Dispersible alcohol/cleaning wipes via topical or wet-end application of acrylamide or vinylamide/amine polymers

Abstract

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

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] For many years, the problem of disposability has plagued industries that provide disposable products such as diapers, wet wipes, adult incontinent garments and feminine care products. While much headway has been made in addressing this problem, one of the weak links has been the inability to create an economical coherent fibrous web which will readily dissolve or disintegrate in water but still have sufficient in-use tensile strength. [0002] Binder compositions have been developed which can be more dispersible and are more environmentally responsible than past binder compositions. One class of binder compositions includes polymeric materials having inverse solubility in water. These binder compositions are insoluble in warm water, but are soluble in cold water, such as found in a toilet. It is well known that a number of polymers exhibit cloud points or inverse solubility properties in aqueous media. These polymers include: (1) evaporation retarder...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention is directed to triggerable binder formulations of acrylamide and vinylamide / amine polymers and polymer formulations, which have been developed to address the above-described problems. As used herein, the term “polymer” is understood to include polymers, copolymers, terpolymers, and higher order polymers. The triggerable binder formulations of the present invention may provide strength in the dry state, but more importantly, may help maintain a desired level of strength of the fibrous substrate in the wet state by solvent triggerability. A controlled concentration of an insolubilizing agent, such as a lower level alcohol, glycol, ketone, or mixtures thereof, in the wetting composition insolubilizes the triggerable binder formulation and allows it to function as an adhesive for the fibers to form or further enhance a fibrous substrate. When the wet wipe is discarded into the wastewater stream, the insolubilizing agent concentration is diluted, the triggerable binder formulation becomes soluble, and the strength of the fibrous substrate drops below a critical level. The triggerable binder formulations of the present invention have a “trigger property,” such that the triggerable binder formulations are insoluble in a wetting composition comprising an insolublizing agent of a particular type and concentration, such as alcohol, glycol, ketone, or mixtures thereof at concentrations above about 50% by weight, but are soluble when diluted with water, including hard water having 500 ppm (parts per million) or greater of calcium and magnesium ions. This allows the fibrous substrate to break apart into small pieces and, ultimately, disperse.

Problems solved by technology

For many years, the problem of disposability has plagued industries that provide disposable products such as diapers, wet wipes, adult incontinent garments and feminine care products.

While much headway has been made in addressing this problem, one of the weak links has been the inability to create an economical coherent fibrous web which will readily dissolve or disintegrate in water but still have sufficient in-use tensile strength.

However, because of the presence of a small amount of sodium acrylate in the partially neutralized terpolymer, such binders fail to disperse in water containing more than about 15 ppm Ca2+ and / or Mg2+.

When placed in water containing more than about 15 ppm Ca2+ and / or Mg2+ ions, nonwoven webs using the above-described binders maintain a tensile strength greater than 30 g / in, which negatively affects the “dispersibility” of the nonwoven web.

This limits the application of the terpolymer as a flushable binder material because most areas across the U.S. have hard water, which contains more than 15 ppm Ca2+ and / or Mg2+.

Without the solvents, the cleansing sheets would have little in-use wet strength and would not be effective as a wet wipe.

However, the use of such high amounts of organic solvent results in a greasy after-feel when the cleansing sheet is used, and these organic solvents may cause discomfort and irritation to skin in higher amounts.

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