component. Individual, two or more or all of the aforementioned components of the fiber composite material to be produced in accordance with the method may be applied or added simultaneously or in succession.

The fiber component provided or to be provided may be present in the form of or manner of a nonwoven. The fiber component provided or to be provided may be converted into a fiber web, by carding, wet laying, air laying, spunbonding or melt blowing, for example, and may be present as a fiber web. The fiber component may be formed by the air laying process, also referred to as airlaid process, in which (largely) all of the fiber elements are closely mixed. The airlaid fiber component may subsequently be compressed or consolidated.

Conceivable accordingly is the following embodiment of the method, which, especially in connection with the provision or production of the fiber component, comprises the following additional steps:

The fiber composite material, which may be present as a nonwoven or fleece material, is produced preferably by a method further comprising the following steps:

(a1) providing fiber elements,
(a2) laying down the fiber elements on a receiving surface to give a fiber component,
(a3) consolidating or compressing the fiber component to give a consolidated or compressed fiber component.

In steps (a1) and/or (a2) and/or (a3) and/or between steps (a1), (a2) or (a3) and/or after step (c), it is possible to apply or add an organic amphoteric component (optional), a binder component comprising at least one binder which is swellable on contact with water and which comprises at least one organic binder component, more particularly formed of or comprising at least one polysaccharide, and a moistening component comprising at least one moistener which comprises at least one volatile organic moistener component which has a constitution such that a condensation product formed on a condensation surface by evaporation and subsequent condensation of the volatile organic moistener component and also optionally of further constituents of the moistening component leads to more negligible swelling of the fiber elements and/or of the binder than a condensation product formed of pure water.

In particular in step (a1) and/or during steps (a2) and/or (a3), the binder component and the organic amphoteric component, where present, are applied as an aqueous solution and/or as a foam in succession, together or simultaneously, and thereafter solidified at a temperature of greater than 100° C., preferably greater than 120° C., preferably greater than 150° C. Subsequently the moistener component is preferably applied. In an alternative embodiment, the binder component, the organic amphoteric component, where present, and the moistening component are applied in or after step (a3).

The binder component, the optional organic amphoteric component, and the moistening component are preferably applied, each independently of one another, by pad application, foam application, and/or spraying. The binder component, the optional organic amphoteric component, and the moistening component may be applied separately from one another to in each case the same side or to different sides of the fiber component or the fiber composite material. The binder component, the optional organic amphoteric component, and the moistening component may in this case be applied simultaneously or nonsimultaneously (sequentially), in which case the sequence of application can be varied.

Preferably first the binder component is applied to one side or to both sides of the fiber component or the fiber composite material. The setting of the binder component is followed preferably by the application of the organic amphoteric component, where present, to one side or to both sides of the fiber component or the fiber composite material, preferably to the side(s) of the fiber component or fiber composite material to which the binder component was applied previously. The application of the binder component, of the organic amphoteric component, where present, and of the moistening component may alternatively take place in the form of a mixture to one side or to both sides of the fiber component or the fiber composite material.

The consolidating or compressing in step (a3) may be accomplished by various methods, synchronously or temporally staggered, i.e., for example, a method divided into preliminary and subsequent consolidation and/or compressing, such as, for example, calendering, rolling, embossing. By consolidating or compressing the fiber composite material it is possible to adjust the thickness and/or density of the fiber composite material.

If not already realized in step (a3), step (a4) following on from step (a3) may comprise formation of a three-dimensional structuring or surface structuring of the fiber composite material, accomplished, for example, by embossing of the fiber composite material. In this way it is possible for depressions and/or elevations to be formed locally in the fiber composite material.

The invention is elucidated with reference to an exemplary embodiment in the drawings. Here, the single FIGURE shows a conceptual representation of a fiber composite material according to one exemplary embodiment.

The FIGURE shows a conceptual representation of a single-ply or multi-ply, moisture-coherent fiber composite material 1 according to one exemplary embodiment. The fiber composite material 1 is accommodated in a closed pack interior 3 of a pack 4, defined by pack walls 2. This provides an arrangement 5 for the storage and packing of a fiber composite material 1. The arrangement 5 comprises a storage and packing facility, for short the pack 4, having a closed storage or packing volume, for short the pack interior 3, for storing and packing the fiber composite material 1, and at least one ply of a fiber composite material 1 accommodated in the storage or packing volume.

The fiber composite material 1 exhibits on the one hand a comparatively high moisture coherence, i.e., a comparatively high mechanical strength in the moist state, and on the other hand a comparatively low wet strength, i.e., a comparatively low mechanical strength on contact with water. The comparatively low wet strength enables rapid and complete decomposition of the fiber composite material 1 on contact with water into individual fiber elements 6. Under short-term mechanical stressing, by rubbing on the skin, for example, the fiber composite material 1 thus exhibits sufficiently high mechanical moisture coherence. After introduction into water, the fiber composite material 1 exhibits a sufficiently low wet strength or high decomposability, so that, after disposal of the fiber composite material 1, blockages in a wastewater system are avoided and/or the fiber composite material 1 need not be removed separately in the treatment plant ahead of the actual cleaning of the wastewater. The fiber composite material 1 is therefore especially suitable for use as moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable hygiene paper, more particularly as moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable cosmetic or cleansing paper, or as moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable toilet paper.

The fiber composite material 1 preferably has a moisture coherence of more than 3 N, more particularly in a range between 3 N and 250 N, preferably in a range between 4 N and 150 N, more preferably in a range between 4.5 N to 120 N, more preferably in a range between 5 N and 80 N, more preferably in a range between 6 N to 55 N. When the fiber composite material 1 is embodied as moist toilet paper, the fiber composite material 1 has, for example, a moisture coherence in a range between 8 N and 14 N, preferably in a range between 10 N and 12 N.

The fiber composite material 1 preferably has a wet strength of at most 2 N, preferably of at most 1 N, more preferably of at most 0.5 N. More particularly the fiber composite material 1, with a moisture coherence of more than 3 N, has a wet strength of at most 2 N, preferably at most 1 N, more preferably at most 0.5 N.

Consequently, in spite of a comparatively high moisture coherence, the fiber composite material 1 enables (largely) complete decomposition on contact with water, i.e., in particular, after introduction into water. After being introduced into water, the fiber composite material 1 typically decomposes within less than 1 hour, preferably within less than 15 minutes, preferably within less than 1 minute, more preferably within less than 30 seconds. As mentioned, after decomposition has taken place, there are individual fiber elements 6 present which are no longer joined to one another, and so, for example, blockages in wastewater systems can be avoided.

The moisture coherence and the wet strength of the fiber composite material 1 are defined by the composition of the components forming the fiber composite material 1, and can be defined in a targeted way through targeted variation in the composition of the components forming the fiber composite material 1.

As essential components the fiber composite material 1 comprises at least one fiber component 7, at least one organic amphoteric component 8 (optional), at least one binder component 9, and at least one moistening component 10.

The fiber component 7 comprises a number of fiber elements 6, which are optionally swellable on contact with water or with an aqueous solution. The fiber elements 6 and the fiber component 7, respectively, may therefore have a certain uptake capacity for water, so leading, on contact with water, to a swelling (volume increase) of the fiber elements 6 or of the fiber component 7. The fiber component 7 serves as the base matrix of the fiber composite material 1.

The optional, preferably water-soluble organic amphoteric component 8, which in the exemplary embodiment is an amphoteric amine or amine salt, may serve both as an acceptor and a donor of protons, i.e., may react both as a Brønsted acid and as a Brønsted base. The organic amphoteric component 8 serves to form a polysalt or a polymeric aggregate with the binder component 9, which together with a moistener associated with the moistening component 10 is nonsoluble or nondispersible.

The preferably water-soluble binder component 9 comprises at least one binder which is soluble or swellable on contact with water or with an aqueous solution and which comprises at least one binder component which is organic, in other words which in the exemplary embodiment is formed of or comprises at least one polysaccharide containing acid groups. The binder therefore has a certain uptake capacity for water, which on contact with water results in swelling (volume increase) and/or dissolution of the binder. The binder component 9 serves to join the fiber elements 6 of the fiber component 7 to one another. For example, after application to the fiber elements 6 and subsequent drying, the binder is able to attach to the fiber elements 6, so joining the fiber elements 6 to one another. The binder may be joined via hydrogen bonds to the fiber elements 6 of the fiber component 7.

The moistening component 10 comprises a moistener. The moistener comprises a number of moistener components, i.e., more particularly, organic compounds and water. The moistening component 10 serves for taking up and storing moisture, and gives the fiber composite material 1 a moist tactility or a certain moisture content. The moistener also serves to diminish or prevent drying-out of the fiber composite material 1, by binding, for example, moisture (atmospheric humidity) or water and/or by diminishing the evaporation of water. The moistening component 10 serves further for modifying the swelling properties of the binder, especially in relation to swelling of the binder by water contained in the moistening component 10.

The fiber composite material 1 is notable for a special composition of its components, especially of the moistening component 10, which enables improved shelflife of the moisture material 1 in a closed pack 4.

Critical to this is that the moistening component 10 or the moistener comprises at least one volatile organic moistener component 11. The constitution of the volatile organic moistener component 11 is such that a condensation product 12, in the form, for example, of a drop of condensation or film of condensation, formed by evaporation and subsequent condensation of the volatile organic moistener component and also of any further constituents of the moistening component 10 on a condensation surface, i.e., for example, a pack wall 2, on contact with the fiber composite material 1, leads to more negligible swelling of the fiber elements 6 and/or of the binder than a condensation product formed of pure water. In particular, on contact with the fiber composite material 1, a condensation product 12 of this kind leads to more negligible swelling of the fiber element 6 and/or of the binder than a condensation product 12 not comprising a volatile organic moistener component 11.

The volatile organic moistener component 11 therefore has a constitution such that it (considerably) reduces the water fraction in a condensation product 12 formed by evaporation and condensation, and so contact of the condensation product 12 with the fiber composite material 1 leads, if at all, to a considerably more negligible swelling of the fiber elements 6 and/or of the binder. The condensation product 12 formed by evaporation and subsequent condensation of the volatile organic moistener component 11 and also of any further constituents of the moistening component 10 on a condensation surface is therefore not water (of greater or lesser purity) which, on contact with the fiber composite material 1, would lead to unwanted irreversible local swelling or decomposition of the fiber composite material 1 and to an associated loss of strength/coherence on the part of the fiber composite material 1 within the pack 4, but is instead the volatile moistener component 11 or a solution which comprises the volatile moistener component 11 in sufficient concentration and which, on contact with the fiber composite material 1, does not lead to any unwanted irreversible local swelling or decomposition of the fiber composite material 1 and to any associated loss of strength/coherence of the fiber composite material 1 within the pack 4.

The proportional composition of the moistening component 10 is therefore selected, through the presence of the volatile moistener component 11 in a sufficiently high concentration, such that an evaporation product 13 (vapor phase) coming about through evaporation is established, especially temperature-independently in relation to the resultant concentrational fractions of the evaporation product 13, such that a condensation product 12 formed by condensation of the evaporation product 13 on a condensation surface does not, on contact with the fiber composite material 1, adversely affect the coherence/strength of the fiber composite material 1.

The use of a volatile organic moistener component 11 enables a desired tailoring of the vapor pressures of the evaporable or evaporating moistener components contained in the moistener. Here, the volatile organic moistener component 11 has the highest vapor pressure or partial pressure—the vapor pressure of the volatile organic moistener component 11 is therefore higher than the vapor pressure of all the other moistener components, and so the volatile organic moistener component 11 evaporates preferentially and represents the essential fraction of the evaporated moistener components present in the vapor phase.

The volatile organic moistener component 11 lowers the proportional water vapor partial pressure of the water present in the moistener and so reduces the fraction of water in the evaporation product 13. Accordingly, of course, the condensation product 12 formed by condensation from the evaporation product 13 also has a reduced water fraction; the reduced water fraction ensures that the condensation product 13, on contact with the fiber composite material 1, does not lead to unwanted local swelling or decomposition of the fiber composite material 1 in the pack 4.

The fiber composite material 1 is therefore notable for a particular shelflife, including, in particular, under changing climatic conditions, i.e., in particular, temperature gradients or temperature changes. Also countered is the problem of the local depletion, occurring on contact with an aqueous condensation product 13, in bactericidal and/or bacteriostatic or fungicidal and/or fungiostatic substances in the fiber composite material 1. In this context it should be mentioned that the volatile organic moistener component 11 may also itself have bactericidal and/or bacteriostatic or fungicidal and/or fungiostatic properties.

The volatile organic moistener component 11 is a volatile alcohol or a mixture of at least two volatile alcohols. In the case of a corresponding volatile alcohol, present optionally in a mixture of two volatile alcohols, the alcohol in question may comprise methanol, ethanol or propanol, butanol, pentanol. The volatile organic moistener component 11 is preferably a nontoxic volatile alcohol.

The volatile organic moistener component 11 may have a weight fraction of 1 to 90 wt %, more particularly below 50 wt %, preferably below 35 wt %, more preferably below 20 wt %, very preferably below 10 wt %, based on the total weight of the moistener or of the moistening component 10. Even comparatively small concentrations of the volatile organic moistener component 11 in the moistener lead to a disproportionately high fraction of the volatile organic moistener component 11 in the evaporation product 13. It has, for example, been possible to show that a weight fraction of around 20 wt % of a volatile organic moistener component 11 leads to a molar fraction of more than 50% in an evaporation product 13. The volatile organic moistener component may have a molar fraction of 5 to 95%, more particularly 7 to 50%, preferably 10 to 50%, in the evaporation product 13.

The constitution of the volatile organic moistener component 11 is additionally such that through evaporation of the volatile organic moistener component 11 and also of any further moistener components, a positively azeotropic evaporation product can be formed or is formed. Through the possibility of forming a positively azeotropic evaporation product, on reduced water vapor partial pressure, the fraction of water, which is significant for the unwanted local swelling or decomposition of the fiber composite material 1, in the evaporation product 13 (vapor phase) and in the condensation product is further reduced.

The further moistener components are in comparison less volatile than the volatile organic moistener component 11. Examples of the further moistener components are polyhydric alcohols of low molecular mass, especially 1,2-propanediol (propylene glycol), and hygroscopic substances, especially salts. The moistener may therefore comprise, as a further moistener component, a hygroscopic moistener component, more particularly 1,2-propanediol and/or a salt. The use of one or more hygroscopic moistener components reduces the water fraction in the evaporation product 13 (vapor phase) further.

In the exemplary embodiment, the fiber component 7 comprises fiber elements 6 of natural, i.e., animal or plant, fiber composite materials. The fiber elements 6 are preferably cellulose fibers. The fiber component may comprise 40 to about 95 wt %, more preferably 60 to 90 wt %, of cellulose fibers, based in each case on the total weight of the dry fiber composite material 1. The length of the fiber elements 6 is typically in a range between 0.2 and 6 mm. The fiber composite material 1 preferably has no fiber elements 6 having a fiber length of more than 6 mm. The fiber length of the fiber elements 6 is typically below a specific plugging limit.

The organic amphoteric component 8 is, as mentioned, an amphoteric amine or amine salt. The amine may be a preferably water-soluble aminocarboxylic acid, more preferably an alpha-aminocarboxylic acid.

The binder component 9 comprises, as mentioned, a binder which is swellable on contact with water and which comprises an organic binder component formed of a preferably water-soluble polysaccharide. The polysaccharide typically has at least one acid group-containing or carboxyl group-containing residue. The polysaccharide is preferably selected from the following group: carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), carboxymethylstarch (CMS), and mixtures or combinations thereof.

Besides the volatile organic moistener component 11, the moistening component 10, as mentioned, has further moistener components. The further moistener components serve typically (also) to (largely) ensure the particular properties, i.e., more particularly, the moisture coherence properties and the decomposition properties in water, of the fiber composite material 1, even on (repeated) opening and at least partial reclosing of a pack 4 accommodating the fiber composite material 1, or when using the fiber composite material 1 outside a pack 4 with associated at least partial evaporation of the volatile organic moistener component 11. Therefore, even on (repeated) opening and at least partial reclosing of a pack 4 accommodating the fiber composite material 1, or when the fiber composite material 1 is used outside a pack 4 and there is associated at least partial evaporation of the volatile organic moistener component 11, the fiber composite material 1 has (largely) its particular properties.

The further moistener components, besides water, comprise at least one organic component, which is selected from the following group: (in comparison to the volatile organic moistener component, low-volatility) aliphatic alcohols, aliphatic ethers, aliphatic esters, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and mixtures or combinations thereof, preferably aliphatic alcohols, aliphatic ethers, and mixtures or combinations thereof, more preferably ethane-1,2-diol, propane-1,2-diol, propane-1,3-diol, 1,2,3-propanetriol, and mixtures or combinations thereof. As a further moistener component, therefore, the moistener may comprise at least one organic component, which from aliphatic alcohols, aliphatic ethers, aliphatic esters, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and mixtures or combinations thereof. The further organic moistener component may, moreover, comprise at least one polyvalent metal cation, especially Ca²⁺ and/or Zn²⁺.

Claims

1. A moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable fiber composite material (1), comprising:

a fiber component (7) comprising a number of fiber elements (6),

a binder component (9) comprising at least one binder which is soluble and/or swellable on contact with water and which comprises at least one organic binder component, more particularly formed of or comprising at least one polysaccharide containing acid groups,

a moistening component (10) comprising at least one moistener which comprises at least one volatile organic moistener component (11) which has a constitution such that a condensation product (12) formed on a condensation surface by evaporation and subsequent condensation of the volatile organic moistener component (11) and also of further constituents of the moistening component (10) leads to more negligible swelling and/or dissolution of the fiber elements (6) and/or of the binder than a condensation product (12) formed of pure water.

2. The moisture-coherent fiber composite material as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the at least one volatile organic moistener component (11) is a volatile alcohol or a mixture of at least two volatile alcohols.

3. The moisture-coherent fiber composite material as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the alcohol is methanol, ethanol or propanol, butanol, pentanol.

4. The moisture-coherent fiber composite material as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the vapor pressure of the volatile organic moistener component (11) is higher than the vapor pressure of water.

5. The moisture-coherent fiber composite material as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the vapor pressure of the volatile organic moistener component (11) is higher than the vapor pressure of all other moistener components.

6. The moisture-coherent fiber composite material as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the volatile organic moistener component (11) has a weight fraction of 1 to 90 wt %, more particularly below 50 wt %, preferably below 35 wt %, more preferably below 20 wt %, very preferably below 10 wt %, based on the total weight of the moistener.

7. The moisture-coherent fiber composite material as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the volatile organic moistener component (11) has a constitution such that it has a molar fraction of 5 to 95%, more particularly 7 to 50%, preferably 10 to 50%, of an evaporation product (13) formed by evaporation of the volatile organic moistener component (11) and also of further moistener components.

8. The moisture-coherent fiber composite material as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the volatile organic moistener component (11) has a constitution such that by evaporation of the volatile organic moistener component (11) and also of further moistener components, a positively azeotropic mixture can be formed or is formed as evaporation product (13).

9. The moisture-coherent fiber composite material as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the moistener comprises at least one hygroscopic moistener component, more particularly a polyhydric alcohol of low molecular mass, preferably 1,2-propanediol, and/or a salt.

10. The moisture-coherent fiber composite material as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the moistener, more particularly the volatile organic moistener component (11), has bactericidal and/or bacteriostatic or fungicidal and/or fungiostatic properties.

11. The moisture-coherent fiber composite material as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the moistener comprises as a further moistener component at least one low-volatility organic component, more particularly a monomeric, oligomeric or polymeric diol or polyol compound.

12. The moisture-coherent fiber composite material as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an organic amphoteric component (8).

13. The moisture-coherent fiber composite material as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the amphoteric organic component (8) serves in combination with the binder component (9) to form a polysalt and/or a polymeric aggregate which together with the moistener component or moistener associated with the moistening component (10) is nonsoluble or nondispersible.

14. The moisture-coherent fiber composite material as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that comprises metal cations and/or metal cation salts for complexing with further constituents of the moisture-coherent fiber composite material (1), more particularly with the binder component and/or with a or the amphoteric organic component (8).

15. The moisture-coherent fiber composite material as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it is embodied as moisture-coherent cleaning, cosmetic or hygiene paper, more particularly as moisture-coherent toilet paper.

16. The moisture-coherent fiber composite material as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the fiber elements have a fiber length below an optionally fiber-element-specific plugging limit.

17. A moistening component (10) for a moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable fiber composite material as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one moistener which comprises at least one volatile organic moistener component (11) which has a constitution such that a condensation product (12) formed on a condensation surface by evaporation and subsequent condensation of the volatile organic moistener component (11) and also of further constituents of the moistening component (10) leads to more negligible swelling of the fiber elements (6) and/or of the binder than a condensation product (12) formed of pure water.

18. An arrangement for storing and packing a moisture-coherent fiber composite material (1) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a storage and packing facility having a closed storage/packing volume for storing and packing a moisture-coherent fiber composite material (1), and at least one ply of a moisture-coherent fiber composite material (1) accommodated in the storage/packaging volume.

19. A method for producing a moisture-coherent, water-disintegrable fiber composite material (1) as claimed in claim 1, comprising the steps of:

providing a fiber component (7) comprising a number of fiber elements (6),

forming the moisture-coherent fiber composite material (1) by adding a binder component (9) comprising at least one binder which is soluble and/or swellable on contact with water and which comprises at least one organic binder component, more particularly formed of or comprising at least one polysaccharide containing acid groups, and a moistening component (10) comprising at least one moistener which comprises at least one volatile organic moistener component (11) which has a constitution such that a condensation product (12) formed on a condensation surface by evaporation and subsequent condensation of the volatile organic moistener component (11) and also of further constituents of the moistening component (10) leads to more negligible swelling and/or dissolution of the fiber elements (6) and/or of the binder than a condensation product (12) formed of pure water.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that additionally at least one organic amphoteric component (8) is added.