CN117616172A

CN117616172A - Tissue material and tissue product

Info

Publication number: CN117616172A
Application number: CN202280048635.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: E·金茨; A·布奥布; H-J·兰布; M·A·查菲丁
Original assignee: Aishirui Health Products Co ltd
Current assignee: Aishirui Health Products Co ltd
Priority date: 2021-07-09
Filing date: 2022-06-17
Publication date: 2024-02-27

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a monolithic ply tissue material having a basis weight of less than 40gsm and a GMT tensile strength of at least 60N/m comprising a non-wood tissue sheet ply comprising non-wood cellulose pulp fibers present in an amount of at least 10% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet ply. The present disclosure also relates to a single ply tissue product and a multi-ply tissue product comprising at least one ply of non-wood tissue sheets.

Description

Tissue material and tissue product

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a single ply tissue material, a single ply tissue product, and a multi-ply tissue product comprising at least one non-wood tissue sheet ply comprising non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers.

Background

Tissue paper materials have a wide range of uses in modern society. Toilet paper and paper towels, such as hand or household (kitchen) towels, facial tissues, tissue handkerchiefs, napkins and industrial wipes are the main commercial products. These products are typically made from papermaking pulps comprising wood fibers such as hardwood and softwood fibers.

Hereinafter, "tissue product" relates to absorbent paper products based on cellulosic fillers, which are also referred to in the art as tissue material or tissue substrate.

Tissue paper material is defined as soft absorbent paper material having a low basis weight, for example 8 to 45g/m per sheet ² Preferably 10 to 35g/m ² . The total basis weight of the multi-ply tissue product may preferably be up to a maximum of 110g/m ² More preferably up to 80g/m ² . Its density is usually less than 0.6g/cm ³ Preferably below 0.30g/cm ³ More preferably at 0.02g/cm ³ And 0.20g/cm ³ Within a range of (2). The production of tissue paper materials differs from traditional paper production, such as printing paper production, in its relatively low basis weight and relatively high tensile energy absorption index (see ISO 12625-4). Conventional paper and tissue paper also typically differ in modulus of elasticity, which characterizes the stress/strain characteristics of these generally planar products as a material parameter.

The fibers contained in the tissue paper are mainly cellulosic fibers, such as pulp fibers from chemical pulp (e.g. kraft or sulfite) or mechanical pulp (e.g. ground wood, thermo-mechanical pulp, chemimechanical pulp and/or chemimechanical pulp/CTMP). Pulp from both deciduous (hardwood) and needle (softwood) can be used. The fibers may also be from non-wood plants such as grains, bamboo, jute, or sisal. The fiber or a portion of the fiber may be recycled fiber, which may fall into any or all of the categories described above. The fibers can be treated with additives such as fillers, softeners such as, but not limited to, quaternary ammonium compounds and binders, conventional dry strength agents, temporary wet strength agents, or wet strength agents to facilitate the original papermaking or to adjust its properties.

Tissue products particularly useful as hygiene or wiping products include essentially all kinds of tissue materials including dry-creped tissue materials, wet-creped tissue materials, NTT (flat), TAD-paper materials (through-air drying), tissue materials based on structuring or texturing techniques, such as ATMOS, NTT (texturing), UCTAD, eTAD, QRT, primeLineTEX, etc., and cellulose or pulp fillers, or combinations, laminates or mixtures thereof. Typical properties of these hygiene and wiping products include the ability to absorb tensile stress energy, drape, good textile-like flexibility, properties commonly referred to as bulk softness, high surface softness and high specific volume with perceived thickness. As high a liquid absorbency as possible is required, and depending on the application, suitable wet and dry strength and attractive visual appearance of the outer product surface are required. These characteristics allow these hygiene and wiping products to be used, among other things, as cleaning wipes, such as windshield cleaning wipes, industrial wipes, kitchen paper, and the like; as hygiene products, for example bathroom or toilet tissue, handkerchiefs, household tissues, towels, etc.; as cosmetic wipes, such as face tissues and mouth wipes or napkins, to name a few, may be used. Furthermore, the hygiene and wiping products may be dry, damp, wet, printed or pretreated in any way. Furthermore, the hygiene and wiping products may be folded, staggered or individually placed, stacked or rolled, connected or disconnected in any suitable manner.

The above-described products can be used for personal and household use, and for commercial and industrial use. They are suitable for absorbing liquids, removing dust and for other cleaning purposes.

If tissue material is to be made from pulp, the method essentially comprises a forming step comprising a headbox and a forming wire section, and a drying section, for example comprising through-air drying or conventional drying on a Yankee drum. The production process may also include a creping process for the tissue paper, and finally, typically, a monitoring and winding area.

Tissue materials may be formed by placing fibers in an oriented or random manner on or between one or two continuously rotating wires or felts of a paper machine while removing moisture.

The primary fiber web formed is further dewatered and dried in one or more steps by mechanical and thermal means until a final dry solids content of typically about 90-99% is reached.

In the case of creping tissue material manufacture, this stage is followed by a creping process, which affects the properties of the finished tissue product in conventional processes. Conventional dry creping processes involve creping with the aid of a creping blade at the final dry solids content of the aforementioned raw tissue paper on a drying cylinder, the so-called yankee cylinder, which is typically 3.0 to 6.5 meters in diameter. Wet creping may also be used if the tissue quality requirements are low. After creping, the final dried raw tissue material, the so-called base tissue, can be used for further processing into tissue products.

Instead of the conventional tissue paper manufacturing process described above, an improved technique may be used in which the comparison is achieved by a special dryingThe product increases and such drying results in an increase in, for example, caliper, bulk, softness, etc. of the tissue material. This process exists in a variety of subtypes, commonly referred to herein as structured tissue technology. Examples of structured tissue technology are TADNTT (textured), UCTAD, eTAD, QRT, primeLineTex, etc.

The processing steps from tissue material to finished tissue product occur in processing machines (converting machines) that include operations such as unwinding tissue material (base tissue), tissue calendering, laminating, printing or embossing.

Several plies may be combined together by a combination operation of chemical properties (e.g. by adhesive bonding) or mechanical properties (e.g. by knurling or so-called edge embossing) or a combination of both. Examples of such process steps for assembling a plurality of plies together are described in more detail below.

Further, the processing of the finished tissue product may include, for example, longitudinal cutting, folding, transverse cutting, and the like. Furthermore, individual tissue products may be positioned and gathered together to form a stack, which may be individually packaged. Such processing steps may also include the application of substances such as odorants, emulsions, softeners or other chemical additives.

When several plies are laminated together using adhesive bonding, an adhesive film is deposited on part or all of the surface of at least one of the plies, and then the adhesive treated surface is placed in contact with the surface of at least one other ply.

When mechanical bonding is used to combine multiple plies together, the plies may be combined by knurling, compression, edge embossing, joint embossing, and/or ultrasonic waves.

Mechanical bonding and adhesive bonding may also be combined together to combine several plies together to form a multi-ply product.

Embossing is the changing of the shape of the sheet from flat to profiled so that there are areas of embossment and/or debossing from the remainder of the surface. Thus, it constitutes a deformation of the previously relatively flat sheet and results in a sheet with a specific relief. In most cases, the thickness of the single or multiple plies increases after embossing compared to its original thickness.

The embossing process is carried out between the embossing roll and the anvil roll. The embossing roll may have protrusions or depressions on its circumferential surface, resulting in embossed protrusions/depressions in the web. The anvil roll may be softer than the corresponding embossing roll and may be composed of rubber (e.g. natural rubber) or plastic material, paper or steel. If the anvil roll is made of a softer material, such as rubber, a contact area/nip can be formed between the embossing roll (e.g., steel roll) and the anvil roll by deformation of the softer roll.

By embossing, a pattern can be applied to the tissue paper for decorative and/or functional purposes.

The functional purpose may be to improve the properties of the toilet paper product, i.e. embossing may improve product thickness, absorbency, bulk, softness etc.

The functional purpose may also be to provide a bond with another ply in a multi-ply product.

Tissue products exhibit a number of physical properties that are important for their use, for example as toilet paper, hand towel, kitchen towel, face towel, handkerchiefs, napkins, wipes and the like. Examples of such properties are their strength, softness and absorbency (mainly for aqueous systems). These physical properties are typically tailored to meet the needs of the average consumer in view of the intended use of the tissue product.

For example, tissue products need to maintain their strength at least for a period of use, such as for wiping liquids or moisture.

For example, it is desirable that tissue products have absorbency so as to be suitable for their use, e.g., for wiping liquids or moisture, cleaning, etc.

At the same time, there is a requirement regarding tactile properties, such as softness, as tissue products may be intended to be in intimate contact with the body and skin. It is therefore desirable that tissue products should exhibit sufficient softness to ensure consumer comfort.

However, some of the desired physical properties of tissue products are often conflicting properties. One example is strength and softness. In general, softness decreases as the strength of tissue products increases.

It is therefore desirable to provide tissue products that provide a good balance between the desired properties. For example, it is desirable to provide tissue products that achieve a satisfactory balance between softness and strength, or to provide tissue products that achieve satisfactory absorbency, strength, and/or softness.

Furthermore, it is desirable to reduce the consumption of wood fibers for the production of tissue products. For example, wood fiber costs rise, concerns related to sustainable forest management, and other environmental reasons such as carbon footprint support this desire.

For this reason, attempts have been made to replace some or all of the wood fibers in tissue products with, for example, recycled fibers and/or non-wood fibers. However, replacing the original wood fibers with other fibers in the pulp is not straightforward, as the fiber content in the pulp naturally affects the above-mentioned physical properties of the resulting tissue material.

Accordingly, in view of one or more of the above-mentioned desires, improvements and/or alternatives to tissue products are needed.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to meet the need for such improvements and/or alternatives.

For this purpose, it is proposed herein to use non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in tissue materials and tissue products.

The non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may be chemical pulp fibers.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may be never-dried fibers. "never dried" as used herein means that the fibers have not been dried prior to use in the tissue making process. It is believed that never-dried non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may contribute to the suitability of the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers for tissue materials and tissue products.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers contain at least 15% hemicellulose. It is believed that this hemicellulose content may contribute to the suitability of the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers for tissue materials and tissue products.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers contain no more than 15% lignin. For example, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may contain no more than 12% lignin. In another example, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may contain no more than 10% lignin. It is believed that this lignin content may contribute to the suitability of the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers for tissue materials and tissue products.

For example, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may contain at least 15% hemicellulose and no more than 15% lignin, such as no more than 12% lignin or no more than 10% lignin.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are pre-treated to obtain the desired amount of lignin and/or hemicellulose.

In addition, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may have a relatively low average fiber length.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers have an average fiber length of less than 1700 μm.

Alternatively, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers have an average fiber length of less than 1200 μm.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers have an average fiber length of less than 1000 μm.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers have an average fiber length of less than 900 μm.

For example, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may have an average fiber length in the range of 750 to 1000 μm.

Furthermore, it is believed that non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers having relatively high break lengths may contribute to the suitability of the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers for tissue materials and tissue products. The break length is the initial break length of the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers measured on the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers after the pulping process.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic fibers have a break length of greater than 3000m, for example greater than 5000m.

For example, the non-wood cellulosic fibers may have a break length in excess of 3000m, while an average fiber length of less than 1700 μm, such as less than 1200 μm, less than 1000 μm, or less than 900 μm.

For example, non-wood cellulosic fibers have a break length of greater than 5000 μm and an average fiber length of less than 1700 μm, such as less than 1200 μm, less than 1000 μm, or less than 900 μm.

Furthermore, it is believed that non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers having a relatively high ratio between the break length and the average fiber length may contribute to the suitability of the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers for tissue materials and tissue products.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic fibers have a break length to average fiber length ratio of greater than 3.7.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic fibers have a break length to average fiber length ratio of greater than 4.0.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic fibers have a break length to average fiber length ratio of greater than 4.5.

For example, the non-wood cellulosic fibers may have a break length to average fiber length ratio of greater than 5, such as greater than 5.5 or greater than 6.5.

For example, the non-wood cellulosic fibers may have a break length/average fiber length ratio of greater than 3.7, such as greater than 4, and an average fiber length of less than 1700 μm, such as less than 1200 μm, less than 1000 μm, or less than 900 μm.

For example, the non-wood cellulosic fibers may have a ratio of break length to average fiber length of greater than 5, such as greater than 5.5 or greater than 6.5, and an average fiber length of less than 1700 μm, such as less than 1200 μm, less than 1000 μm, or less than 900 μm.

For comparison purposes, it may be mentioned that different types of conventional hardwood and softwood pulps exhibit lower fracture length to average fiber length ratios than the non-wood cellulosic fibers described above. This also applies to the production of pulp from undried hardwood and softwood. The table below lists the calculated average ratios for the different types of hardwood and softwood pulps.

Pulp type	Average ratio of
		BEK	2.4
BHK	2.0
		BSK	1.0
BSS	0.6
		NBHK	2.3
NBSK	1.2
		Never-dried HW	0.9
Never dried SW	1.0

( BEK-bleached eucalyptus pulp; BHK-bleached hardwood kraft; BSK-bleached softwood kraft; BSS-bleached softwood sulfite, northern bleached hardwood kraft, northern bleached softwood kraft. Never dried Hardwood (HW) and Softwood (SW) are sulfites. )

Furthermore, it has been found that several types of non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers previously used exhibit lower fracture length/average fiber length ratios than those set forth above. For example, the average ratio of the test samples of dried bagasse fiber pulp was found to be 2.6, the average ratio of dried bamboo fiber pulp was found to be 1.2, and the average ratio of dried wheat fiber pulp was found to be 3.5.

For example, the non-wood cellulosic fibers may be never-dried non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers, and the non-wood cellulosic fibers may have a fracture length/average fiber length ratio of greater than 3.7, such as greater than 4.0 or greater than 4.5.

For example, the non-wood cellulosic fibers may be never-dried non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers, and the non-wood cellulosic fibers may have a break length to average fiber length ratio of greater than 5, such as greater than 5.5 or greater than 6.5.

The non-wood cellulose pulp fibers presented herein may be used with hardwood cellulose pulp fibers and/or softwood cellulose pulp fibers.

As mentioned above, optionally, a portion or all of the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are never-dried non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers.

Optionally, non-wood cellulose fibers are used with the softwood cellulose pulp fibers. In this case, a part or all of the softwood cellulose fibers may be the softwood cellulose pulp fibers from which drying has not been performed.

For example, the softwood cellulose pulp fibers may include from undried hardwood cellulose pulp fibers and/or dried softwood cellulose pulp fibers.

Optionally, non-wood cellulosic fibers are used with hardwood cellulose pulp fibers. In this case, some or all of the hardwood cellulose fibers may be pulp fibers from undried hardwood cellulose.

For example, the hardwood cellulose pulp fibers may include from undried hardwood cellulose pulp fibers and/or dried hardwood cellulose pulp fibers.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers presented herein may be achieved by a non-pressurized process treatment.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers presented herein may be obtained by a process treatment without the use of sulfur.

For example, non-wood cellulose pulp fibers may be obtained by treatment using a method similar to the method described in EP 2048281 A1, EP 2247781B1, US20130129573 A1, EP 2034090 A1, US20110281298 A1 and/or US20130129573 A1.

Additionally or alternatively, non-wood cellulose pulp fibers may be obtained by treatment using a method similar to the method described in WO 2020264311A1, WO 2020264222 A1, US20190091643 A1, US 2592983.

For example, non-wood cellulose pulp fibers may be obtained by Phoenix Process TM of Sustainable Fiber Technologies inc.

It should be understood that the features discussed above that contribute to the suitability of the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers for tissue materials and tissue products may be used alone or in different combinations.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are derived from agricultural waste or byproducts.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are derived from a member of the family poaceae (poaceae). For example, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may be derived from wheat straw, rice straw, barley straw, oat straw, ryegrass, coastal bermuda grass, arundo donax, miscanthus, bamboo, and/or sorghum. Another example of a gramineous material is sugar cane from which non-wood cellulose pulp fibers are derived, for example from bagasse.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are derived from members of the cannabididae family. For example, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may be from hemp and/or hops.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are derived from agricultural waste or byproducts. For example, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may be derived from agricultural waste or by-products of members of the Gramineae and/or Cannabis families as exemplified above, i.e. including agricultural waste or by-products from wheat straw, rice straw, barley straw, oat straw, ryegrass, bagasse, hemp or hops. In another example, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may be derived from agricultural waste or byproducts, such as banana harvesting residues (belonging to the family musaceae), pineapple residues (belonging to the family pineapple), nut shell waste residues, bagasse from agave, hop residues, and/or corn stover.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are derived from kenaf (belonging to the family malvaceae), switchgrass, succulent plants, alfalfa (belonging to the family leguminosae), flax straw (belonging to the family flax), palm fruit (oil palm or beteraceae) and/or avocado (lauraceae).

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are derived from one or more of wheat straw, rice straw, barley straw, oat straw, ryegrass, coastal bermuda grass, arundo donax, miscanthus, bamboo, sorghum, banana harvesting residue, pineapple residue, nut shell waste, bagasse, industrial hemp, and/or members of the cannabaceae family, kenaf, switchgrass, succulent plants, alfalfa, corn stover, and flax straw.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are derived from wheat straw, oat straw, barley straw, and/or ryegrass. For example, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may be derived from agricultural waste or byproducts of wheat straw, oat straw, barley straw, and/or ryegrass.

For example, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may be from wheat straw, such as agricultural waste or byproducts from wheat.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are derived from residues of sugar production. For example, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may be the residue of beet.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are from bagasse.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are from agave. For example, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may be derived from residues of agave syrup production or from agave bagasse.

Although the present disclosure relates primarily to tissue paper made from non-wood fibers, it should be understood that the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers described herein may also be used in other applications, such as wound care, absorbent articles, such as diapers, sanitary napkins and incontinence articles, beauty care and/or nonwoven materials and products.

Here, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers as described above are proposed for forming a non-wood tissue sheet layer comprising non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount of at least 10% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet layer.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer comprises non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of at least 15% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet layer.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer comprises non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of at least 20% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet layer.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer comprises non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of at least 30% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet layer.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer comprises non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of at least 40% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet layer.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer comprises non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of 20-50% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet layer.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer comprises non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of 25-35% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet layer.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer comprises non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of less than 70% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet layer.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer comprises non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of less than 60% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet layer.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer further comprises wood pulp fibers, such as hardwood cellulose pulp fibers and/or softwood cellulose pulp fibers.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer further comprises wood pulp fibers in an amount such that the amount of wood pulp fibers plus the amount of non-wood fibers comprises 100% dry weight of the tissue sheet layer.

Optionally, the wood pulp fibers in the non-wood tissue sheet layer have a hardwood/softwood dry weight ratio of less than 95/5.

Optionally, the wood pulp fibers in the non-wood tissue sheet layer have a hardwood/softwood dry weight ratio of less than 90/10.

Optionally, the wood pulp fibers in the non-wood tissue sheet layer have a hardwood/softwood dry weight ratio of less than 80/20.

For example, the wood pulp fibers in the non-wood tissue sheet layer may have a hardwood/softwood dry weight ratio of greater than or equal to 0/100.

For example, the hardwood/softwood dry weight ratio of wood pulp fibers in the non-wood tissue sheet layer may be in the range of 70/30 to 30/70.

For example, the hardwood/softwood dry weight ratio of wood pulp fibers in the non-wood tissue sheet layer may be in the range of 60/40 to 40/60.

Optionally, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are present throughout the non-wood tissue sheet layer. In other words, at least some of the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may be found in all portions of the plies, for example in all layers of the plies. The non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers need not be uniformly distributed, but may be the result of a layered distribution of non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers. For example, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may be uniformly distributed in the sheet. In another example, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may be unevenly distributed in the sheet.

Optionally, when the non-wood tissue sheet layer comprises two or more layers, at least one of the non-wood tissue sheet layers comprises non-wood fibers. For example, the at least one layer may be an outer layer of a non-wood tissue sheet layer.

Optionally, when the non-wood tissue sheet layer comprises two or more layers, each of the two or more layers may comprise non-wood fibers.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer is produced by conventional wet-pressing techniques (CWP). "producing" means that the tissue material has been manufactured using conventional wet-pressing techniques, i.e., the tissue material is a CWP tissue material. For example, the tissue material may be a dry creped tissue material.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer is produced by a structured tissue technique. "producing" means that the tissue material has been manufactured using structured tissue technology, i.e. the tissue material is a structured tissue material.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer is produced by TAD (through air drying) technique.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer is produced by ATMOS technology.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer is produced by the UCTAD technique.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer is produced by textured NTT technology.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer is produced by an eTAD technique, such as the Advantage eTAD technique from Valmet.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer is produced by QRT techniques.

Optionally, the non-wood tissue sheet layer is produced by PrimeLine TEX technology.

According to the present invention there is provided a layer of non-wood tissue sheets and tissue materials and tissue products comprising the above-described non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers.

Thus, in a first aspect, a single ply tissue material according to claim 1 is provided.

Thus, a single ply tissue material having a basis weight of less than 40gsm and a GMT tensile strength of at least 60N/m is provided, the tissue material comprising a non-wood tissue sheet ply. The non-wood tissue sheet layer comprises non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers present in an amount of at least 10% by dry weight of the tissue material.

Optionally, the tissue material has a GMT tensile strength of at least 70N/m.

Optionally, the tissue material has a GMT tensile strength of at least 80N/m.

Optionally, the tissue material has a basis weight of less than 30 gsm.

Optionally, the tissue material has a basis weight of less than 25 gsm.

Optionally, the tissue material has a basis weight of greater than 10 gsm.

Optionally, the tissue material has a basis weight in the range of 14gsm to 25 gsm.

In a second aspect, there is provided a single ply tissue product comprising a single ply tissue material according to the first aspect. This means that the single ply tissue product may consist of a single ply tissue material.

In a third aspect, there is provided a multi-ply tissue product according to claim 7. Thus, there is provided a multi-ply tissue product comprising two or more plies, wherein the plies have an average basis weight of less than 40g/m ² And the multi-ply tissue product has a GMT tensile strength of at least 100N/m, wherein at least one ply is a non-wood tissue sheet ply comprising non-wood cellulose pulp fibers, the non-cellulose pulp fibers being present in an amount of at least 10% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet ply.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product has a GMT tensile strength of at least 120N/m, for example at least 150N/m.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product according to the second aspect or the single ply tissue product according to the first aspect has an absorbency of at least 7 g/g.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product according to the second aspect or the single ply tissue product according to the first aspect has an absorbency of at least 8g/g.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product according to the second aspect or the single ply tissue product according to the first aspect has an absorbency of less than 20g/g, for example less than 18g/g.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product or the single ply tissue product has an absorbency of from 7 to 20 g/g.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product or the single ply tissue product has an absorbency of from 8 to 15 g/g.

Optionally, a majority of the layers of the multi-layered tissue material are layers of non-wood tissue sheets.

Optionally, all layers of the multi-layer tissue material are non-wood tissue sheet layers.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product comprises non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount of at least 10% by dry weight of the multi-ply tissue product.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product comprises non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount of at least 15% by dry weight of the multi-ply tissue product.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product comprises non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount of at least 20% by dry weight of the multi-ply tissue product.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product comprises non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount of at least 30% by dry weight of the multi-ply tissue product.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product comprises non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount of at least 40% by dry weight of the multi-ply tissue product.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product comprises non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount of not more than 70% by dry weight of the multi-ply tissue product.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product comprises non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount of not more than 60% by dry weight of the multi-ply tissue product.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product comprises non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount in the range of 15% to 50% by dry weight of the multi-ply tissue product.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product comprises non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount in the range of 15% to 40% by dry weight of the multi-ply tissue product.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product comprises non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount in the range of 25% to 35% by dry weight of the multi-ply tissue product.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product comprises from 2 to 5 plies.

Optionally, each ply of the multi-ply tissue product comprises the same amount of non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers.

Optionally, at least two plies of the multi-ply tissue product comprise different amounts of non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers.

Optionally, when at least two plies in the multi-ply tissue product comprise different amounts of non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers, the amounts differ by at least 5% dry weight.

Optionally, when at least two plies in the multi-ply tissue product comprise different amounts of non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers, the amounts differ by at least 10% dry weight.

Optionally, when at least two plies in the multi-ply tissue product comprise different amounts of non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers, the amounts differ by at least 20% dry weight.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product comprises one or more plies that are free of non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers.

Optionally, the at least one non-wood tissue sheet layer is an outer sheet layer of the multi-sheet tissue product.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product comprises at least two non-wood tissue sheet plies, wherein the non-wood tissue sheet plies form first and second outer plies of the multi-ply tissue product.

Optionally, for each of the alternatives described above in relation to the multi-ply tissue product, the non-wood ply may be any one of the alternatives described in relation to the first aspect as defined above.

Optionally, at least one non-wood tissue sheet layer of the multi-ply tissue product comprises a single ply tissue material according to the first aspect as described above.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a single ply tissue material having a basis weight of less than 40gsm and an absorbency of at least 3g/g comprising a non-wood tissue sheet ply comprising non-wood cellulose pulp fibers present in an amount of at least 10% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet ply.

Optionally, the tissue material has an absorbency of at least 4 g/g.

Optionally, the tissue material has an absorbency of at least 5 g/g.

Optionally, the tissue material is produced by CWP (conventional wet pressing) technology.

Optionally, the tissue material is produced by a structured tissue technique.

Optionally, the tissue material is produced by a structured tissue technique and has an absorbency of at least 6 g/g.

Optionally, the tissue material is produced by a structured tissue technique and has an absorbency of at least 7 g/g.

Optionally, the tissue material is produced by a structured tissue technique and has an absorbency of at least 8 g/g.

Optionally, the structured tissue technique is a TAD technique.

Optionally, the tissue material has a GMT tensile strength of at least 60N/m.

Optionally, the tissue material has a GMT tensile strength of at least 70N/m.

Optionally, the tissue material has a GMT tensile strength of at least 80N/m.

For example, the tissue material may have a GMT tensile strength of at least 100N/m.

For example, the tissue material may have a GMT tensile strength of at least 150N/m.

Optionally, the tissue material has a basis weight of less than 30 gsm.

Optionally, the tissue material has a basis weight of less than 25 gsm.

Optionally, the tissue material has a basis weight of greater than 10 gsm.

Optionally, the tissue material has a basis weight of greater than 15 gsm.

For example, tissue materials can be produced by CWP technology and have a basis weight of 15 to 20gsm and an absorbency of at least 5 g/g.

For example, tissue materials can be produced by CWP technology and have a basis weight of 20 to 30gsm and an absorbency of at least 4 g/g.

For example, tissue materials can be produced by CWP technology and have a basis weight of greater than 30gsm and an absorbency of at least 3 g/g.

For example, tissue materials may be produced by CWP technology and the basis weight (gsm) x absorbency (g/g) may be at least 75 (g/m ² )。

For example, tissue materials may be produced by CWP technology and the basis weight (gsm) x absorbency (g/g) may be at least 80 (g/m ² )。

For example, tissue materials may be produced by CWP technology and the basis weight (gsm) x absorbency (g/g) may be at least 90 (g/m ² )。

For example, tissue materials may be produced by structured tissue technology and have a basis weight of 15 to 20gsm and an absorbency of at least 8 g/g.

For example, tissue materials may be produced by structured tissue technology and have a basis weight of 20 to 30gsm and an absorbency of at least 7 g/g.

For example, tissue materials may be produced by structured tissue technology and have a basis weight of greater than 30gsm and an absorbency of at least 6 g/g.

For example, tissue materials may be produced by structured tissue technology, and the basis weight (gsm) x absorbency (g/g) may be at least 120 (g/m ² )。

For example, tissue materials may be produced by structured tissue technology, and the basis weight (gsm) x absorbency (g/g) may be at least 140 (g/m ² )。

For example, tissue material may be produced by (g/m ² ) Produced by technology, and the basis weight (gsm) x absorbency (g/g) may be at least 180 (g/m) ² )。

Optionally, the tissue material may have a thickness of 0.08mm or more.

Optionally, the tissue material may have a thickness of less than 0.5 mm.

In a fifth aspect, there is provided a single ply tissue product comprising a single ply tissue material according to the fourth aspect described above.

In a sixth aspect, there is provided a multi-ply tissue product comprising two or more plies, wherein the plies have an average basis weight of less than 40gsm and the multi-ply tissue product has an absorbency of at least 4g/g, wherein at least one ply is a non-wood tissue sheet ply comprising non-wood cellulose pulp fibers present in an amount of at least 10% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet ply.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product has an absorbency of at least 5 g/g.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product has an absorbency of at least 6 g/g.

Optionally, at least one ply of the multi-ply tissue product is produced by CWP (conventional wet-pressing) technology.

Optionally, at least one ply of the multi-ply tissue product is produced by a structured tissue technique. For example, the structured tissue technique may be TAD technique.

Optionally, at least one ply of the multi-ply tissue product is produced by a structured tissue technique, and the multi-ply tissue product has an absorbency of at least 7 g/g. For example, the sheet may be produced by TAD technology.

Optionally, at least one ply of the multi-ply tissue product is produced by a structured tissue technique, and the multi-ply tissue product has an absorbency of at least 8 g/g. For example, the sheet may be produced by TAD technology.

Optionally, at least one ply of the multi-ply tissue product is produced by a structured tissue technique, and the multi-ply tissue product has an absorbency of at least 9 g/g. For example, the sheet may be produced by TAD technology.

Optionally, all plies of the multi-ply tissue product are produced by the structured tissue technique. For example, all plies may be produced by TAD techniques.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product has a GMT tensile strength of at least 100N/m.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product has a GMT tensile strength of at least 120N/m.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product has a GMT tensile strength of at least 150N/m.

For example, a multi-ply tissue product has a GMT tensile strength of at least 200N/m.

For example, a multi-ply tissue product has a GMT tensile strength of at least 300N/m.

For example, a multi-ply tissue product has a GMT tensile strength of at least 400N/m.

Optionally, a majority of the plies of the multi-ply tissue material are non-wood tissue ply plies.

Optionally, all plies of the multi-ply tissue material are non-wood tissue plies.

Optionally, the multi-ply tissue product comprises from 2 to 5 plies.

Optionally, for each of the alternatives described above in relation to the multi-ply tissue product, the non-wood plies may be as defined in any of the alternatives described above in relation to the fourth aspect.

Optionally, at least one non-wood tissue sheet layer of the multi-ply tissue product comprises a single ply tissue material according to the fourth aspect as described above.

The single ply tissue products and multi-ply tissue products disclosed herein may be, for example, tissue products for personal hygiene.

Optionally, the single-ply tissue products and multi-ply tissue products disclosed herein may be, for example, toilet paper, hand towel, napkin, facial tissue, handkerchiefs or kitchen towel or industrial wipes.

Single ply tissue products and multi-ply tissue products may be embossed and/or calendered as known in the art.

Optionally, the plies of the multi-ply product may be joined by ply bonding, such as embossing or knurling. For example, multi-ply products may be joined by nesting.

Optionally, the plies of the multi-ply product may be joined by the Goffra-Incolla technique.

Disclosed herein is a four ply tissue product, such as bathroom or toilet tissue, such as toilet paper, having a basis weight of less than 80g/m ² For example 55 to 75g/m ² Wherein each ply comprises wood cellulose fibers, such as hardwood and/or softwood cellulose fibers, and wheat straw cellulose fibers in an amount of 10 to 60% dry weight, such as 10 to 50% dry weight, 10 to 40% dry weight, 10 to 30% dry weight or 10 to 20% dry weight, the four ply tissue product having a GMT tensile strength of at least 250N/m, such as at least 300N/m, and/or an absorbency of at least 8g/g, such as at least 9g/g.

Each ply of the four-ply tissue product may have less than 30g/m ² Basis weight of, for example, 10 to 25g/m ² . Each ply of the four-ply tissue product may comprise the same amount of wheat straw cellulose fibers.

The wheat straw cellulose fibers of the four ply tissue product may have an average fiber length in the range of 750 to 1000 μm, such as 800 to 900 μm or 825 to 875 μm. The wheat straw cellulosic fiber may contain at least 15% hemicellulose and/or no more than 15% lignin.

Also disclosed herein is a three-ply tissue product, such as toilet tissue product for toilet use, having a basis weight of less than 70g/m ² For example 40-60g/m ² Wherein each ply comprises wood cellulose fibers, such as hardwood and/or softwood cellulose fibers, and wheat straw cellulose fibers in an amount of 10-60% dry weight, such as 10-50% dry weight, 10-40% dry weight, 10-30% dry weight or 10-20% dry weight, the three ply tissue product having a GMT tensile strength of at least 200N/m, such as at least 250N/m, and/or an absorbency of at least 8g/g, such as at least 9 g/g.

Each ply of the three-ply tissue product may have less than 30g/m ² Basis weight of, for example, 10 to 25g/m ² . Each ply of the three-ply tissue product may comprise the same amount of wheat straw cellulose fibers.

The wheat straw cellulose fibers of the three-ply tissue product may have an average fiber length in the range of 750 to 1000 μm, for example 800 to 900 μm or 825 to 875 μm. The wheat straw cellulosic fiber may contain at least 15% hemicellulose and/or no more than 15% lignin.

Further advantages and advantageous features of the invention are disclosed in the following description and in the dependent claims.

Drawings

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the following is a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention, cited as examples.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a graph showing softness and GMT tensile strength for a plurality of substrate samples including different amounts of non-wood fibers;

FIG. 2 is a graph showing softness versus GMT tensile for the substrate sample of FIG. 1 including 0% non-wood fibers and 30% non-wood fibers;

FIG. 3 is a graph showing softness and GMT tensile strength of a plurality of multi-ply tissue samples comprising different amounts of non-wood fibers;

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the absorbency of the tissue sample of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the thickness of the tissue sample of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a graphical representation of the absorbency values obtained for the tissue material obtained in example 4;

FIG. 7a is a graphical representation of the absorbency values obtained for the tissue material obtained in example 5;

FIG. 7b is a graphical representation of the absorbency values obtained for the tissue product obtained in example 5;

FIG. 8 is a graphical representation of the absorbency values obtained for the tissue product obtained in example 6;

FIG. 9 is a graphical representation of the absorbency values obtained for the tissue product obtained in example 7; and

fig. 10 is a schematic representation of the absorbency values obtained from the tissue product obtained in example 8, including the variants of the tissue product obtained in example 5.

Detailed Description

The following description relates to examples of tissue materials and tissue products obtained using the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers set forth herein.

Example 1: single layer tissue paper material (substrate)

Five different tissue materials were prepared.

These five different tissue materials are substrates and are suitable for forming toilet tissue.

Samples were prepared using CWP technology to provide dry crepe tissue paper.

For two different grades of tissue paper:

grade 1 (G1): soft toilet paper

Grade 2 (G2): standard toilet paper

The fibril formulation (without any non-wood fiber content) for these two grades is:

test number	Reference ingredients
		The grade G1	50% softwood (never dried pulp) -50% hardwood (eucalyptus-dried pulp)
Grade G2	70% softwood (never dried pulp) -30% hardwood (never dried pulp)

The test was intended to introduce different grades of non-wood fibre pulp instead of standard wood pulp to evaluate the base paper properties and thus the quality of the finished product.

The tissue machine is a Crescent forming machine with a suction press roll structure with two-layer headbox: 50% top layer, 50% bottom layer.

The G1 grade was run in a stratified mode (using different formulas on 2 layers of base paper) and the G2 grade was run in a homogenous mode (using the same formulas on two layers of base paper) with the following target specifications:

G1：

headbox: 2 layers

A blade: 20 DEG ceramic

Basis weight: 16.5g/m ²

Thickness (10 p): 0.97mm/10 sheet

MD dry stretch/ply: 140N/m

CD dry stretch/sheet: 50N/m

MD stretching: 18%

G2：

Headbox: layer 1

A blade: 10 DEG ceramic

Basis weight: 16g/m ²

Thickness (10 p): 1.15mm/10 sheet

MD dry stretch/ply: 150N/m

CD dry stretch/sheet: 60N/m

MD stretching: 16%

The amount of non-wood fibers introduced is between 0-50% of the total mixture. The composition of the various substrates is shown in the table below:

the non-wood cellulosic fibrous pulp is derived from wheat straw and is treated by Sustainable Fiber Solutions inc. According to Phoenix TM process. The non-wood fiber pulp is never-dried pulp. The lignin content of the non-wood fiber pulp was 12.8% and the hemicellulose content was 18.0%.

Conventional staple fiber content is made from hardwood dried pulp as eucalyptus dried pulp and hardwood never dried pulp as hardwood never dried sulfite pulp.

The traditional long fiber content is made of cork. In this example, the softwood fiber pulp is also never-dried sulfite pulp. The fracture length, average fiber length, and fracture length/average fiber length ratios of the never-dried hardwood pulp, the never-dried softwood pulp, and the hardwood dried pulp (eucalyptus) are shown in the following table:

Non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are a major replacement for traditional long fibers, not only because of their inherent strength properties, but also because of the tensile properties that result after refining. Nevertheless, the additional strength that is created requires a reduction in the long fiber refining line.

/>

The content of non-wood fibers, conventional long fibers and conventional short fibers in each tissue material is shown in the following table:

the dry tensile strength in CD and MD and the panel evaluation softness of the various samples were measured and the results are shown in the following table and figures 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is a combined bar and line graph wherein the bars represent softness values for tissue materials G1-A, G1-B, G2-A, G2-B and G2-E of Table 1 and the lines represent their GMT tensile strength.

The different grades of samples denoted a are all samples without non-wood fibre content, while the different grades of samples denoted other letters comprise increasing amounts of non-wood fibre content (alphabetically).

There is no general trend in the relationship between GMT strength and softness considering the non-wood cellulosic fiber content, which is valid for all different grades. For grade G1, which is a softer grade, the softness value with or without non-wood fibers is similar. For grade G2, which is a standard grade, the softness value deviation is greater, but the GMT strength increases with increasing non-wood content.

Surprisingly, in two different grades, GMT strength increased with increasing non-wood fiber content. Turning to fig. 2, the substrate softness and strength were again visualized, this time for a sample comprising 0% non-wood versus a sample comprising 30% non-wood. Samples containing 30% non-wood exhibited good softness and GMT tensile strength.

Furthermore, it is a surprising result that all grades show GMT strength and softness within the limits that make them useful in tissue products.

Example 2: multi-ply product

Three different types of multi-sheet products MP1, MP2 and MP3 were prepared. Samples with different total non-wood fiber content were made for each type of multi-ply product using different grades and non-wood fiber content substrates as described above.

Each slice of the multi-slice product is assembled by adopting the Goffra-Incolla technology. All conversion parameters are the same for different non-wood content of each product MP1, MP2, MP3.

MP1：

Four-ply product

MP2：

Four-ply product

MP3：

Three-ply product

The resulting multi-ply tissue paper was subjected to various parametric tests and the results are shown in the following table.

The results will be discussed further below with reference to fig. 3-6.

Fig. 3 is a combined bar and line graph, where the bar represents softness values of the sample and the line represents GMT tensile strength.

In fig. 3, and in fig. 4 to 6 below, the samples are presented from left to right for each type of multi-ply tissue material MP1, MP2, MP3, and in the figure, samples with a non-wood content of 0 percent are presented on the left side and non-wood content is presented on the right side in ascending order.

As shown in fig. 3, the softness value of each type of multi-ply tissue material MP1, MP2 and MP3 is relatively constant or does not decrease significantly with increasing non-wood content. (significant differences in softness values (panel evaluation softness) were about 0.2 minutes.) thus, the results indicate that softness did not significantly affect in samples that included different amounts of non-wood compared to samples that did not include non-wood.

Furthermore, for each of the MP1, MP2 and MP3 types, GMT tensile strength increases with increasing non-wood content. The increase in GMT tensile strength is significant, which is surprising. Thus, the results show that GMT tensile strength is significantly increased in samples comprising different amounts of non-wood compared to samples not comprising non-wood.

Thus, the results show that in samples comprising different amounts of non-wood, the balance between softness and GMT strength is better than in samples without non-wood content, i.e. an increased GMT strength is achieved at about the same softness.

A satisfactory result for tissue products comprising non-wood will be about the same balance as tissue products without non-wood components. Based on the tests performed, it can therefore be assumed that the non-wood cellulose pulp fibers used herein can be used to replace wood fibers in many different multi-ply and single-ply tissue products while achieving at least satisfactory results in terms of softness and strength.

Turning to absorbency, FIG. 4 is a bar graph showing absorbency g/g for different samples of three types of tissue materials MP1, MP2, and MP 3. From the results, it can be seen that the highest absorbency values were obtained for samples without non-wood content for each of the MP1, MP2 and MP3 types. However, no general trend was seen to increase the impact of the non-wood amount on the absorbency value. Furthermore, the measured change in absorbency values is not substantially significant, as the significant difference in absorbency is about 0.5g/g.

Thus, the results show that in samples comprising different amounts of non-wood the absorbency is not significantly affected, whereas in samples with different amounts of non-wood content the absorbency is as good as in samples not comprising non-wood.

Turning to thickness, fig. 5 is a bar graph showing the thickness (mm) of different samples of three types of tissue materials MP1, MP2, and MP 3. The results show that the thickness of the samples comprising different amounts of non-wood is not significantly affected compared to the samples without non-wood.

Example 3: tissue paper product for toilet

Two relatively high basis weight and high caliper four-ply tissue products (P1 and P2) and two relatively low basis weight and low caliper three-ply tissue products (P3 and P4) are described below.

In the manufacture of the base tissue of the corresponding toilet tissue product, the conventional long fiber content is made of softwood, while the conventional short fiber content is made of hardwood. Softwood and hardwood pulps used to make the base tissue paper are never-dried sulfite pulps.

The non-wood pulp used to make the P1 and P3 base tissue papers was never dried cellulosic fiber pulp derived from wheat straw, treated according to Phoenix TM process by Sustainable Fiber Solutions inc. Average length of wheat straw cellulose fibers the weighted fiber length was in the range 825-875 μm (Morfi fiber analyzer).

It is envisioned that similar base tissue and tissue product properties can be obtained regardless of which forming technique (e.g., twin-layer headbox or homogeneous headbox) is used in making the base tissue.

Four-ply products P1 and P2

Two different top sheet layer base tissues T1 and T2, and two different bottom sheet layer base tissues B1 and B2 were made on a conventional dry crepe paper machine, which was a Crescent former with a two-layer headbox. The topsheet layer and backsheet layer base tissues were manufactured in a layered manner and the compositions of the furnish used for the respective layers are shown in the table below.

Two different intermediate sheet base tissue papers, M1 and M2, were made on a conventional dry crepe paper machine, which was a twin wire former with a homogenous headbox.

The characteristics of the resulting base tissue are shown in the following table.

Two different four-ply toilet tissue products (toilet paper), P1 and P2, were made by combining four-ply base tissue using the Goffra-Incolla technology, as shown in the following table.

	P1	P2
			Top sheet layer	T1	T2
Intermediate sheet	2x M1	2x M2
			Top sheet layer	B1	B2

The following table reports the properties of the manufactured four-ply toilet tissue product. The result of P1 is an average of 24 data points for 3 different production runs using base tissue paper of different production dates. The result of P2 is the average of a large number of data points collected from a large production run.

Three-ply products P3 and P4

Two different top/bottom sheet base tissue papers, T3 and T4, were made on a conventional dry crepe paper machine, which was a Crescent former with a two-layer headbox. The top/bottom sheet layer base tissue paper was manufactured in a layered manner and the ingredients used in the individual layers were as shown in the following table.

Two different intermediate sheet base tissue papers, M3 and M4, were made on a conventional dry crepe paper machine, which was a twin wire former with a homogenous headbox.

Two different three-ply toilet tissue products (toilet paper), P3 and P4, were assembled by the Goffra-Incolla technique of the three-ply base tissue set forth in the following table:

	P3	P4
			top sheet layer	T3	T4
Intermediate sheet	M3	M4
			Backsheet layer	T3	T4

The following table reports the properties of the manufactured three-ply toilet tissue product. The result of P3 is an average of 31 data points from 5 different production runs using base tissue paper from different production dates. The result of P4 is the average of a large number of data points collected from a large production run.

	P3	P4
			Basis weight (g/m) ² )	50.3	50.4
Thickness of each piece (mm)	0.50	0.48
			GMT intensity (N/m)	290	264
Ball burst (N)	4.4	4.7
			Softness panel evaluation value	80	80
Absorbency (g/g)	9.2	9.4

Thus, in summary, the results demonstrate that introducing different amounts of non-wood cellulosic fibers into different tissue materials results in acceptable or insignificant changes in parameters (e.g., GMT strength, softness, absorbency, and/or caliper) related to the function of the tissue material as compared to the same tissue material without the non-wood fiber content.

The beneficial results are believed to be due, at least in part, to the use of non-wood fibers, and in particular, various features that may contribute to the beneficial properties of tissue materials and products including the non-wood fibers described above.

For example, as in the above samples, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may have a fracture length/average fiber length ratio of greater than 4. In addition, non-wood pulp fibers may be never dried. In addition, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers may be derived from agricultural waste or byproducts, such as wheat straw, oat straw, barley straw, and/or ryegrass, such as wheat.

However, other combinations of features of the above-described non-wood cellulosic fibers can be made by those skilled in the art to provide tissue materials and tissue products as set forth herein.

Thus, while the results relate to specific examples of tissue materials and tissue products, it is believed that non-wood fibers themselves may be used to provide advantageous results for a wider range of tissue materials and tissue products.

Example 4: (TAD tissue paper Material)

A sheet of tissue material used as kitchen towel was produced using TAD technology with non-wood fibers of varying dry content.

Two tissue materials were made, one comprising 0% dry weight of non-wood fibers and the other comprising 30% dry weight of non-wood fibers.

The non-wood fiber pulp was derived from wheat straw and treated by Sustainable Fiber Solutions inc. According to Phoenix TM process. The non-wood fiber pulp is never-dried pulp. Non-wood fiber pulp of this type typically has a lignin content of less than 15% and a hemicellulose content of greater than 15%.

The fracture length, average fiber length, and fracture length/average fiber length ratio of the non-wood cellulosic fiber slurry are shown in the following table:

	non-wood fibers
		Fracture length [ m ]]	5338
Average fiber length [ mu ] m]	854
		BL/av fiber length	6.25

Conventional staple fiber content is made from dried hardwood cellulose fiber pulp. The dried hardwood cellulose fiber pulp is dried eucalyptus fiber pulp, BEK (bleached eucalyptus kraft).

The conventional long fiber content is made from dried softwood cellulose fiber pulp. In this example, the dried softwood cellulose fiber pulp is NBSK (northern bleached softwood kraft).

The BEK has been found to have a break length/average fiber length ratio of typically about 2.4, and the NBSK has been found to have a break length/average fiber length ratio of about 1.2, as shown in the tables in the summary section above.

The machine is a layering machine with 3-layer headbox, feeding 2 fiber lines:

Hood and Yankee layers with long fiber strands fed into the headbox

Intermediate layer of short fiber line fed to headbox

The overall formulation of the reference and test pieces is as follows

Reference piece: 42% BEK-58% NBSK

Test piece: 12% BEK-58% NBSK-30% straw

The different fibers were separated and processed as follows:

chemicals are added to provide dry and wet tensile strength and remain constant for different masses.

The average properties of the substrate are as follows

Although the staple fiber threads are not refined, tissue paper materials containing non-wood fibers tend to be stronger than reference paper materials that do not contain non-wood fibers.

As can be seen from the values in the table above, and as shown in the graph of fig. 1, the test using non-wood had significantly greater absorbency than the reference tissue material without using non-wood.

Thus, tissue paper materials comprising 30% non-wood fibers are even more absorbent than tissue paper materials comprising 0% non-wood fibers.

Example 5: TAD tissue material and two-ply TAD tissue product

TAD technology is used to produce two-ply tissue products for use as kitchen towels. Two-ply tissue products are manufactured from tissue materials (substrates) produced using TAD technology and have non-wood fibers of different dry content.

	non-wood fibers
		Fracture length [ m ]]	5493
Average fiber length [ mu ] m]	861
		BL/av fiber length	6.38

The softwood cellulose pulp and the hardwood cellulose pulp were similar to the pulp used in example 1 above.

Tissue material 1 (TP 1) was made using non-wood fibers with a dry content of 0%.

Tissue material 2 (TP 2) was made using non-wood fibers with a dry content of 20%.

Tissue material 3 (TP 3) was made using non-wood fibers with a dry content of 30%.

The ratios between conventional short fibers, i.e., eucalyptus fiber pulp BEK (bleached eucalyptus kraft), conventional long fiber content, i.e., softwood fiber pulp NBSK (northern bleached softwood kraft), and non-wood fibers are shown in the table below.

The machine is a layered machine. The long fiber strand is fed to the Hood and Yankee layers of the headbox; the staple fiber yarn is fed to the intermediate layer.

For TP1, the long fiber strand was 100% NBSK and the short fiber strand was Eucalyptus BEK.

For TP2 and TP3, the non-wood fibers replace or are all eucalyptus (BEK). Non-wood fibers have never been refined.

Chemicals were added to provide dry and wet tensile strength and remained constant for 3 masses TP1, TP2 and TP 3.

The chemical flow is equally divided between the two fiber lines.

The basis weight, thickness, dry tensile strength and absorbency of the resulting tissue material were measured. The results are shown in the following table

Fig. 2a is a graph showing the absorbency of a tissue paper material comprising 0% non-wood cellulose paper fibers compared to the absorbency of a tissue paper material comprising 30% non-wood cellulose pulp fibers.

As shown in fig. 2a and in the table, tissue paper materials comprising 30% non-wood fibers showed better absorbency than tissue paper materials comprising 0% non-wood fibers. Tissue paper materials comprising 20% non-wood cellulose pulp fibers exhibit similar absorbency as tissue paper materials comprising 0% non-wood cellulose pulp fibers.

The tensile strength of the tissue material comprising the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers is slightly less than the tensile strength of the tissue material without the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers. However, the deviation in tensile strength is not significant, and the tensile strength is still within an acceptable range.

As described above, a two-ply product is formed using a reference tissue material TP1 comprising 0% non-wood fibers and a tissue material TP3 comprising 30% non-wood fibers.

2 sheet product 1 (2P-1): 2 plies TP1, which means that the 2 ply product contains 0% non-wood fibres.

2 sheet product 2 (2P-2): 2 plies TP3, which means that the 2 ply product contains 30% dry weight of non-wood fibres.

A 2-ply tissue product is produced by assembling tissue material (substrate) using a nested 2-ply technique.

Three multi-ply products were measured for basis weight, thickness, tensile strength, soft panel and absorbency.

The results are shown in the following table.

Figure 2b shows the absorbency of a two-ply tissue product. As shown in fig. 2b and the table above, at comparable basis weights and thicknesses, the two-ply tissue product comprising 30% dry weight non-wood fibers (2P-2) showed higher absorbency than the two-ply tissue product comprising no non-wood fibers.

The dry tensile strength results of the two-ply tissue product comprising 30% dry weight non-wood fibers (2P-2) are satisfactory for the intended use of the two-ply tissue product as a kitchen towel. In addition, the softness of the two-ply tissue product comprising 30% dry weight non-wood fibers (2P-2) shows a similar softness as the two-ply tissue product not comprising non-wood fibers.

In summary, the results demonstrate that a two-ply tissue product comprising non-wood fibers will exhibit at least similar absorbency as a multi-ply tissue product not comprising non-wood fibers. In addition, the two-ply tissue product has satisfactory dry tensile strength and softness. Thus, the benefits obtained by using non-wood fibers can be obtained while obtaining a satisfactory tissue product.

Example 6: cWP tissue paper product

Three ply tissue products for use as kitchen towels were produced using CWP technology. Three ply tissue products are made from tissue materials (substrates) produced using CWP technology and have non-wood fibers of different dry content.

The test machine used was a Crescent forming machine with suction press roll configuration with a 2-layer headbox: 50% top layer, 50% bottom layer.

The machine was run in homogenous mode (the same formulation was used on both base papers), but two fiber lines were used and different treatments were performed.

The non-wood fibers used to produce the tissue material (substrate) are incorporated in an amount of 0-50% of the total mixture.

The non-wood fiber pulp was derived from wheat straw and treated by Sustainable Fiber Solutions inc. According to Phoenix TM process. The non-wood fiber pulp is never-dried pulp. The lignin content of the non-wood fiber pulp was 12.8 and the hemicellulose content was 18.0.

The traditional staple fiber content is made from hardwood. The hardwood pulp is never-dried pulp.

The traditional long fiber content is made of cork. In this example, the softwood fiber pulp is also never-dried pulp. The fracture lengths and morphology of the hardwood and softwood fibrous pulps are shown in the following table:

	non-wood (never dried)	Cork (never dried)	Hardwood (never dried)
				Fracture length (m)	3775	1755	882
Average fiber length (μm)	748	2165	929
				Fiber width (mum)	20	29	21
Fibre coarseness (mg/m)	0.13	0.20	0.13
				Fracture length/fiber length ratio (-/μm)	5.05	0.81	0.95

The composition of the different tissue materials (substrates) and the level of refining used are shown below

The raw materials for separating different fibers into different layers were prepared as follows:

/>

Average substrate performance

Tissue paper materials having non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers have similar or higher tensile strength than tissue paper materials without non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers, despite the lower long fiber content and lower refining level.

As regards absorbency, there is no significant difference between tissue paper material containing non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers and tissue paper material containing no non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers.

Multi-ply products are formed from tissue paper materials (substrates) of varying non-wood fiber content. The multi-sheet product (three-sheet product) is formed by nesting.

Multi-ply product 1: g3a+g3a+g3A-i.e. having 0% of 3 sheets of non-wood fibers, and the fiber content was 0% by dry weight of the entire multi-ply product 1.

Multi-ply product 2: g3b+g3b+g3b—i.e. 3 plies with 20% non-wood fibres and fibre content of 20% by dry weight of the whole multi-ply product 2.

Multi-ply product 3: g3b+g3c+g3b-i.e. 2 plies with 20% non-wood fibres and 1 ply with 50% non-wood fibres, the fibre content being 30% by dry weight of the whole multi-ply product 3.

Three multi-ply products were measured for basis weight, thickness, tensile strength, softness panel evaluation and absorbency. The results are shown in the following table.

FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of the absorption values of three different multi-ply products MP1, MP2 and MP 3. As shown in the table and fig. 3, the absorbency of the multi-ply tissue product containing 20% or 30% dry weight of non-wood fibers was even better than the absorbency of the multi-ply tissue product without non-wood fibers. In addition, as shown in the above table, the multi-ply tissue product comprising non-wood fibers exhibits comparable dry tensile strength and softness values to multi-ply tissue products not comprising non-wood fibers.

In summary, the results demonstrate that a multi-ply tissue product comprising non-wood fibers will exhibit at least similar properties as a multi-ply tissue product not comprising non-wood fibers. Thus, the benefits obtained by using non-wood fibers can be obtained while obtaining a satisfactory tissue product.

Example 7: mixed tissue paper product

Two-ply tissue products intended for use as kitchen towels are formed, including one ply produced by the structured tissue technique and one ply produced by the CWP (conventional wet pressing) technique.

A reference two-ply tissue product (HYB 1) comprising 0% non-wood fibers was formed from one ply of tissue material produced by TAD technology (as described in example 2 above) being TP1 and one ply of tissue material produced by CWP technology (as described in example 3 above) being G3-a.

A two-ply tissue product (HYB 2) comprising 25% non-wood fibers is formed from one ply of tissue material produced by TAD technology and one ply of tissue material produced by CWP technology, wherein the TAD technology produces a ply of tissue material comprising 30% dry weight of non-wood fibers, which is TP3 described in example 2 above; the sheet of tissue material produced by the CWP technique, which contains 20% dry weight of non-wood fibers, is G3-B described in example 3 above.

The two-ply tissue product is assembled by nesting.

Fig. 4 is a graphical representation of the absorption values of two-ply tissue products HYB 1 and HYB 2. As shown in the above table and fig. 4, the absorbency of the multi-ply tissue product containing 25% dry weight of non-wood fibers is even better than that of the multi-ply tissue product without non-wood. In addition, as shown in the above table, the multi-ply tissue product comprising non-wood fibers exhibits comparable dry tensile strength and softness values as the multi-ply tissue product not comprising non-wood fibers.

Example 8: thickness variation

As a starting point, a two-ply tissue product comprising two plies made by TAD technology and similar to the 2P-1 and 2P-2 obtained in example 2 above was used.

To vary the thickness of the two-ply product, the composition of the two plies in each product is varied by varying the nip used when the two plies are nested together. Thus, as described above, for each of the masses 2P-1 and 2P-2, one two-ply product having an original thickness, one two-ply product having an increased thickness, and one two-ply product having a reduced thickness are formed.

The basis weight, thickness, tensile strength, softness panel evaluation and absorbency of the two-ply products were measured. The results are shown in the following table.

Figure 5 shows the absorption over the thickness achieved for two masses 2P-1 and 2P-2.

As shown in fig. 5 and in the table above, the absorbency of the two-ply tissue product 2P-2 comprising non-wood fibers is higher than the absorbency of the two-ply tissue product 2P-1 comprising no non-wood fibers for all of the various thicknesses.

Furthermore, the results indicate that the absorption results are stable to thickness variations.

While the above results were obtained for specific examples of tissue materials and tissue products, the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers and non-wood plies described herein are indeed suitable for forming tissue materials and tissue products, and the findings of the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers and non-wood plies are applicable to a wide range of such materials and products.

Example 9: non-wood pulp

The non-wood pulp was made in the form of never-dried cellulosic fiber pulp derived from wheat straw, treated according to Phoenix TM process by Sustainable Fiber Solutions inc. By analyzing samples collected during the manufacturing process, the characteristics of the non-wood pulp are shown in the following table.

Definition of the definition

Tissue paper material: the term "tissue material" as used herein refers to a single ply of base tissue obtained from a tissue machine.

Layer (c): the tissue material may comprise one or more layers, i.e. it may be a single layer or a multi-layer web. The term "layer" refers to a graded layer having a defined fiber composition within the web. One or more layers are formed by depositing one or more strands of slurry onto a wire using a pressurized single or multi-layer headbox.

Sheet layer: as used hereinThe term "sheet" refers to one or more sheet tissue materials in the final tissue product obtained after processing (i.e., converting) one or more base tissue webs. Each individual sheet is composed of a tissue material comprising one or more layers (e.g., one, two or three layers).

Hard wood: as hardwood we understand here a fibre pulp from the woody material of deciduous trees (angiosperms). For example, hardwoods include eucalyptus. Typically, the hardwood fibers are relatively short fibers. For example, the hardwood fibers may have an average fiber length of less than 1700 μm. The hardwood fibers may for example have a diameter of 15 to 40 μm and a wall thickness of 3 to 5 μm.

Cork wood: as softwood we understand a fibrous pulp from conifer (gymnosperm) woody matter. In general, softwood fibers are relatively long fibers. For example, the softwood fibers may have an average fiber length of greater than 1700 μm, such as greater than 1950 μm, e.g., the softwood fibers may have an average fiber length in the range of 1700 to 2500 μm. The softwood fibers may, for example, have a diameter of 30 to 80 μm and a wall thickness of 2 to 8 μm.

Conventional staple fibers: as conventional staple fibers we understand here the hardwood fibers as described above. In general, conventional staple fibers may have an average fiber length of less than 1700 μm.

Conventional long fibers: as conventional long fibers we understand here softwood fibers as described above. In general, conventional long fibers may have an average fiber length greater than 1700 μm.

CWP and structured tissue technology:

as mentioned above, the tissue web can be produced in several ways. Conventional paper machines have been used for this purpose for many years to produce such conventional webs at relatively low cost.

One example of a conventional tissue web process is a dry creping process, which involves creping on a drying cylinder (so-called yankee cylinder) with a creping blade. Wet creping may also be used if the tissue quality requirements are low. The creped, final dried raw tissue paper, the so-called base tissue paper, can then be used for further processing into a paper product for the tissue product.

More recently, more advanced processes have been developed, such as through-air drying (TAD), advanced tissue forming systems (ATMOS), and similar processes for producing structured tissue webs. One common feature of these recent processes is that they produce a more structured, less dense web than the web produced on a conventional paper machine.

As used herein, the termCWP technology (conventional wet pressing technology)Refers to a conventional web process in which tissue paper is formed on a forming fabric and dewatered by pressing with one or more pressure nips. The process may include transferring the sheet to a yankee dryer and removing the sheet from the yankee surface by a doctor blade during the creping process. CWP techniques used herein include, for example, dry crepe techniques, wet crepe techniques and flat NTT (new tissue technique).

As used herein, the termStructured tissue technologyTo newer techniques for producing structured tissue webs. Such a method does not use the high pressure used to dewater the web in the CWP process. Thus, structured tissue technology is sometimes referred to as non-compression dewatering technology. The structured tissue technology may be, for example, TAD (through-air drying), UCTAD (uncreped through-air drying) or ATMOS (advanced tissue forming system), texturizing NTT, QRT, primeLineTEX technology and eTAD technology.

Structured tissue technology processes are known from the prior art, for example TAD from US 5853547; ATMOS is known from US7744726, US7550061 and US 7527709; and UCTAD are known from EP 1 156 925 and WO 02/40774.

TAD technology has evolved since the 60 s of the 20 th century and is well known to those skilled in the art. It generally involves exploiting the functional properties of tissue paper by molding a fibrous mat onto a structured fabric. This results in the fibrous mat forming a structured tissue paper that can achieve high bulk and absorbency due to air passing through the web while drying the web while it is still on the structured fabric.

ATMOS technology is a production method developed by Voith, which is also well known to those skilled in the art.

Another example is textured NTT (new tissue technology). Textured NTT is designed to overcome some of the limitations of ATMOS by pressing at a higher pressure prior to transfer to Yankee. A shoe press is used in a first press section between the forming felt and a belt having units designed to provide absorbency and increased strength. The NTT technique can reduce the drying load of Yankee Hood compared to ATMOS.

However, other examples are Prime Line Tex technology provided by Andritz for producing textured tissue paper, and eTAD technology provided by Valmet.

Method

Lignin content:

measurement of residual lignin content in pulp fibers has been according to the ISO/DIS21436 standard draft: measurement of pulp-lignin content-acid hydrolysis 1), which comprises:

i) Residue after acid hydrolysis (AIL: acid insoluble lignin or Klason lignin) is also described in Tappi T222 om-02 method 2; and

ii) soluble lignin (ASL: acid soluble lignin) is also described in technical notes Tappi UM 2503.

3.1 Sample preparation: the sample was disintegrated with a grinder/mixer. Prior to analysis, their dry matter content was determined by drying 2-3g aliquots in an oven at 105 ℃ according to ISO 638 standard 4.

3.2 Measurement of acid insoluble lignin (AIL or Klason lignin) after acid hydrolysis. An aliquot of about 1g was hydrolyzed with sulfuric acid solution, first at ambient temperature (2 hours), then at reflux for 4 hours (future standard procedure B). After cooling, the suspension was filtered and washed, and the solid residue was collected, dried and weighed. The acid insoluble lignin content in the sample was determined by the difference between the dry hydrolysis residue weight and ash weight and reported to the dry mass content of the initial sample. Note 1: detection Limit (DL) to 0.1%; quantitative Limit (QL) to 0.5%.

3.3 Acid soluble lignin measurement. The absorbance of the hydrolysate at 205nm was measured (i.e. the filtrate collected during the suspension filtration process, see 3.2). The acid soluble lignin content (ASL) is determined based on a predetermined extinction coefficient (i.e., 110L/g.cm) of lignin. And (2) injection: detection Limit (DL) to 0.1%; quantitative Limit (QL) to 0.5%. Remarks: this method of quantification is sensitive to contaminants present in the sample. Each compound except hemicellulose and cellulose and acid insoluble minerals is susceptible to interfering with the measurement of hydrolysis residues and acid soluble lignin.

Hemicellulose

The content of the main polysaccharides (arabinose, galactose, glucan, xylene and mannose) in the pulp was determined by high performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detector, followed by HPAE/PAD of the free monosaccharides (arabinose, galactose, glucose, xylose and mannose) after sulfuric acid hydrolysis of the sample pulp And (5) analyzing. After calibration, the calibration was performed according to standard method ISO/DIS21437-Pulps: determination of carbohydrate (determination of carbohydrates) (in publications) the cellulose and hemicellulose content in pulp samples is determined. The sample studied was a chemical pulp, and acetic acid extraction was not previously required. In contrast, the sample has dried. However, the samples were ground prior to analysis, taking into account the pulp state (wet lap). According to NF EN ISO 638:2008, dry content of the ground sample is measured.

Basically, the method uses ISO/DIS21437-Pulps: determination of carbohydrate to quantify the amount of sugars (monosaccharides) after hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose. The estimated hemicellulose amount (knowing hemicellulose and the ratio of sugars in cellulose) is then calculated in reverse

Basis weight

Basis weight is determined according to ISO 12625-6:2016.

Basis weight in g/m ² (grams per square meter).

Each tabletThickness:

the thickness is determined according to ISO 12625-3:2014.

GMT intensity:

GMT strength (geometric mean tensile strength) refers to the square root of the product of the machine direction dry tensile strength and the cross machine direction dry tensile strength of the tissue web/product.

The GMT strength is determined according to ISO 12625-4:2016.

A 100N load cell was used.

Absorbency:

absorbency refers herein to the absorbent capacity of tissue paper. The water absorption capacity is the amount of water that a sample is capable of absorbing in g/g (i.e., g water/g material in the sample).

Absorbency is measured according to ISO 12625-8:2010.

The water is deionized water, the conductivity is less than or equal to 0.25mS/m at 25 ℃, and the standard of ISO14487 is met.

Softness panel evaluation value:

panelist evaluation softness was determined by panelist evaluation. Panelists rank the products according to softness. Thus, the softness small combination evaluation value is a comparison value that can be compared between the tested samples, not an absolute parameter.

The softer the grade of product/tissue substrate, the higher the value.

Softness values of tissue product (finished product) and tissue substrate cannot be directly compared because there are different ratios/reference products.

Each sample consisted of one product, namely a multi-ply tissue product.

Thus, the size of the sample is the size of the finished product.

Samples were placed in front of panelists in MD.

The samples were treated in a controlled zone of 23 ℃ and 50% relative humidity for at least 2 hours.

The different samples were rated for comfort by five or ten panelists, and the average comfort rating for each product was determined by the panelists.

Thus, the softness panel evaluation value is a comparison value in the test, representing the perceived softness of the product.

For the purposes of this application, softness panelling evaluation values given in the same table are comparable and represent perceived relative softness of the test product. The higher the rating, the more comfortable the product.

Average fiber length measurement:

using a fiber analyzer standard: ISO 16065-2:2014: fiber length measurements were made by Pulps-Determination of fiber length by automated optical analysis-Part 1:Unpolarized light method (ISO 16065-2:2014: pulp-determination of fiber length by automated optical analysis-Part 1: unpolarized light method).

The length weighted average length and the average of the length weighted fiber length distribution are used.

Fracture length measurement

The break length is the calculated upper limit for the length of a uniform strip of paper, where if the strip is hung at one end, it will support its own weight. Fracture length (m) =102×t/R, where t=tensile strength N/m, r=basis weight, g/m ² 。

The break length is a pulp property obtained by measuring tensile strength and basis weight, measured on laboratory toilet paper produced according to EN ISO 5269-2. ( Tensile strength: ISO 12625-4:2016; basis weight: ISO 12625-6:2016 )

Ratio of measured fracture length/measured average fiber length

The ratio of the break length/average fiber length is herein reported in μm and the break length in m using the fiber length measurement and the break length measurement obtained according to the above method.

It can be noted that the break length as well as the average fiber length are properties of the pulp. Thus, these properties will be measured on pulp received from the pulping process before reaching the papermaking process, for example before the raw material is prepared into the paper machine. Thus, the measurement is performed prior to any mechanical and/or chemical and/or enzymatic treatment for intensity adjustment that may occur during the papermaking process.

Ball burst

Ball burst was determined according to ISO 12625-9:2015.

Fiber width

The fiber width was measured here using a Morpi fiber analyzer.

Item-by-item enumeration of the embodiments

1. A single ply tissue material having a basis weight of less than 40gsm and an absorbency of at least 3g/g comprising a non-wood tissue sheet ply comprising non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers present in an amount of at least 10% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet ply.

2. The single ply tissue material of item 1 wherein the tissue material has an absorbency of at least 4 g/g.

3. The single ply tissue material of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tissue material has an absorbency of at least 5 g/g.

4. A single ply tissue material according to any one of the preceding claims produced by CWP (conventional wet pressing) technology.

5. The monolithic ply tissue material according to any one of claims 1 to 3 produced by a structured tissue technique and having an absorbency of at least 6 g/g.

6. The monolithic ply tissue material according to any one of claims 1 to 3 produced by a structured tissue technique and having an absorbency of at least 7 g/g.

7. The monolithic ply tissue material according to any one of claims 1 to 3 produced by a structured tissue technique and having an absorbency of at least 8 g/g.

8. The monolithic ply tissue material according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tissue material has a GMT tensile strength of at least 60N/m.

9. The monolithic ply tissue material according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tissue material has a GMT tensile strength of at least 70N/m.

10. The monolithic ply tissue material according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tissue material has a GMT tensile strength of at least 80N/m.

11. The single ply tissue material of any one of the preceding claims having a basis weight of less than 30 gsm.

12. The single ply tissue material of any one of the preceding claims having a basis weight of less than 25 gsm.

13. The single ply tissue material of any one of the preceding claims having a basis weight of greater than 10 gsm.

14. The single ply tissue material of any one of the preceding claims having a basis weight of greater than 15 gsm.

15. A single ply tissue product comprising a single ply tissue material according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. A multi-ply tissue product comprising two or more plies, wherein each ply has an average basis weight of less than 40gsm and the multi-ply tissue product has an absorbency of at least 4g/g, wherein at least one ply is a non-wood tissue sheet ply comprising non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of at least 10% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet ply.

17. The multi-ply tissue product of claim 16 wherein the multi-ply tissue product has an absorbency of at least 5 g/g.

18. The multi-ply tissue product of claim 16 or 17 wherein the multi-ply tissue product has an absorbency of at least 6 g/g.

19. The multi-ply tissue product according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein at least one ply of the multi-ply tissue product is produced by CWP (conventional wet pressing) technology.

20. The multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one ply of the multi-ply tissue product is produced by a structured tissue technique and the multi-ply tissue product has an absorbency of at least 7 g/g.

21. The multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one ply of the multi-ply tissue product is produced by a structured tissue technique and the multi-ply tissue product has an absorbency of at least 8 g/g.

22. The multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one ply of the multi-ply tissue product is produced by a structured tissue technique and the multi-ply tissue product has an absorbency of at least 9 g/g.

23. The multi-ply tissue product of any one of the claims except item 19, wherein all plies of the multi-ply tissue product are produced by a structured tissue technique.

24. The multi-ply tissue product of any one of claims 16 to 23, wherein the multi-ply tissue product has a GMT tensile strength of at least 100N/m.

25. The multi-ply tissue product of any one of claims 16 to 24, wherein the multi-ply tissue product has a GMT tensile strength of at least 120N/m.

26. The multi-ply tissue product of any one of claims 16 to 25, wherein the multi-ply tissue product has a GMT tensile strength of at least 150N/m.

27. The multi-ply tissue product of any one of claims 16 through 26 wherein at least 50% of the plies in the multi-ply tissue product are non-wood tissue sheet plies, each non-wood tissue sheet ply comprising non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of at least 10% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet ply.

28. The multi-ply tissue product of any one of claims 16 through 27, wherein all plies in the multi-ply tissue product are non-wood tissue sheet plies, each non-wood tissue sheet ply comprising non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of at least 10% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet ply.

29. The multi-ply tissue product of any one of claims 16 to 28, comprising non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount of at least 10% by dry weight of the multi-ply tissue product.

30. The multi-ply tissue product of any one of claims 16 to 29, comprising non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount of at least 15% based on the dry weight of the multi-ply tissue product.

31. The multi-ply tissue product of any one of claims 16 to 30, comprising non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount of at least 20% by dry weight of the multi-ply tissue product.

32. The multi-ply tissue product according to any one of claims 16 to 31, wherein the multi-ply tissue material or product comprises 2 to 5 plies.

33. The multi-ply tissue product of any one of claims 16 through 32, wherein each ply of the multi-ply product comprises the same amount of non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers.

34. The multi-ply tissue product of any one of claims 16 through 33 wherein at least two plies comprise different amounts of non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers.

35. The multi-ply tissue product according to any one of claims 16 to 34, wherein the at least one non-wood tissue sheet ply is an outer ply of the multi-ply tissue material.

36. The multi-ply tissue product of claim 35 wherein the multi-ply tissue material comprises at least two non-wood tissue sheet plies that form first and second outer plies of the multi-ply tissue product.

37. The multi-ply tissue product according to any one of claims 16 to 36, wherein the non-wood tissue sheet ply is formed from a single ply of tissue material according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

38. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers contain at least 15% hemicellulose.

39. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers contain no more than 15% lignin.

40. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers have an average fiber length of less than 1700 μιη.

41. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers have an average fiber length of less than 1200 μιη.

42. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers have an average fiber length of less than 1000 μιη or less than 900 μιη.

43. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic fibers have a break length of greater than 3000 meters or greater than 5500 meters.

44. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic fibers have a break length to average fiber length ratio of greater than 3.7.

45. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic fibers have a break length to average fiber length ratio of greater than 4.0.

46. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic fibers have a break length to average fiber length ratio of greater than 4.5, such as greater than 5, greater than 5.5, or greater than 6.5.

47. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are derived from members of the poaceae family, such as from wheat straw, rice straw, barley straw, oat straw, ryegrass, coastal bermuda grass, arundo donax, miscanthus, bamboo, bagasse and/or sorghum.

48. A single ply tissue material, a single ply tissue product or a multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are derived from members of the cannabididae family, such as cannabis and/or hops.

49. A single ply tissue material, a single ply tissue product or a multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fiber is an agricultural waste or byproduct, such as derived from the gramineae and/or cannabis families as exemplified above, including agricultural waste or byproducts from wheat straw, rice straw, barley straw, oat straw, ryegrass, bagasse, hemp or hops, and/or wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fiber is derived from an agricultural waste or byproduct, such as banana harvesting residue (belonging to the family musaceae), pineapple residue (belonging to the family pineapple), nut shell waste, agave bagasse, lupula residue and/or corn stover.

50. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are derived from kenaf (belonging to malvaceae), switchgrass, fleshy plants, alfalfa (belonging to leguminosae), flax straw (belonging to linolenaceae), palm fruit (oil palm or betel-nut) and/or avocado (lauraceae).

51. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood tissue sheet ply or plies comprise the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount of at least 15%.

52. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood tissue sheet ply or plies comprise the non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of at least 20%.

53. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood tissue sheet ply or plies comprise the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount of less than 70% dry weight.

54. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood tissue sheet ply or plies comprise the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount of less than 60% dry weight.

55. A single ply tissue material, a single ply tissue product or a multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood tissue sheet layer further comprises wood pulp fibers, such as hardwood cellulose pulp fibers and/or softwood cellulose pulp fibers.

56. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product of item 55 wherein the non-wood tissue sheet layer comprises wood pulp fibers in an amount such that the wood pulp fibers plus the non-wood fibers comprise 100% dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet layer.

57. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product of item 55 or 56 wherein the hardwood/softwood dry weight ratio of wood pulp fibers in the non-wood tissue sheet layer is less than 95/5.

58. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of claims 55 to 57 wherein the non-wood tissue sheet ply has a hardwood/softwood dry weight ratio of wood pulp fibers of less than 90/10.

59. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of claims 55 to 58, wherein the non-wood tissue sheet ply has a hardwood/softwood dry weight ratio of wood pulp fibers of less than 80/20.

60. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are present in the entire non-wood tissue sheet ply or plies.

61. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood tissue sheet ply or plies comprise two or more plies and at least one ply comprises non-wood cellulose pulp fibers.

62. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, the non-wood tissue sheet ply or plies being produced by conventional wet-pressing techniques (CWP).

63. A single ply tissue material, a single ply tissue product or a multi-ply tissue product according to any of the preceding claims, the non-wood tissue sheet ply or plies being produced by a structured tissue technique, such as TAD (through air drying), ATMOS, textured NTT, UCTAD, eTAD, QRT or primelintex.

64. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a portion or all of the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are never-dried non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers.

65. A single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising softwood cellulose pulp fibers, and wherein a portion or all of the softwood cellulose fibers are never-dried softwood cellulose pulp fibers.

66. A single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising hardwood cellulose pulp fibers, and wherein a portion or all of the hardwood cellulose fibers are never-dried hardwood cellulose pulp fibers.

67. A single-ply tissue product or a multi-ply tissue product according to any one of claims 15 to 66, which tissue product is for personal hygiene, such as toilet paper, hand towel, napkin, face towel, handkerchief, or which tissue product is a kitchen towel or industrial wipe.

Claims

1. A single ply tissue material having a basis weight of less than 40gsm and a GMT tensile strength of at least 60N/m, the single ply tissue material comprising a non-wood tissue sheet ply comprising non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of at least 10% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet ply.

2. The single ply tissue material of claim 1 wherein the tissue material has a GMT tensile strength of at least 70N/m.

3. The monolithic ply tissue material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tissue material has a GMT tensile strength of at least 80N/m.

4. The single ply tissue material of any one of the preceding claims having a basis weight of less than 30gsm.

5. The single ply tissue material of any one of the preceding claims having a basis weight of less than 25gsm.

6. A single ply tissue product consisting of a single ply tissue material according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A multi-ply tissue product comprising two or more plies, wherein each ply has an average basis weight of less than 40gsm and the multi-ply tissue product has a GMT tensile strength of at least 100N/m, wherein at least one ply is a non-wood tissue sheet ply comprising non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of at least 10% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet ply.

8. The multi-ply tissue product of claim 7 wherein the multi-ply tissue product has a GMT tensile strength of at least 120N/m.

9. The multi-ply tissue product of claim 7 or 8, wherein the multi-ply tissue product has a GMT tensile strength of at least 150N/m.

10. The multi-ply tissue product of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein at least 50% of the plies in the multi-ply tissue product are non-wood tissue sheet plies, each non-wood tissue sheet ply comprising non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of at least 10% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet ply.

11. The multi-ply tissue product of any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein all plies in the multi-ply tissue product are non-wood tissue sheet plies, each non-wood tissue sheet ply comprising non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of at least 10% by dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet ply.

12. The multi-ply tissue product according to any one of claims 7 to 11, comprising non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of at least 10% based on the dry weight of the multi-ply tissue product.

13. The multi-ply tissue product according to any one of claims 7 to 12, comprising non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of at least 15% based on the dry weight of the multi-ply tissue product.

14. The multi-ply tissue product according to any one of claims 7 to 13, comprising non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of at least 20% based on the dry weight of the multi-ply tissue product.

15. The multi-ply tissue product according to any one of claims 7 to 14, wherein the multi-ply tissue material or product comprises 2 to 5 plies.

16. The multi-ply tissue product of any one of claims 7-15, wherein each ply of the multi-ply product comprises the same amount of non-wood cellulose pulp fibers.

17. The multi-ply tissue product of any one of claims 7-15 wherein at least two plies comprise different amounts of non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers.

18. The multi-ply tissue product of any one of claims 7 to 17, wherein the at least one non-wood tissue sheet ply is an outer ply of the multi-ply tissue material.

19. The multi-ply tissue product of claim 18 wherein the multi-ply tissue material comprises at least two non-wood tissue sheet plies forming first and second outer plies of the multi-ply tissue product.

20. The multi-ply tissue product according to any one of claims 7 to 19, wherein the non-wood tissue sheet ply is formed from a single ply tissue material according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

21. The single-ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of claims 6 to 20, wherein the tissue product has an absorbency of at least 7 g/g.

22. The single-ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of claims 6 to 21, wherein the tissue product has an absorbency of at least 8 g/g.

23. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers contain at least 15% hemicellulose.

24. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers contain no more than 15% lignin.

25. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers have an average fiber length of less than 1700 μιη.

26. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers have an average fiber length of less than 1200 μιη.

27. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers have an average fiber length of less than 1000 μιη or less than 900 μιη.

28. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic fibers have a break length of greater than 3000m or greater than 5500 m.

29. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic fibers have a break length to average fiber length ratio of greater than 3.7.

30. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic fibers have a break length to average fiber length ratio of greater than 4.0.

31. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic fibers have a break length to average fiber length ratio of greater than 4.5, such as greater than 5, greater than 5.5, or greater than 6.5.

32. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are derived from members of the poaceae family, such as from wheat straw, rice straw, barley straw, oat straw, ryegrass, coastal largella, arundo donax, miscanthus, bamboo, bagasse and/or sorghum.

33. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are derived from members of the family cannabididae, such as cannabis and/or hops.

34. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are agricultural waste or byproducts, such as from the family gramineae and/or cannabis as exemplified above, including agricultural waste or byproducts from wheat straw, rice straw, barley straw, oat straw, ryegrass, bagasse, hemp or hops, and/or wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are derived from agricultural waste or byproducts, such as banana harvesting residues (belonging to the family musaceae), pineapple residues (belonging to the family pineapple), nut shell waste, agave residues, hop residues and/or corn stover.

35. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are derived from kenaf (belonging to malvaceae), switchgrass, succulent plants, alfalfa (belonging to leguminosae), flax straw (belonging to linolenaceae), palm fruit (oil palm family or arecaceae) and/or avocado (camphoraceae).

36. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood tissue sheet ply or plies comprise the non-wood cellulose pulp fibers in an amount of at least 15%.

37. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood tissue sheet ply or plies comprise the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount of at least 20% by dry weight.

38. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood tissue sheet ply or plies comprise the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount of less than 70% by dry weight.

39. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood tissue sheet ply or plies comprise the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers in an amount of less than 60% on a dry weight basis.

40. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood tissue sheet ply further comprises wood pulp fibers, such as hardwood cellulose pulp fibers and/or softwood cellulose pulp fibers.

41. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product, or multi-ply tissue product according to claim 40 wherein the non-wood tissue sheet ply comprises wood pulp fibers in an amount such that the wood pulp fibers plus the non-wood fibers comprise 100% dry weight of the non-wood tissue sheet ply.

42. A single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to claim 40 or 41 wherein the hardwood/softwood dry weight ratio of wood pulp fibers in the non-wood tissue sheet ply is less than 95/5.

43. A single ply tissue material, a single ply tissue product or a multi-ply tissue product according to any one of claims 40 to 42, wherein the non-wood tissue sheet ply has a hardwood/softwood dry weight ratio of wood pulp fibers of less than 90/10.

44. A single ply tissue material, a single ply tissue product or a multi-ply tissue product according to any one of claims 40 to 43, wherein the non-wood tissue sheet ply has a hardwood/softwood dry weight ratio of wood pulp fibers of less than 80/20.

45. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are present throughout the non-wood tissue sheet ply or plies.

46. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-wood tissue sheet ply or plies comprise two or more plies and at least one ply comprises non-wood fibers.

47. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, the non-wood tissue sheet ply or plies being produced by conventional wet-pressing (CWP) techniques.

48. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, which is produced by a structured tissue technique, such as TAD (through-air drying), ATMOS, NTT (texturing), UCTAD, QRT, eTAD or primelintex.

49. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a portion or all of the non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers are non-wood cellulosic pulp fibers that have never been dried.

50. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising softwood cellulose pulp fibers, and wherein a portion or all of the softwood cellulose fibers are never-dried softwood cellulose pulp fibers.

51. The single ply tissue material, single ply tissue product or multi-ply tissue product according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising hardwood cellulose pulp fibers, and wherein a portion or all of the hardwood cellulose fibers are never-dried hardwood cellulose pulp fibers.

52. A single-ply tissue product or a multi-ply tissue product according to any one of claims 6 to 51, which tissue product is for personal hygiene, such as toilet paper, hand towel, napkin, face towel, handkerchief, or which tissue product is a kitchen towel or industrial wipe.