Flushable Fibrous Structures

Abstract

Flushable fibrous structure products, including sanitary tissue products, are described. As discussed in the background section, there is a relatively narrow desirable range of floatation / sink time that can be predicative of flushability success. Fibrous structures that float can have difficulty exiting a toilet bowl. And fibrous structures that sink too fast can cause a plug at the exit point of a toilet bowl. Thus, fibrous structures and sanitary tissue products comprising the same that do not float but sink sufficiently slow when placed into a toilet so as not to cause a plug are provided.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to flushable fibrous structure products.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Flushable fibrous structures, such as toilet tissue and flushable wet wipes, are well known. There are numerous characteristics that affect how well the products exit a toilet bowl. On one hand, fibrous structures that sink too quickly can form a temporary plug at the exit of the toilet bowl, which can in turn affect the ultimate flushability of the structures. On the other hand, fibrous structures that float or take a significant amount of time to sink may not experience a sufficient level of forces during a flush to draw the fibrous structure toward and through the exit of the toilet bowl. The present invention illustrates fibrous structures that strike an appropriate balance in view of this dichotomy.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS[0003]The following detailed description of specific aspects of the present invention can be best understood when read i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The inventors have discovered that adding a small amount of relatively hydrophobic fibers to a fiber blend can improve the flushability of fibrous structures. These hydrophobic fibers can be harvested from plants or made synthetically. Examples of synthetic fibers include cellulose, polyolefins, polyesters, and non-cellulosic polymeric carbohydrates. One specific type of hydrophobic fiber is trichome fiber, which can make up 0.1-100% of the fibrous structure. By adding trichome fibers, the fibrous structure becomes easier to flush.

Problems solved by technology

On one hand, fibrous structures that sink too quickly can form a temporary plug at the exit of the toilet bowl, which can in turn affect the ultimate flushability of the structures.

On the other hand, fibrous structures that float or take a significant amount of time to sink may not experience a sufficient level of forces during a flush to draw the fibrous structure toward and through the exit of the toilet bowl.

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