EP4719761A1 - Creped hesperaloe tissue products - Google Patents
Creped hesperaloe tissue productsInfo
- Publication number
- EP4719761A1 EP4719761A1 EP24816510.2A EP24816510A EP4719761A1 EP 4719761 A1 EP4719761 A1 EP 4719761A1 EP 24816510 A EP24816510 A EP 24816510A EP 4719761 A1 EP4719761 A1 EP 4719761A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- tissue
- creped
- tissue product
- web
- hesperaloe
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
Classifications
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
- D21F—PAPER-MAKING MACHINES; METHODS OF PRODUCING PAPER THEREON
- D21F11/00—Processes for making continuous lengths of paper, or of cardboard, or of wet web for fibre board production, on paper-making machines
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
- D21H—PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D21H27/00—Special paper not otherwise provided for, e.g. made by multi-step processes
- D21H27/002—Tissue paper; Absorbent paper
- D21H27/004—Tissue paper; Absorbent paper characterised by specific parameters
- D21H27/005—Tissue paper; Absorbent paper characterised by specific parameters relating to physical or mechanical properties, e.g. tensile strength, stretch, softness
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES
- A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
- A47K10/16—Paper towels; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
- B31F—MECHANICAL WORKING OR DEFORMATION OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
- B31F1/00—Mechanical deformation without removing material, e.g. in combination with laminating
- B31F1/12—Crêping
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
- D21F—PAPER-MAKING MACHINES; METHODS OF PRODUCING PAPER THEREON
- D21F11/00—Processes for making continuous lengths of paper, or of cardboard, or of wet web for fibre board production, on paper-making machines
- D21F11/14—Making cellulose wadding, filter or blotting paper
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
- D21H—PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D21H11/00—Pulp or paper, comprising cellulose or lignocellulose fibres of natural origin only
- D21H11/12—Pulp from non-woody plants or crops, e.g. cotton, flax, straw, bagasse
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
- D21H—PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D21H25/00—After-treatment of paper not provided for in groups D21H17/00 - D21H23/00
- D21H25/08—Rearranging applied substances, e.g. metering, smoothing; Removing excess material
- D21H25/12—Rearranging applied substances, e.g. metering, smoothing; Removing excess material with an essentially cylindrical body, e.g. roll or rod
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
- D21H—PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D21H27/00—Special paper not otherwise provided for, e.g. made by multi-step processes
- D21H27/002—Tissue paper; Absorbent paper
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
- D21H—PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D21H27/00—Special paper not otherwise provided for, e.g. made by multi-step processes
- D21H27/30—Multi-ply
- D21H27/40—Multi-ply at least one of the sheets being non-planar, e.g. crêped
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
- B31F—MECHANICAL WORKING OR DEFORMATION OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
- B31F1/00—Mechanical deformation without removing material, e.g. in combination with laminating
- B31F1/12—Crêping
- B31F1/126—Crêping including making of the paper to be crêped
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Paper (AREA)
- Sanitary Thin Papers (AREA)
Abstract
Creped tissue products comprising non-wood fibers and more particularly high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers are disclosed. The creped tissue products preferably comprise at least about 5 percent, by weight of the product, hesperaloe pulp fiber and have relatively modest tensile strengths, such as a geometric mean tensile (GMT) ranging from about 700 to about 1,200 g/3". The tissue products have a high degree of softness, such as a TS7 value less than about 10.0 yet are highly durable, such as having a GM TEA greater than about 8.0 g•cm/cm2. The tissue products may be produced by blending hesperaloe pulp fibers with wood pulps fibers, wet forming a tissue web, drying the tissue web on a cylindrical dryer and creping the dried tissue web to remove it from the drier. The resulting creped tissue webs are particularly well suited for use as multiply facial tissue products and may consist of stacked sheets comprising multiple tissue plies.
Description
CREPED HESPERALOE TISSUE PRODUCTS BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Tissue products, such as facial tissues, paper towels, bath tissues, napkins, and other similar products, are designed to include several important properties. For example, the products should have good bulk, a soft feel, and should have good strength and durability. Unfortunately, however, when one of these properties is improved another is often adversely affected. The balance of physical properties desired in tissue products has typically been achieved using one or more wood fibers, often referred to as pulp or pulp fibers, which commonly include chemical pulps, such as kraft (sulphate) and sulfite pulps, as well as chemimechanical pulp (CMP) and chemi- thermomechanical pulp (CTMP). Chemical pulps are believed to impart a superior sensation of softness to tissue products made from these pulps. Wood pulps are commonly derived from both deciduous trees (referred to herein as "hardwood") and coniferous trees (herein referred to as "softwood"), which may be selected and incorporated into the tissue product based upon their physical attributes and the desired physical properties of the resulting tissue product. To achieve an optimal balance of tissue product properties, the products are often formed from a combination of chemical pulps derived from hardwood and softwood fibers. For example, to optimize surface softness, as is often the case with tissue products, the papermaker will select the fiber furnish based in part on the coarseness of pulp fibers. Pulps having fibers with low coarseness, such as chemical hardwood pulp fibers, are desirable because the tissue product may be softer compared to a comparable product made from fibers having a high coarseness. To optimize surface softness even further, layered structures may be used such that the low coarseness fibers are disposed in the outer layers, where they contact the user, while the inner layer consists of coarser fibers. Unfortunately, the need for softness is balanced by the need for durability. Durability in tissue products can be defined in terms of tensile strength, tensile energy absorption (TEA), burst strength and tear strength. Typically tear, burst and TEA will show a positive correlation with tensile strength while tensile strength, and thus durability, and softness are inversely related. Thus, the tissue maker is continuously challenged with the need to balance the need for softness with a need for durability. Long papermaking fibers may improve durability, but they may adversely affect softness. Northern softwood kraft (NSWK) fibers are long fiber of choice for tissue makers because of their ability to provide the best combination of durability and softness, particularly. While NSWK fibers are more coarseness than hardwood pulp fibers, their small cell wall thickness relative to lumen diameter combined with their long length makes them the ideal candidate for optimizing durability and softness in
tissue. Unfortunately supply of NSWK is under significant pressure both economically and environmentally. As such, prices of NSWK have escalated significantly creating a need to find alternatives to optimize softness and strength in tissue products. Alternatives, however, are limited. For example, Southern softwood kraft (SSWK) may only be used in limited amounts in the manufacture of tissue products because its high coarseness results in stiffer, harsher feeling products than NSWK. The pressures placed upon NSWK has led tissue makers to search for alternatives, particularly amongst non-wood fibers. For example, U.S. Pat. No.5,320,710 discloses the manufacture of tissue using hesperaloe pulp produced by a conventional kraft process. The tissue products, while having certain improved physical properties, were deficient, compared to those produced with NSWK, in terms of bulk, tensile and stiffness. Thus, the tissue products of the ‘710 patent were generally not suitable for use as premium bath tissue because the strengths and stiffness were excessively high. For example, when compared to Northern® Bathroom Tissue the products of the ‘710 patent had 300 percent greater tensile strength (measured as GMT) and nearly 250% greater stiffness (measured as GMT divided by Modulus). Some of these deficiencies of kraft hesperaloe pulp were overcome by pulping hesperaloe using high yield pulping processes. For example, U.S. Pat. No.10,337,149, disclose tissue products made with high yield hesperaloe pulp, but even then, balancing strength and softness proved difficult. High yield pulping processes where able to moderate the tensile strength of resulting tissue products but tensile still increased relative to products containing NSWK and the increase was not offset by large decrease in stiffness. As a result, substitution of NSWK with high yield hesperaloe pulp often had a negative effect on softness. The softness of tissue products containing hesperaloe pulps has also been hindered by the presence of non-fibrous debris, often in the form of epidermal cells. Hesperaloe plants have tough epidermal and hypodermal tissues that form non-fibrous debris in the resulting pulps. This debris does not readily bond to the fibers and is often deposited on the surface of the tissue where it can negatively affect softness, particularly in creped tissue products, which often have relatively flat, planar surfaces. Thus, there remains a need for tissue products, particularly creped tissue products, which substitute NSWK fibers with non-wood fibers, without negatively affecting strength and softness. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE The present inventors have successfully used non-wood pulps, particularly pulps produced from hesperaloe, to produce tissue products having softness, strength and bulk comparable or better than that achieved using conventional wood pulp. To produce the instant tissue products the inventors have successfully moderated the changes in strength and stiffness typically associated with substituting
conventional wood papermaking fibers, such as NSWK, with non-wood fibers. These changes have generally been achieved by a variety of means, including the use of hesperaloe pulps produced by high yield pulping processes, particularly processes involving mechanical separation of individual fibers and the reduction of fiber length without the addition of chemicals, such as caustic, and subsequent cleaning of the pulp to remove epidermal debris. The removal of epidermal debris makes the hesperaloe pulps particularly well suited to the manufacture of creped tissue products having a low degree of lint or slough. Accordingly, in certain instances, the present invention provides a creped tissue product having a Slough less than about 2.50 mg, such as less than about 2.25 mg, such as less than about 2.00 mg, such as less than about 1.75 mg, such as from about 1.00 to about 2.50 mg. The improved hesperaloe pulp also lends itself to the manufacture of tissue products having a modest degree of tensile strength, overcoming previous limitations of non-wood pulps which tended to develop an excessive amount of strength in-use. Accordingly, in certain instances the tissue products may comprise two or more creped tissue plies and have a geometric mean tensile (GMT) from about 700 g/3” to about 1,500 g/3”, such as from about 800 g/3” to about 1,200 g/3”. In addition to having a moderate degree of tensile strength, the tissue products may have a high degree of softness (measured using a Tissue Softness Analyzer as described in the Test Methods below) such as a TS7 value less than about 12.0. such as less than about 11.0, such as less than about 10.0, such as less than about 9.00, such as less than about 8.0, such as from about 7.00 to about 12.0 such as from about 7.00 to about 10.0. Surprisingly, the improvement in slough, strength and softness may be achieved by distributing the hesperaloe pulp fibers in multiple layers, or throughout the entire tissue ply or web. Thus, in certain instances, the present invention provides tissue products comprising at least one tissue web or ply comprising a blend of hesperaloe pulp fibers and wood pulp fibers. In this manner the tissue web or ply may be stratified, comprising multiple layers, and the hesperaloe pulp fiber may be disposed in multiple layers, or it may be unstratified and the hesperaloe pulp fibers may be distributed throughout the web or ply. Such unstratified structures may be referred to as homogenous blends of fiber furnish where the hesperaloe pulp fibers are disposed on at a first outer surface of the ply or web. Thus, in certain instances the present invention provides a provides tissue products comprising at least one tissue web or ply comprising a blend of hesperaloe pulp fibers and wood pulp fibers, where the fibers are blended such that at least a portion of the hesperaloe pulp fibers are present in the surface of the tissue product brought into contact with a user’s skin in-use. Despite having hesperaloe pulp fibers disposed in the outer surface, the inventive tissue products have a high degree of softness and
low slough. For example, in one instance, the invention provides a creped tissue product product comprising a blend of hesperaloe pulp fibers and wood pulp fibers, wherein the product has a TS7 less than about 10.0 and a Slough less than about 2.00 mg. In other instances, the present invention provides a multiply creped tissue product comprising hesperaloe pulp fibers and a non-olefin creping composition. The non-olefin crepig composition may be applied to at least a first outer surface of a tissue ply or web at relatively high levels of addition. For example, tissue webs according to the present invention may be produced by applying a non-fibrous olefin polymer to the Yankee dryer at high addition levels, preferably greater than about 50 mg/m2 (the add on rate of creping composition to the dryer, measured as dry mass (i.e., mg) per unit area of dryer surface (i.e., m2)). The non-fibrous olefin polymer may be transferred from the Yankee dryer surface to the tissue product during the creping process to yield a tissue product having low slough, such as a slough less than about 2.00 mg, and a high degree of softness, such as a TS7 less than about 10.0, such as less than about 9.0, such as less than about 8.0. In other instances, the creped tissue products may be manufactured by a conventional wet pressed process yet have a relatively low degree of stiffness, such as a Stiffness Index of about 14.0 ore less, such as about 13.0 or less, such as about 12.0 or less, such as from about 10.0 to about 14.0, such as from about 10.0 to about 12.0. In this manner the inventive tissue products have a relatively low degree of stiffness, which combined with a high degree degree of softness, provide the tissue products with a good handfeel. Surprisingly, the low levels of stiffness are achievable even when hesperaloe pulp fibers are present throughout the ply or web, rather than being selectively disposed in a single layer. In this manner hesperaloe pulp fibers may be present on the product surface, where they are brought into contact with a user’s skin, without stiffening the product. Furthermore, because the hesperaloe pulps preferably have a low degree of epidermal debris, the pulp fibers may be present along the outer surface without causing the surface to be overly rough or abrasive or causing an excessive amount of lint or slough. In still other aspects the present invention provides tissue products having relatively moderate amounts of long average fiber length kraft fibers, such as softwood kraft pulp fibers, or are substantially free from long average fiber length kraft fibers. For example, the tissue products may comprise less than about 10 wt%, based upon the total weight of the tissue product, softwood kraft pulp fibers. In other instances, the tissue products of the present invention may be substantially free from softwood kraft pulp fibers, particularly NSWK. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a blended tissue web.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a layered tissue web. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of one process for forming wet pressed, creped tissue webs for use in the present disclosure. DEFINITIONS As used in this application and in the claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a “yarn” includes aspects having two or more such yarns unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the specification and in the claims, the term “comprising” can include the aspects “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.” Additionally, the term “includes” means “comprises.” For the terms “for example,” “exemplary,” and “such as,” and grammatical equivalences thereof, the phrase “and without limitation” is understood to follow unless explicitly stated otherwise. Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another aspect includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another aspect. It should be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint and independently of the other endpoint. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another aspect. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint and independently of the other endpoint. Unless stated otherwise, the term “about” means within 5% (e.g., within 2% or 1%) of the particular value modified by the term “about.” Throughout this disclosure, various aspects of the disclosure can be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, a description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6, etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for
example, 1, 2, 2.7, 3, 4, 5, 5.3, 6 and any whole and partial increments therebetween. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range. As used herein the term “Basesheet” refers to a tissue web formed by any one of the papermaking processes described herein that has not been subjected to further processing, such as embossing, calendering, treatment with a binder or softening composition, perforating, plying, folding, or rolling into individual rolled products. As used herein the term “Tissue Product” refers to products made from basesheets and includes, bath tissues, facial tissues, paper towels, industrial wipers, foodservice wipers, napkins, medical pads, and other similar products. As used herein the term “Ply” refers to a discrete tissue web used to form a tissue product. Individual plies may be arranged in juxtaposition to each other. As used herein, the term “Layer” refers to a plurality of strata of fibers, chemical treatments, or the like, within a ply. The term “Layered Tissue Web” generally refers to a tissue web formed from two or more layers of aqueous papermaking furnish. In certain instances, the aqueous papermaking furnish forming two or more of the layers comprise different fiber types. As used herein the term “Basis Weight” generally refers to the bone-dry weight per unit area of a tissue and is generally expressed as grams per square meter (gsm). Basis weight is measured as described in the Test Methods section below. While the basis weights of tissue products prepared according to the present invention may vary, in certain instances the products may have a basis weight ranging from about 20 gsm to about 80 gsm, such as from about 20 gsm to about 50 gsm, such as from about 25 to about 40 gsm, including exemplary values of about 20 gsm, about 25 gsm, about 30 gsm, about 32 gsm, about 34 gsm, about 36 gsm, about 38 gsm, about 40 gsm, about 42 gsm, about 44 gsm. As used herein, the term “Caliper” refers to the thickness of a tissue product, web, sheet or ply, typically having units of microns (µm) and is measured as described in the Test Methods section below. As used herein, the term “Sheet Bulk” refers to the quotient of the caliper (µm) divided by the bone-dry basis weight (gsm). The resulting sheet bulk is expressed in cubic centimeters per gram (cc/g). Tissue products prepared according to the present invention may, in certain instances, have a sheet bulk greater than about 8.0 cc/g, more preferably greater than about 9.0 cc/g and still more preferably greater than about 10.0 cc/g, such as from about 8.0 to about 12.0 cc/g. As used herein, the term “Slope” refers to the slope of the line resulting from plotting tensile versus stretch and is an output of the MTS TestWorks™ in the course of determining the tensile strength as described in the Test Methods section herein. Slope is reported in the units of grams (g) per unit of
sample width (inches) and is measured as the gradient of the least-squares line fitted to the load- corrected strain points falling between a specimen-generated force of 70 to 157 grams (0.687 to 1.540 N) divided by the specimen width. As used herein, the term “Geometric Mean Slope” (GM Slope) generally refers to the square root of the product of machine direction slope and cross-machine direction slope. While the GM Slope may vary amongst tissue products prepared according to the present disclosure, in certain instances, may have a GM slope of less than or equal to about 12.0 kg. In other aspects, the GM slope can be about 11.0 kg or less, such as about 10.0 kg or less, such as about 9.0 kg or less, such as about 8.0 kg or less, such as from about 6.0 kg to about 12.0 kg, such as from about 7.0 kg to about 11.0 kg, such as from about 8.0 to about 10.0 kg. As used herein, the term “Geometric Mean Tensile” (GMT) refers to the square root of the product of the machine direction tensile strength and the cross-machine direction tensile strength of the web. The GMT of tissue products prepared according to the present invention may vary, however, in certain instances the GMT from about 500 g/3” to about 1,750 g/3”, such as from about 550 g/3” to about 1,250 g/3”, such as from about 600 to about 1,100 g/3”, such as about 500 g/3”, such as about 550 g/3”, such as about 600 g/3”, about 625 g/3”, about 650 g/3”, about 675 g/3”, about 700 g/3”, about 725 g/3”, about 750 g/3”, about 775 g/3”, about 800 g/3”, about 825 g/3”, about 850 g/3”, about 875 g/3”, about 900 g/3”, about 925 g/3”, about 950 g/3”, about 975 g/3”, about 1,000 g/3”, about 1,050 g/3”, about 1,100 g/3”, about 1,150 g/3”, about 1,200 g/3” and about 1,300 g/3”. As used herein, the term “Stiffness Index” refers to the quotient of the geometric mean tensile slope, defined as the square root of the product of the MD and CD slopes (having units of kg), divided by the geometric mean tensile strength (having units of grams per three inches). ^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ = ^ 1,000 ^^^ ^^/3"^ While the Stiffness Index of tissue products prepared according to the present disclosure may vary, in certain instances the Stiffness Index may be about of about 14.0 or less, such as about 13.0 or less, such as about 12.0 or less, such as from about 10.0 to about 14.0, such as from about 10.0 to about 12.0. As used herein, the term “TEA Index” refers the geometric mean tensile energy absorption (having units of g•cm/cm2) at a given geometric mean tensile strength (having units of grams per three inches) as defined by the equation:
^^ ^ ! ^g • cm/cm&^ ^ ! ^^^^^ = ^ 1000 ^^^ ^^/3"^ While the TEA Index prepared according to the present
disclosure have a TEA or greater, as 8.5 or greater, such about 9.0 or greater, such as about 9.5 or greater, such as about 10.0 or greater, such as about 10.5 or greater, such as about 11.0 or greater, such as from about 8.0 to about 12.0. As used herein, the term “Slough” generally refers to the undesirable sloughing off of bits of the tissue web when rubbed and is generally measured as described in the Test Methods section below. Slough is generally reported in terms of mass, such as milligrams (mg). While the Slough of inventive tissue products may vary, in certain instances tissue products prepared according to the present invention have a Slough less than about 3.00 mg and more preferably less than about 2.00 mg, such as from about 0.50 to about 3.00 mg, such as from about 0.50 to about 2.00 mg. As used herein, the term “TS7” generally refers to the softness of a tissue product surface measured using an EMTEC Tissue Softness Analyzer (“Emtec TSA”) (Emtec Electronic GmbH, Leipzig, Germany) interfaced with a computer running Emtec TSA software (version 3.19 or equivalent). The units of the TS7 value are dB V2 rms, however, TS7 values are often referred to herein without reference to units. Generally, the TS7 value is the magnitude of the peak occurring at a frequency between about 6 and 7 Hz, which is produced by vibration of the tissue membrane during the test procedure. Generally, a lower TS7 value is indicative of a softer tissue product. As used herein, the term “Fiber Length” refers to the length weighted average length (LWAFL) of fibers determined utilizing an OpTest Fiber Quality Analyzer-360 (OpTest Equipment, Inc., Hawkesbury, ON). The length weighted average length is determined in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and generally involves first accurately weighing a pulp sample (10-20 mg for hardwood, 25-50 mg for softwood) taken from a one-gram handsheet made from the pulp. The moisture content of the handsheet should be accurately known so that the actual amount of fiber in the sample is known. This weighed sample is then diluted to a known consistency (between about 2 and about 10 mg/l) and a known volume (usually 200 ml) of the diluted pulp is sampled. This 200 ml sample is further diluted to 600 ml and placed in the analyzer. The length-weighted average fiber length is defined as the sum of the product of the number of fibers measured and the length of each fiber squared divided by the sum of the product of the number of fibers measured and the length of the fiber. Fiber lengths are generally reported in millimeters. As used herein, the term “Coarseness” generally refers to the weight per unit length of fiber, commonly having units of mg/100 meters. Coarseness is measured according to ISO Coarseness
Testing Method 23713 utilizing an OpTest Fiber Quality Analyzer-360 (OpTest Equipment, Inc., Hawkesbury, ON). As used herein, the term "Very Long Fiber Fraction” generally refers to the percentage of fibers having a length (number average fiber length) greater than 6.0 mm and is generally determined using an OpTest Fiber Quality Analyzer-360 (OpTest Equipment, Inc., Hawkesbury, ON) as described in the Test Methods section below. As used herein, the term "Dispersivity Index” generally refers to the ratio of the length weighted average fiber length (Lw) to the number average fiber length (Ln). This ratio indicates the fiber length distribution of a given pulp. The length weighted average fiber length (Lw) to the number average fiber length (Ln) is generally determined using an OpTest Fiber Quality Analyzer- 360 (OpTest Equipment, Inc., Hawkesbury, ON) as described in the Test Methods section below. As used herein, the term “high yield hesperaloe pulp” refers to pulp derived from a plant of the genus Hesperaloe of the family Asparagaceae including, for example, H. funifera, H. parviflora, H. nocturna, H. chiangii, H. tenuifolia, H. engelmannii, and H. malacophylla using a a high yield pulping process, such as a pulping process having a yield greater than about 60%, such as greater than about 65%, such as greater than about 70%, such as greater than about 75%, such as greater than about 80%, such as greater than about 85%, such as greater than about 90%, such as from about 60 to about 95%, such as from 75 to about 95%. The foregoing yields generally refer to the yield of unbleached hesperaloe pulp fiber. As used herein, the term “Wet Pressed” generally refers to a tissue manufacturing process and tissue products made thereby where the partially dewatered tissue web is transferred to a felt and thereafter pressed onto the surface of a dryer while supported by the felt. Examples of wet pressed and modified wet pressed processes are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos.3,953,638, 5,324,575 and 6,080,279. As used herein, the term “substantially free” means less than 3 wt%, alternatively less than 2 wt%, alternatively less than 1 wt%, alternatively less than 0.5 wt%, alternatively less than 0.25 wt%, alternatively less than 0.1 wt%, alternatively less than 0.05 wt%, alternatively less than 0.01 wt%, and/or alternatively free of. As used herein, “free of” means 0 wt%. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISLOSURE The present inventors have now discovered that hesperaloe pulp fibers processed by high yield pulping means, such as mechanical pulping, may overcome the limitations of kraft hesperaloe pulp fibers when incorporated into tissue products such as bath tissues, facial tissues, paper towels, industrial wipers, foodservice wipers, napkins, medical pads, and the like. The inventors have discovered that mechanical pulping, particularly mechanical pulping without the addition of chemicals, yields a pulp
having a moderate fiber length, such as a fiber length of about 1.50 mm or greater, such as from about 1.50 to about 2.50 mm, yet a low degree of coarseness, such as less than about 10.0 mg/100m, such as from about 3.5 to about 10.0 mg/100 m. At the same time the pulp may have a moderate degree of tensile strength, such as a pulp Tensile Index of about 55 or less, such as from about 30 to about 55. Hesperaloe pulps having the foregoing properties are well suited to replace conventional wood pulps commonly used in the manufacture of tissue products, particularly softwood kraft fibers, without negatively affecting important tissue product properties such as durability, stiffness or softness. In fact, in certain instances important tissue product properties may be improved by substituting conventional wood pulp fibers with hesperaloe pulp fibers. For example, tissue products produced with high yield hesperaloe pulps have a high degree of softness, measured as TS7, and moderate degree of tensile strength. Generally, the hesperaloe pulp fibers useful in the present invention have a relatively long fiber length, such as a fiber length of about 1.50 mm or greater, such as about 1.55 mm or greater, such as about 1.60 mm or greater, such as about 1.65 mm or greater, such as about 1.70 mm or greater, such as about 1.75 mm or greater, such as from about 1.50 to about 2.50 mm, such as from about 1.55 to about 2.00 mm. The hesperaloe pulp fibers may also have a fiber coarseness less than about 10.0 mg/100m, such as less than about 8.0 mg/100m, such as less than about 6.0 mg/100m, such as from about 4.0 to about 10.0 mg/100 m, such as from about 4.0 mg/100 m to about 8.0 mg/100m. The hesperaloe pulps may also have a relatively modest degree of tensile strength, such as a Tensile Index of about 55 or less, such as about 50 or less, such as about 45 or less, such as about from about 30 to about 55, such as from about 35 to about 50, such as from about 35 to about 45. In other instances, the hesperaloe pulps may have a freeness, where a higher value is indicative of pulps that are more easily dewatered, of about 500 mL or greater, such as about 510 mL or greater, such as about 525 mL or greater, such as about 550 mL or greater, such as from about 500 mL to about 600 mL. In other instances, the hesperaloe pulps may have a moderate degree of tensile strength and a low degree of fibers having a fiber length greater than 6.0 mm, which can inhibit dispersion of the pulp in water and cause stringing or clumping when the pulp is used to manufacture wet-laid fibrous products. For example, the inventive pulps may have a Tensile Index of about 55 or less, such as about 50 or less and a Very Long Fiber fraction (VLF) of about 1.0% or less, such as about 0.75% or less, such as a about 0.50% or less, such as a VLF from about 0.05% to about 1.0%. a fiber length from about 1.50 to about 2.50. In addition to having reduced tensile strengths and relatively long fiber lengths.
In still other instances the hesperaloe pulps may have a high degree of brightness and/or low content of epidermis debris. Brightness and reduced debris are particularly important for pulps used in the manufacture of tissue products because of the need for a white, bright appearance and a low degree of linting. Accordingly, hesperaloe pulps useful in the present invention may have a Brightness of at least about 75%, more preferably at least about 78% and still more preferably at least about 80%. In other instances, the hesperaloe pulp may have a debris content of about 1.0 wt% or less, such as about 0.90 wt% or less, such as about 0.80 wt% or less, such as about 0.60 wt% or less. In certain instances, it may be desirable to remove substantially all of the debris from the pulp such that the pulp is substantially free from, or free from, debris. In certain preferred instances, the tissue products of the present invention are produced by a high yield pulping process High yield pulping processes useful for the manufacture of high yield hesperaloe pulps include, for example, mechanical pulp (MP), refiner mechanical pulp (RMP), pressurized refiner mechanical pulp (PRMP), thermomechanical pulp (TMP), high temperature TMP (HT-TMP), RTS-TMP, thermopulp, groundwood pulp (GW), stone groundwood pulp (SGW), pressure groundwood pulp (PGW), super pressure groundwood pulp (PGW-S), thermo groundwood pulp (TGW), thermo stone groundwood pulp (TSGW) or any modifications and combinations thereof. Preferably the high yield pulping process has a yield greater than about 60 percent, such as from about 60 to about 90 percent and more preferably from about 65 to about 90 percent. The foregoing yields generally refer to the yield of unbleached hesperaloe pulp fiber. In certain instances, high yield hesperaloe pulps may be prepared as described in mechanical pulping process where the hesperaloe biomass or bagasse is treated with an alkaline phosphate prior to or during mechanical refining, such as described in PCT Application No. PCT/US2021/058196, the contents of which are incorporated herein in a manner consistent with the present invention. In other instances, high yield hesperaloe pulps may be produced using a two-stage mechanical puling process where fibrillation of the hesperaloe biomass or bagasse is carried out in first mechanical pulping stage without the addition of chemicals, such alkaline peroxide chemicals, and/or other chemicals known in the art to bleach or otherwise process lignocellulosic material into pulp or precursors of pulp. Once the hesperaloe biomass or bagasse has been refined to a freeness of about 400 mL or greater, chemicals may be introduced, such as after a first mechanical pulping stage and prior to a second stage of mechanical refining. The foregoing process not only simplifies the pulping process and reduces costs, but it also improves pulp yields and the physical properties of the resulting pulp. For example, the foregoing process may be used to produce hesperaloe pulps at yields of about 80% or
greater, such as about 85% or greater, such as about 90% or greater, such as yields from about 80% to about 95%. In still other instances, high yield hesperaloe pulps may be produced without the addition of chemicals, such alkaline peroxide chemicals, and/or other chemicals known in the art to bleach or otherwise process lignocellulosic material into pulp or precursors of pulp during mechanical refining of the pulp. The hesperaloe pulp may be produced using a process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a hesperaloe biomass; (b) cutting the biomass to a nominal length; (c) extracting water soluble solids from the cut biomass to produce a bagasse; (d) mechanically refining the bagasse at a first consistency and at a pH ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 without the addition of chemicals to yield a refined bagasse; (e) mechanically refining the refined bagasse at a pH ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 without the addition of chemicals at a second consistency, wherein the second consistency is less than the first consistency, to yield a high yield hesperaloe pulp useful in the manufacture of tissue products of the present invention. While in certain instances caustic or an oxidizing agent may be introduced to the process to facilitate fiber separation by the mechanical forces, such addition may not be necessary and in certain instances may be undesirable. For example, in certain instances it be desirable to produce hesperaloe pulp without the addition of caustic to improve yield and moderate the tensile strength of the resulting pulp. Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that omitting the addition of caustic during mechanic treatment, particularly mechanical treatment carried out a low consistency, such as consistencies of about 10% or less, particularly from about 3% to about 5%. Although, in certain instances, a caustic or oxidizing agent may be added during processing, it is generally preferred that the hesperaloe pulp fiber is not pretreated with a sodium sulfite or the like prior to processing. For example, high yield hesperaloe pulps are generally prepared without pretreatment of the fiber with an aqueous solution of sodium sulfite, or the like, which is commonly employed in the manufacture of chemi-mechanical wood pulps. In addition to hesperaloe pulp fibers, the tissue products may include one or more papermaking fibers such fibers derived from recycling of wastepaper, cellulosic fibers such as cotton linters, rayon, lyocell and bagasse non-wood pulp fibers and wood pulp fibers. Applicable wood pulps include chemical pulps, such as Kraft, sulfite, and sulfate pulps, as well as mechanical pulps including, for example, groundwood, thermomechanical pulp and chemically modified thermomechanical pulp. Chemical pulps, however, may be preferred. Pulps derived from both deciduous trees (hereinafter, also referred to as “hardwood”) and coniferous trees (hereinafter, also referred to as “softwood”) may be utilized. Base tissue webs useful in the formation of tissue products of the present invention may be manufactured using any one of a number of well-known wet-laid papermaking processes that employ a
creping step to foreshorten the web, such as, for example, creped wet pressed, modified wet pressed, or creped through-air dried (CTAD). In certain instances, basesheet may be formed using either a wet pressed or a modified wet pressed process such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,953,638, 5,324,575 and 6,080,279, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in a manner consistent with the instant application. In these processes the embryonic tissue web is transferred to a Yankee dryer, which completes the drying process, and then creped from the Yankee surface using a doctor blade or other suitable device. In other instances, the tissue basesheet may be manufactured by a creped through-air dried process in which the embryonic web is noncompressively dried. Suitable creped through-air dried processes include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.10,240,296, the contents of which are incorporated herein in a manner consistent with the present disclosure. In still other instances the tissue basesheet may be manufactured by a process including the step of using pressure, vacuum, or air flow through the wet web (or a combination of these) to conform the wet web into a shaped fabric and subsequently drying the shaped sheet using a Yankee dryer, or series of steam heated dryers, or some other means. Exemplary tissue manufacturing processes include, for example, ATMOS process developed by Voith or the NTT process developed by Metso; or fabric creped tissue, made using a process including the step of transferring the wet web from a carrying surface (belt, fabric, felt, or roll) moving at one speed to a fabric moving at a slower speed (at least 5 percent slower) and subsequently drying the sheet. In one instance the manufacture of tissue basesheet comprising hesperaloe pulp fibers may be carried out using a twin wire former having a papermaking headbox that injects or deposits an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers, including hesperaloe pulp fibers, onto a plurality of forming fabrics, such as the outer forming fabric and the inner forming fabric, thereby forming a wet tissue web. The forming process of the present disclosure may be any conventional forming process known in the papermaking industry. Such formation processes include, but are not limited to, Fourdriniers, roof formers such as suction breast roll formers, and gap formers such as twin wire formers and crescent formers. Tissue webs made in accordance with the present disclosure can be made with a homogeneous fiber furnish or can be formed from a stratified fiber furnish producing layers within the single- or multiply tissue product. Homogeneous webs, also referred to herein as blended, may be prepared such that the various fiber furnishes are distributed throughout the web, as illustrated in FIG.1. As shown in FIG.1, the web 10 may comprise a first outer surface 11 and second outer surface 13, one or more of the outer surfaces 10, 13 may be brought into contact with the user’s skin during use depending upon how the
web 10 is converted into a finished product. The web 10 further comprises a blend of hesperaloe pulp fibers 22 and wood pulp fibers 24. The homogenous nature of the fiber furnish is such that the hesperaloe pulp fibers 22 form a portion of the first outer surface 11 and second outer surface 13. The inventive tissue products may also comprise a stratified web, which may be formed using equipment known in the art, such as a multi-layered headbox. Different fiber furnishes can be used in each layer in order to create a layer with the desired characteristics, however, it may be desirable to distribute the hesperaloe pulp fibers in two or more layers, particularly the layers forming the outer surfaces of the web. For example, as illustrated in FIG.2 the tissue web 10 may comprises a first outer surface 11 and second outer surface 13 and first and second outer layers, 12, 16 and a middle layer 14. The first outer layer 12 and a second outer layer 16 both contain hesperaloe pulp fibers 22 and wood pulp fibers 24. The middle layer 14 may also contain hesperaloe pulp fibers 22 and wood pulp fibers 24. When constructing a web from a stratified fiber furnish, the relative weight of each layer may vary. For example, in one instance, when constructing a web containing three layers, each layer can be from about 15 to about 40 percent of the total weight of the web, such as from about 25 to about 35 percent of the weight of the web. Hesperaloe pulp fibers 22 may comprise from about 5 wt% to about 50 wt% of the total weight of the web and may be disposed in the first and second outer layers or may be disposed in the each of the layers in an equal amount. Although in certain instances the papermaking fibers may be deposited in layers to provide a stratified web, the inventors have now discovered that layer is not necessary to produce tissue products having desirable properties. Accordingly, in certain instances, it may be preferable to deposit hesperaloe pulp fibers throughout the web. In those instances, where a stratified headbox is used to form the web, hesperaloe pulp fibers may be deposited in two or more, or all of, the layers. In other instances, the web may not be stratified and may simply consist of hesperaloe and wood pulp fibers, such as hardwood kraft pulp fibers, blended together. Thus, in certain instances the hesperaloe pulp fibers may be distributed throughout the web, including the outer surface of the web. An exemplary means of manufacturing a tissue web according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG.3. In the wet pressed creped tissue process of FIG.3, is a headbox 60 emits an aqueous suspension of fibers onto a forming fabric 62 which is supported and driven by a plurality of guide rolls 64. The wet tissue web forms on the inner forming fabric as the inner forming fabric revolves about a forming roll. The inner forming fabric serves to support and carry the newly formed wet tissue web downstream in the process as the wet tissue web is partially dewatered to a consistency of about 10 percent based on the dry weight of the fibers.
A vacuum box 66 is disposed beneath forming fabric 62 and is adapted to remove water from the fiber furnish to assist in forming a web. Additional dewatering of the wet tissue web may be carried out by known paper making techniques, such as vacuum suction boxes, while the inner forming fabric supports the wet tissue web. The wet tissue web may be additionally dewatered to a consistency of greater than 20 percent, more specifically between about 20 to about 40 percent, and more specifically about 20 to about 30 percent. From forming fabric 62, a formed web 68 is transferred to a second fabric 70, which may be either a wire or a felt. Fabric 70 is supported for movement around a continuous path by a plurality of guide rolls 72. Also included is a pick up roll 74 designed to facilitate transfer of web 68 from fabric 62 to fabric 70. From fabric 70, web 68, in this embodiment, is transferred to the surface of a rotatable heated dryer drum 76, such as a Yankee dryer. Preferably the formed web is dried by transfer to the surface of a rotatable heated dryer drum, such as a Yankee dryer. In accordance with the present disclosure, the creping composition may be applied topically to the tissue web while the web is traveling on the fabric or may be applied to the surface of the dryer drum for transfer onto one side of the tissue web. In this manner, the creping composition is used to adhere the tissue web to the dryer drum. In this embodiment, as the web is carried through a portion of the rotational path of the dryer surface, heat is imparted to the web causing most of the moisture contained within the web to be evaporated. The web is then removed from the dryer drum by a creping blade. Creping the web, as it is formed, further reduces internal bonding within the web and increases softness. Applying the creping composition to the web during creping, on the other hand, may increase the strength of the web. To achieve the desired creping efficiency and tissue product properties, tissue webs may be creped using a thermoplastic resin, such as the composition disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.7,807,023, which is incorporated herein in a manner consistent with the present disclosure. The thermoplastic resin may be contained, for instance, in an aqueous dispersion prior to application to the creping surface. In one particular embodiment, the creping composition may comprise a non-fibrous olefin polymer. The creping composition, for instance, may comprise a film-forming composition and the olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and at least one comonomer comprising an alkene, such as 1-octene. The creping composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a carboxylic acid. Examples of particular dispersing agents, for instance, include fatty acids, such as oleic acid or stearic acid. In one particular embodiment, the creping composition may contain an ethylene and octene copolymer in combination with an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer is not only a thermoplastic resin but may also serve as a dispersing agent. The ethylene and octene
copolymer may be present in combination with the ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer in a weight ratio of from about 1:10 to about 10:1, such as from about 2:3 to about 3:2. The olefin polymer composition may exhibit a crystallinity of less than about 50 percent, such as less than about 20 percent. The olefin polymer may also have a melt index of less than about 1000 g/10 min, such as less than about 700 g/10 min. The olefin polymer may also have a relatively small particle size, such as from about 0.05 micron to about 5 microns when contained in an aqueous dispersion. In an alternative embodiment, the creping composition may contain an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer may be present in the creping composition in combination with a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid. Once applied to a tissue web, it has been discovered that the creping composition may form a discontinuous film depending upon the amount applied to the web. In other embodiments, the creping composition may be applied to a web such that the creping composition forms discrete treated areas on the surface of the web. The creping compositions of the present disclosure are typically transferred to the web at high levels, such that at least about 30 percent of the creping composition applied to the Yankee is transferred to the web, more preferably at least about 45 percent is transferred and still more preferably at least about 60 percent is transferred. Generally, from about 45 to about 65 percent of the creping composition applied to the Yankee dryer is transferred to the web. Thus, the amount of creping additive transferred to the sheet is a function of the amount of creping additive applied to the Yankee dryer. The total amount of creping composition applied to each side of the web can be in the range of from about 0.1 to about 10 percent by weight, based upon the total weight of the web, such as from about 0.3 to about 5 percent by weight, such as from about 0.5 to about 3 percent by weight. To achieve the desired additive application levels the add on rate of creping composition to the dryer, measured as mass (i.e., mg) per unit area of dryer surface (i.e., m2), may range from about 50 to about 300 mg/m2, and still more preferably from about 100 to about 200 mg/m2. In certain instances, a layer or other portion of the web, including the entire web, can be provided with wet or dry strength agents. As used herein, “wet strength agents” are materials used to immobilize the bonds between fibers in the wet state. Any material that when added to a paper web or sheet at an effective level results in providing the sheet with a wet geometric tensile strength:dry geometric tensile strength ratio in excess of 0.1 will, for purposes of this invention, be termed a wet strength agent. Typically, these materials are termed either as permanent wet strength agents or as “temporary” wet
strength agents. For the purposes of differentiating permanent from temporary wet strength, permanent will be defined as those resins which, when incorporated into paper or tissue products, will provide a product that retains more than 50 percent of its original wet tensile strength after exposure to water for a period of at least five minutes. permanent wet strength agents are those which show less than 50 percent of their original wet strength after being saturated with water for five minutes. Both classes of material find application in the present invention. The amount of wet strength agent or dry strength added to the pulp fibers can be at least about 0.1 dry weight percent, more specifically about 0.2 dry weight percent or greater, and still more specifically from about 0.1 to about 3 dry weight percent, based on the dry weight of the fibers. Useful dry strength additives include carboxymethyl cellulose resins, starch-based resins, and mixtures thereof. Examples of preferred dry strength additives include naturally derived starches, carboxymethyl cellulose and cationic modified starches such as those commercially available under the tradename REDIBOND™ (Ingredion Inc., Westchester, IL, U.S.A.). Suitable temporary wet strength resins include, but are not limited to, polyacrylamide resins, particularly glyoxyalated polyacrylamide resins and still more particularly cationic glyoxyalated polyacrylamide resins. Suitable temporary wet strength resins are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.3,556,932 and 3,556,933. Useful temporary wet strength agents include those commercially available under the tradename FennoBond™ (Solenis LLC, Wilmington, DE, U.S.A). In certain instances, particularly in the manufacture of facial tissue and paper towels that may require to have a degree of tensile strength when wet, it may be preferable to manufacture the base web using a permanent wet strength agents. Permanent wet strength agents are also well known in the art and provide a product that will retain more than 50% of its original wet strength after exposure to water for a period of at least 5 minutes. Suitable permanent wet strength agents may include polyamide- epichlorohydrin, polyacrylamides, styrene-butadiene latices; insolubilized polyvinyl alcohol; urea- formaldehyde; polyethyleneimine; chitosan polymers and mixtures thereof can be added to the papermaking furnish or to the embryonic web. Suitable types of such resins are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.3,700,623 and 3,772,076. Particularly preferred permanent wet strength agents may be polyamide- epichlorohydrin resins, such as those available the tradename Kymene™ (Solenis LLC, Wilmington, DE, U.S.A). Although wet and dry strength agents as described above find particular advantage for use in connection with this invention, other types of bonding agents can also be used to provide the necessary wet resiliency. They can be applied at the wet end of the basesheet manufacturing process or applied by spraying or printing after the basesheet is formed or after it is dried.
In other instances, the web or one or more layers of a stratified web, may be formed without a substantial amount of inner fiber-to-fiber bond strength. In this regard, the fiber furnish may be treated with a chemical debonding agent. The debonding agent can be added to the fiber slurry during the pulping process or can be added directly into the headbox. Suitable debonding agents that may be used in the present invention include cationic debonding agents, particularly quaternary ammonium compounds, mixtures of quaternary ammonium compounds with polyhydroxy compounds, and modified polysiloxanes. Suitable cationic debonding agents include, for example, fatty dialkyl quaternary amine salts, mono fatty alkyl tertiary amine salts, primary amine salts, imidazoline quaternary salts, silicone quaternary salt and unsaturated fatty alkyl amine salts. Other suitable debonding agents are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,529,665, the contents of which are incorporated herein in a manner consistent with the present disclosure. Particularly preferred debonders may comprise an organic quaternary ammonium chloride and particularly a silicone-based amine salt of a quaternary ammonium chloride. Useful debonders are commercially available under the tradename ProSoft™ (commercially available from Solenis LLC, Wilmington, DE, U.S.A). The debonding agent can be added to the fiber slurry in an amount of from about 1.0 kg per metric tonne to about 15 kg per metric tonne of fibers present within the slurry. Particularly useful quaternary ammonium debonders include imidazoline quaternary ammonium debonders, such as oleyl-imidazoline quaternaries, dialkyl dimethyl quaternary debonders, ester quaternary debonders, diamidoamine quaternary debonders, and the like. The imidazoline-based debonding agent can be added in an amount of between 1.0 to about 10 kg per metric tonne. Tissue webs, prepared as described above, may be incorporated into tissue products comprising a single ply or multiple plies, such as two, three or four plies. The products may be subjected to further processing including, but not limited to, printing, embossing, calendering, slitting, folding, combining with other fibrous structures, and the like. The tissue webs may be converted into anyone of several tissue products particularly paper towels, napkins, industrial wipers, and the like. Once formed, the products may be packaged in different ways. For instance, in one embodiment, the sheet-like product may be cut into individual sheets and stacked prior to being placed into a package. Alternatively, the sheet-like product may be spirally wound. When spirally wound together, each individual sheet may be separated from an adjacent sheet by a line of weakness, such as a perforation line. Bath tissues and paper towels, for instance, are typically supplied to a consumer in a spirally wound configuration.
The instant multiply tissue product may be constructed from two or more plies that are manufactured using the same or different tissue making techniques. For example, the inventive tissue products may comprise two thorough-air dried tissue plies where each ply has a basis weight greater than about 20 gsm, such as from about 20 to about 50 gsm, such as from about 22 to about 30 gsm, where the plies have been attached to one another by a glue laminating embossing process which provides the tissue product with an embossing pattern on at least one of its outer surfaces. Regardless of how the basesheet is converted to tissue products, the products of the present invention generally comprise at least about 5 percent, such as at least about 10 percent, such as at least about 15 percent, such as at least about 20 percent, such as at least about 25 percent, such as at least about 30 percent, such as from about 5 to about 50 percent, such as from about 7.5 to about 45 percent, such as from about 10 to about 40 percent hesperaloe pulp fiber. Preferably the hesperaloe pulp is a high yield hesperaloe pulp and more preferably a high yield hesperaloe pulp having a low degree of pulp debris. As such, tissue products produced with hesperaloe pulp preferably have a low degree of lint or slough, such as a Slough less than about 3.00 mg, such as less than about 2.50 mg, such as less than about 2.00 mg, such as from about 0.50 mg to about 3.00 mg, such as from about 0.50 to about 2.50 mg, such as from about 0.50 to about 2.00 mg. The low degree of Slough may be accompanied by other improved surface properties, such as a TS7 value less than about 12.0. such as less than about 11.0, such as less than about 10.0, such as less than about 9.00, such as less than about 8.0, such as from about 7.00 to about 12.0 such as from about 7.00 to about 10.0. Hesperaloe pulp fiber may replace all or a portion of the long wood pulp fiber fraction of the papermaking furnish, such as NSWK or SSWK. Accordingly, in certain instances, the tissue products may comprise less than about 25 wt% NSWK or SSWK, such as less than about 15 wt% NSWK or SSWK, such as less than about 15 wt% NSWK or SSWK. In certain instances, hesperaloe pulp fiber may replace all of the long wood pulp fibers of the papermaking furnish such that the tissue product is substantially free from, and in certain instances free from, long wood pulp fibers such as NSWK or SSWK. In certain instances, the inventive tissue products may comprise two or more plies and have a GMT greater than about 600 g/3”, such as about 650 or greater, such as about 700 g/3” or greater, such as about 750 g/3” or greater, such about 800 g/3” or greater, such as about 850 g/3” or greater, such as about 900 g/3” or greater, such as about 1,000 g/3” or greater, such as about 1,100 g/3” or greater, such as from about 600 g/3” to about 1,750 g/3”, such as from about 750 g/3” to about 1,250 g/3”, such as from about 800 to about 1,100 g/3”.
In other instances the inventive tissue products may comprise two or more creped, wet pressed tissue plies and the multiply tissue product may have a basis weight of from about 20 gsm to about 80 gsm, such as from about 20 gsm to about 50 gsm, such as from about 25 to about 40 gsm, including exemplary values of about 20 gsm, about 25 gsm, about 30 gsm, about 32 gsm, about 34 gsm, about 36 gsm, about 38 gsm, about 40 gsm, about 42 gsm, about 44 gsm. In still other instances the inventive tissue products may comprise two or more creped, wet pressed tissue plies and the multiply tissue product may have a sheet bulk greater than about 8.0 cc/g, more preferably greater than about 9.0 cc/g and still more preferably greater than about 10.0 cc/g, such as from about 8.0 to about 12.0 cc/g. The tissue products of the present invention are generally soft and have a moderate degree of strength. As such, the tissue products may as a TS7 value less than about 12.0. such as less than about 11.0, such as less than about 10.0, such as less than about 9.00, such as less than about 8.0, such as from about 7.00 to about 12.0 such as from about 7.00 to about 10.0 and a GMT from about 600 g/3” to about 1,750 g/3”, such as from about 750 g/3” to about 1,250 g/3”, such as from about 800 to about 1,100 g/3”. Although the tissue products of the present invention are soft and have a modest degree of tensile strength, the products have a surprisingly high degree of durability. For example, the tissue products may have a TEA Index of about 8.0 or greater, such as about 8.5 or greater, such about 9.0 or greater, such as about 9.5 or greater, such as about 10.0 or greater, such as about 10.5 or greater, such as about 11.0 or greater, such as from about 8.0 to about 12.0. The foregoing Durability Index levels may be achieved despite the products having a modest degree of tensile strength, such as a GMT from about 600 g/3” to about 1,750 g/3”, such as from about 750 g/3” to about 1,250 g/3”, such as from about 800 to about 1,100 g/3”. In other instances, the tissue products have a Stiffness Index of about 14.0 or less, such as about 13.0 or less, such as about 12.0 or less, such as from about 10.0 to about 14.0, such as from about 10.0 to about 12.0. The foregoing Stiffness Index levels may be achieved despite the products having a modest degree of tensile strength, such as a GMT from about 600 g/3” to about 1,750 g/3”, such as from about 750 g/3” to about 1,250 g/3”, such as from about 800 to about 1,100 g/3”. TEST METHODS Fiber Properties Fiber properties such as length, coarseness, percentage of fines, and fraction of very long fiber, are generally determined using an OpTest Fiber Quality Analyzer-360 (OpTest Equipment, Inc.,
Hawkesbury, ON) in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Samples are generally prepared by first accurately weighing a pulp sample. The sample mass may range from about 10 to about 50 mg (bone dry) and may be taken from a handsheet or pulp sheet. The weighed sample is diluted to a known consistency (between about 2 and about 10 mg/l). An aliquot of the diluted sample (usually 200 ml) is further diluted to a final volume of 600 ml and placed in the analyzer. The sample is then analyzed according to the manufacturer’s instructions and the output of the analyzer, such as the length weighted average fiber length, coarseness, length weighted fines, and a histogram illustrating the distribution of various fiber properties for a given sample are recorded. Generally, each reported fiber property is the average of three replicates. The output of the fiber quality analyzer is used to calculate the Very Long Fiber (VFL) fraction, which is the sum of fiber count from 6 to 14.95 mm divided by the total fiber count. Generally, the bin data output by the instrument, which provides the number of individual fibers counted within a given fiber length range, is used to determine VLF. The total number of individual fibers counted (N) and the total number of individual fibers counted having a length of 6 mm or greater (n) are determined from the bin data. The %VLF = n/N*100. The output of the fiber quality analyzer is also used to calculate the ratio of the length weighted average fiber length (Lw) to the number average fiber length (Ln). Lw and Ln are calculated by the FQA software using the following equations: ∑ ' .// 0+1234 *+,+- ∑ .// 0+1234 *+,+ ( = ∑ .// 0+1234 *+,+ '* = ∑ *+ Where n and L are
a sample. The ratio of the length weighted average fiber length (Lw) to the number average fiber length (Ln) indicates the fiber length distribution of the sample. A higher ratio is indicative of a broader fiber length distribution. A value of 1 indicates that all of the fibers in the sample have the same length. Fiber coarseness is measured using the FQA instrument and is measured “as-is” without removal of fines. Consistency of the pulp sample is determined using TAPPI methods T-240 or the equivalent and the consistency (%) is recorded to the nearest 0.01%. Based upon the measured consistency, the amount of undried sample required to yield approximately 0.015 grams of oven dried pulp is calculated and weighed out and the weight recorded to the nearest 0.0001 g. The weighed undried pulp is transferred to a British pulp disintegrator or equivalent pulp disintegrator and the total volume of the sample is diluted to 2 liters with deionized water and disintegrated 15,000 revolutions according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The disintegrated sample is further diluted with deionized water to a total volume of 5 liters ± 50 mL and the volume is recorded to the nearest 10 mL. The diluted sample is
agitated by stirring and approximately 600 grams are weighted out into a clean beaker. The mass of the sample weighed out to the beaker is recorded to the nearest 0.1 g. The oven dried weight of the pulp sample to be analyzed is then calculated as shown in the equation below and fiber analysis is carried out according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 5. ^. ^7^^ ^^ 89^^ ^^^ :^^;^^^ 89^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^<= ^^ 9^^;^^^ ^7>^^^ ^%^ ^ ^7^^ ^^ ^7>^^^ ^^^
Basis weight of sample is measured by selecting twelve (12) products (also referred to as sheets) of the sample and making two (2) stacks of six (6) sheets. In the event the sample consists of perforated sheets of bath or towel tissue, the perforations must be aligned on the same side when stacking the usable units. A precision cutter is used to cut each stack into exactly 10.16 × 10.16 cm (4.0 × 4.0 inch) squares. The two stacks of cut squares are combined to make a basis weight pad of twelve (12) squares thick. The basis weight pad is then placed in the uncovered container and the container with sample is placed in a 105 ±2 °C oven for an hour. After an hour, the lid is placed on the container and the container is removed from the oven and allowed to cool to approximately room temperature. The covered container with sample is then weighed on a top loading balance with a minimum resolution of 0.01 grams. The top loading balance must be protected from air drafts and other disturbances using a draft shield. Weights are recorded when the readings on the top loading balance become constant. The weight of the container and lid are subtracted to determine the sample weight in grams. The mass of the sample (grams) per unit area (square meters) is calculated and reported as the basis weight, having units of grams per square meter (gsm). Caliper Caliper is measured in accordance with TAPPI test methods Test Method T 580 pm-12 “Thickness (caliper) of towel, tissue, napkin and facial products.” The micrometer used for carrying out caliper measurements is an Emveco 200-A Tissue Caliper Tester (Emveco, Inc., Newberg, OR). The micrometer has a load of 2 kilo-Pascals, a pressure foot area of 2,500 square millimeters, a pressure foot diameter of 56.42 millimeters, a dwell time of 3 seconds and a lowering rate of 0.8 millimeters per second.
Burst Strength (Wet or Dry) Burst Strength is measured using an EJA Burst Tester (series #50360, commercially available from Thwing-Albert Instrument Company, Philadelphia, PA). The test procedure is according to TAPPI T570 pm-00 except the test speed. The test specimen is clamped between two concentric rings whose inner diameter defines the circular area under test. A penetration assembly, the top of which is a smooth, spherical steel ball, is arranged perpendicular to and centered under the rings holding the test specimen. The penetration assembly is raised at 6 inches per minute such that the steel ball contacts and eventually penetrates the test specimen to the point of specimen rupture. The maximum force applied by the penetration assembly at the instant of specimen rupture is reported as the burst strength in grams force (gf) of the specimen. The penetration assembly consists of a spherical penetration member which is a stainless-steel ball with a diameter of 0.625 ± 0.002 inches (15.88 ± 0.05 mm) finished spherical to 0.00004 inches (0.001 mm). The spherical penetration member is permanently affixed to the end of a 0.375 ± 0.010 inch (9.525 ± 0.254 mm) solid steel rod. A 2000 gram load cell is used and 50 percent of the load range i.e., 0-1000 g is selected. The distance of travel of the probe is such that the upper most surface of the spherical ball reaches a distance of 1.375 inches (34.9 mm) above the plane of the sample clamped in the test. A means to secure the test specimen for testing consisting of upper and lower concentric rings of approximately 0.25 inches (6.4 mm) thick aluminum between which the sample is firmly held by pneumatic clamps operated under a filtered air source at 60 psi. The clamping rings are 3.50 ± 0.01 inches (88.9 ± 0.3 mm) in internal diameter and approximately 6.5 inches (165 mm) in outside diameter. The clamping surfaces of the clamping rings are coated with a commercial grade of neoprene approximately 0.0625 inches (1.6 mm) thick having a Shore hardness of 70-85 (A scale). The neoprene needs not cover the entire surface of the clamping ring but is coincident with the inner diameter, thus having an inner diameter of 3.50 ± 0.01 inches (88.9 ± 0.3 mm) and is 0.5 inches (12.7 mm) wide, thus having an external diameter of 4.5 ± 0.01 inches (114 ± 0.3 mm). For each test a total of 3 sheets of product are combined. The sheets are stacked on top of one another in a manner such that the machine direction of the sheets is aligned. Where samples comprise multiple plies, the plies are not separated for testing. In each instance the test sample comprises 3 sheets of product. For example, if the product is a 2-ply tissue product, 3 sheets of product, totaling 6 plies are tested. If the product is a single ply tissue product, then 3 sheets of product totaling 3 plies are tested. Samples are conditioned under TAPPI conditions for a minimum of four hours and cut into 127 × 127 ± 5 mm squares. For wet burst measurement, after conditioning the samples were wetted for
testing with 0.5 mL of deionized water dispensed with an automated pipette. The wet sample is tested immediately after insulting. The peak load (gf) and energy to peak (g-cm) are recorded and the process repeated for all remaining specimens. A minimum of five specimens are tested per sample and the peak load average of five tests is reported. Tear Tear testing was carried out in accordance with TAPPI test method T-414 “Internal Tearing Resistance of Paper (Elmendorf-type method)” using a falling pendulum instrument such as Lorentzen & Wettre Model SE 009. Tear strength is directional, and MD and CD tear are measured independently. More particularly, a rectangular test specimen of the sample to be tested is cut out of the tissue product or tissue base sheet such that the test specimen measures 63 ± 0.15 mm (2.5 ± 0.006 inches) in the direction to be tested (such as the MD or CD direction) and between 73 and 114 mm (2.9 and 4.6 inches) in the other direction. The specimen edges must be cut parallel and perpendicular to the testing direction (not skewed). Any suitable cutting device, capable of the prescribed precision and accuracy, can be used. The test specimen should be taken from areas of the sample that are free of folds, wrinkles, crimp lines, perforations or any other distortions that would make the test specimen abnormal from the rest of the material. The number of plies or sheets to test is determined based on the number of plies or sheets required for the test results to fall between 20 to 80 percent on the linear range scale of the tear tester and more preferably between 20 to 60 percent of the linear range scale of the tear tester. The sample preferably should be cut no closer than 6 mm (0.25 inch) from the edge of the material from which the specimens will be cut. When testing requires more than one sheet or ply the sheets are placed facing in the same direction. The test specimen is then placed between the clamps of the falling pendulum apparatus with the edge of the specimen aligned with the front edge of the clamp. The clamps are closed, and a 20-millimeter slit is cut into the leading edge of the specimen usually by a cutting knife attached to the instrument. For example, on the Lorentzen & Wettre Model SE 009 the slit is created by pushing down on the cutting knife lever until it reaches its stop. The slit should be clean with no tears or nicks as this slit will serve to start the tear during the subsequent test. The pendulum is released and the tear value, which is the force required to completely tear the test specimen, is recorded. The test is repeated a total of ten times for each sample and the average of the ten readings reported as the tear strength. Tear strength is reported in units of grams of force (gf).
The average tear value is the tear strength for the direction (MD or CD) tested. The “geometric mean tear strength” is the square root of the product of the average MD tear strength and the average CD tear strength. The Lorentzen & Wettre Model SE 009 has a setting for the number of plies tested. Some testers may need to have the reported tear strength multiplied by a factor to give a per ply tear strength. For base sheets intended to be multiple ply products, the tear results are reported as the tear of the multiple ply product and not the single ply base sheet. This is done by multiplying the single ply base sheet tear value by the number of plies in the finished product. Similarly, the tear strength of products comprising multiple plies is reported as the tear strength for the finished product sheet and not the individual plies. A variety of means can be used to calculate but in general will be done by inputting the number of sheets to be tested rather than the number of plies to be tested into the measuring device. For example, two sheets would be two 1-ply sheets for 1-ply product and two 2-ply sheets (4-plies) for 2-ply products. Wet and Dry Tensile Samples for tensile strength testing are prepared by cutting a 3 inches (76.2 mm) by 5 inches (127 mm) long strip in either the machine direction (MD) or cross-machine direction (CD) orientation using a JDC Precision Sample Cutter (Thwing-Albert Instrument Company, Philadelphia, PA, Model No. JDC 3-10, Ser. No.37333). The instrument used for measuring tensile strengths is an MTS Systems Sintech 11S, Serial No.6233. The data acquisition software is MTS TestWorksTM for Windows Ver.4 (MTS Systems Corp., Research Triangle Park, NC). The load cell is selected from either a 50 Newton or 100 Newton maximum, depending on the strength of the sample being tested, such that the majority of peak load values fall between 10 and 90 percent of the load cell’s full scale value. The gauge length between jaws is 4 ± 0.04 inches. The jaws are operated using pneumatic-action and are rubber coated. The minimum grip face width is 3 inches (76.2 mm), and the approximate height of a jaw is 0.5 inches (12.7 mm). The crosshead speed is 10 ± 0.4 inches/min (254 ± 1 mm/min), and the break sensitivity is set at 65 percent. The sample is placed in the jaws of the instrument, centered both vertically and horizontally. The test is then started and ends when the specimen breaks. The peak load is recorded as either the “MD tensile strength” or the “CD tensile strength” of the specimen depending on the sample being tested. Wet tensile strength was measured in the same manner as dry strength except that the samples were wetted prior to testing. Specifically, in order to wet the sample, a 3″×5″ tray was filled with distilled or deionized water at a temperature of approximately 23° C. The water is added to the tray to an approximate one-centimeter depth.
A 3M “Scotch-Brite” general purpose scrubbing pad is then cut to dimensions of 2.5″×4″. A piece of masking tape approximately 5″ long is placed along one of the 4″ edges of the pad. The masking tape is used to hold the scrubbing pad. The scrubbing pad is then placed into the water with the taped end facing up. The pad remains in the water at all times until testing is completed. The sample to be tested is placed on blotter paper that conforms to TAPPI T205. The scrubbing pad is removed from the water bath and tapped lightly three times on a screen associated with the wetting pan. The scrubbing pad is then gently placed on the sample parallel to the width of the sample in the approximate center. The scrubbing pad is held in place for approximately one second. The sample is then immediately put into the tensile tester and tested. To calculate the wet/dry tensile strength ratio, the wet tensile strength value was divided by the dry tensile strength value. All products were tested in their product forms without separating into individual plies. For example, a 2-ply product was tested as two plies and recorded as such. In the tensile properties of basesheets were measured, the number of plies used varied depending on the intended end use. For example, if the basesheet was intended to be used for 2-ply product, two plies of basesheet were combined and tested. At least six (6) representative specimens are tested for each product, taken “as is,” and the arithmetic average of all individual specimen tests is either the MD or CD tensile strength for the product. Tissue Softness Analyzer Softness was measured using an EMTEC Tissue Softness Analyzer (“TSA”) (Emtec Electronic GmbH, Leipzig, Germany), calibrated according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The TSA comprises a rotor with vertical blades which rotate on the tissue sample applying a defined contact pressure. The blades are pressed against the sample with a load of 100 mN and the rotational speed of the blades is two revolutions per second. Contact between the vertical blades and the tissue sample creates vibrations, which are sensed by a vibration sensor. The sensor then transmits a signal to a PC for processing and display. The signal is displayed as a frequency spectrum. The frequency analysis in the range of approximately 200 to 1000 Hz represents the surface smoothness or texture of the sample. A high amplitude peak occurring between 200 to 1000 Hz correlates to a rougher surface and is reported as the TS750 value, having units of dB V2 rms. A further peak in the frequency range between 6 and 7 kHZ represents the softness of the sample. The peak in the frequency range between 6 and 7 kHZ is herein referred to as the TS7 value and is expressed as dB V2 rms. A high amplitude peak correlates to less soft surface, while a low amplitude peak correlates a softer surface.
Tissue product samples were prepared by cutting a circular sample having a diameter of 112.8 mm. All samples were allowed to equilibrate at TAPPI conditions for at least 24 hours prior to completing the TSA testing. After conditioning each sample was tested as-is, i.e., multiply products were tested without separating the sample into individual plies. Samples are mounted into the instrument and the test is carried out according to the manufacturer's instructions. When complete, the TSA software displays values for TS7 and TS750. These values are recorded to the nearest 0.01 dB V2 rms. Once testing is complete, the sample is removed from the instrument and discarded. The test is performed on the top surface (outer facing surface of a rolled product) of five of the replicate samples, using a new sample for each test. The five test results are averaged and the average value is reported. EXAMPLE Hesperaloe pulp was produced by cutting the biomass to size and extracting water using a two- stage screw press. The two-stage screw press cut the biomass to a nominal size of about 6.5 and removed about 45 wt% of the water-soluble extractives. The extracted and cut biomass was washed by mixing with water, dewatered, and then diluted to a consistency of about 40%. The biomass was fed to an Andritz 36-1CP single disc refiner operating at a pressure of 30 psi, a temperature of about 130 °C, an average energy load 190 KW and a rotational disc speed of 1800 rpm. After high consistency refining the refined bagasse, which had a freeness of about 642 mL, was blown to a cyclone and discharged. Alkaline peroxide chemicals (4.3% hydrogen peroxide, 3.3% sodium hydroxide, 2.2% sodium silicate and 0.2% DTPA) were added at the blower to allow an approximately 30-minute retention time before low consistency refining. The diluted, refined bagasse was then fed to an Antritz TwinFlow IIIB refiner operating under atmospheric conditions and having a rotational disc refiner plate operating at 1,200 rpm. The fiber properties of the bleached pulp are summarized in Table 1, below. The pulping process had a yield of about 76%. TABLE 1 Fiber Length (mm) Coarseness Very Long Fiber Pulp Debris Brightness (%)
The hesperaloe pulp was prepared by dispersing the pulp in a pulper for 30 minutes at a consistency of about 3 percent. The fiber was then transferred to a machine chest and diluted to a
consistency of 1 percent. The hesperaloe pulp was further diluted to a consistency ranging from about 0.5% before being pumped to the headbox. Eucalyptus hardwood kraft (EHWK) pulp was placed into a pulper and disintegrated for 30 minutes at about 4% consistency. The EHWK pulp was then transferred to a dump chest and subsequently diluted to about 2% consistency. Next, the EHWK pulp slurry was diluted and pumped at about 1% consistency into a machine chest. The pulp slurry was subsequently diluted to about 0.1% consistency and pumped through the headbox. In all cases the base sheets were produced from EHWK pulp and HYH pulp. The furnishes were blended together before being pumped to stratified headbox, thus forming a blended tissue web. In certain instances, starch (FennoBond™ commercially available from Solenis LLC, Wilmington, DE, U.S.A).was added to the fiber furnish to control strength. A permenant wet strength agent (Kymene™ 920A, commercially available Solenis LLC, Wilmington, DE, U.S.A) was added as set forth in Table 2, below. TABLE 2 Sample EHWK (wt%) HYH (wt%) Starch Permanent Wet (kg/tonne) Strength Agent
acuum. The wet sheet, about 10-20% consistency, was transferred to a press felt or press fabric where it was further dewatered. The sheet was then transferred to a Yankee dryer through a nip via a pressure roll. The consistency of the wet sheet after the pressure roll nip (post-pressure roll consistency or PPRC) was approximately 40%. The wet sheet adhered to the Yankee dryer with a non-fibrous olefin dispersion. Spray booms situated underneath the Yankee dryer sprayed applied the non-fibrous olefin dispersion, (HYPOD 8510 commercially available from Dow Chemical Co., Midland, MI, U.S.A.) to the surface of the Yankee. The HYPOD 8510 was prepared at 30 percent solids and delivered at a total addition of about 200 mg/m2 spray coverage on the Yankee Dryer. The sheet was dried to about 95% consistency as it traveled on the Yankee dryer and to the creping blade. The creping blade subsequently scraped the tissue sheet off the Yankee dryer. The creped tissue base sheet was then wound onto a 3″ core into soft rolls for converting. Two rolls of the creped tissue were then rewound and plied together so that both creped sides were on the outside of the 2-ply structure. Mechanical crimping on the edges of the structure held the plies together. The plied
sheet was then slit on the edges to a standard width of approximately 8.5 inches and folded. The physical properties of the resulting tissue products are reported in Tables 3 and 4, below. TABLE 3 Sample Basis Weight GMT (g GM TEA GM Slope GM Tear Wet Burst (gsm) /3”) (g•cm/cm2) (kg) (gf) (gf)
Sample CD Wet:Dry Slough (mg) Tear Index Stiffness Index TS7 TS750 1 0286 166 1072 125 935 914 7 2
, , ail with respect to the specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be assessed as that of the appended claims and any equivalents thereto and the foregoing embodiments: In a first embodiment the present invention provides a creped, wet pressed tissue product comprising at least one creped, wet pressed tissue web comprising a blend of hesperaloe pulp fiber and wood pulp fibers, the product having a Slough less than about 3.00 mg, a TS7 value less than about 12.0, a GMT ranging from about 600 g/3” to about 1,200 g/3”, such as from about 700 to about 1,000 g/3”. In a second embodiment the present invention provides the tissue product of the first embodiment having a Stiffness Index of about 13.0 or less. In a third embodiment the present invention provides the tissue product of the first or the second embodiments having a Stiffness Index ranging from about 10.0 to about 13.0 and a GM TEA greater than about 8.0 g•cm/cm2. In a fourth embodiment the present invention provides the tissue product of any one of the first through the third embodiments having a basis weight from 30 to 45 gsm. In a fifth embodiment the present invention provides the tissue product of any one of the first through the fourth embodiments having a sheet bulk from about 8.0 to about 12.0 cc/g.
In a sixth embodiment the present invention provides the tissue product of any one of the first through the fifth embodiments having a GM Slope from about 8.0 kg to about 12.0 kg. In a seventh embodiment the present invention provides the tissue product of any one of the first through the sixth embodiments wherein the tissue product comprises from about 10% to about 50% high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers. In an eighth embodiment the present invention provides the tissue product of any one of the first through the seventh embodiments the tissue product has a TS7 value ranging from about 8.0 to about 10.0. In a ninth embodiment the present invention provides the tissue product of any one of the first through the eighth embodiments wherein the tissue has a CD Wet to Dry Ratio of about 0.30. In a tenth embodiment the present invention provides the tissue product of any one of the first through the ninth embodiments wherein the tissue product is substantially free from NSWK fibers. In an eleventh embodiment the present invention provides the tissue product of any one of the first through the tenth embodiments wherein the tissue product has a GMT from about 700 to about 900 g/3″ and a basis weight from about 30 to about 35 gsm. In a twelfth embodiment the present invention provides the tissue product of any one of the first through the eleventh wherein the tissue ply has first and second outer layers and a middle layer disposed therebetween, and wherein each of the first and second layers comprise hesperaloe pulp fibers. In a thirteenth embodiment the present invention provides the tissue product of any one of the first through the twelfth embodiments wherein at least one of the tissue plies comprise a first outer surface and the first outer surface comprises hesperaloe pulp fibers and wood pulp fibers and a non- fibrous olefin polymer disposed thereon. In a fourteenth embodiment the present invention provides the tissue product of any one of the first through the thirteenth wherein at least one of the tissue plies comprises a olefin polymer disposed thereon, the olefin polymer comprising an alpha-olefin interpolymer of ethylene and at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of a C4-20 linear, branched or cyclic diene, vinyl acetate, and a compound represented by the formula H2C═CHR, wherein R is a C1-20 linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group or a C6-20 aryl group, or the alpha-olefin polymer comprises a copolymer of propylene with at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of ethylene, a C4-20 linear, branched or cyclic diene, and a compound represented by the formula H2C═CHR, wherein R is a C1-20 linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group or a C6-20 aryl group.
In a fifteenth embodiment the present invention provides the tissue product of any one of the first through the fourteenth embodiments wherein at least one of the tissue plies comprises a olefin polymer and the olefin polymer is present on the tissue ply in an amount from about 0.1 to about 5 percent by weight of the ply.
Claims
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A creped, wet pressed tissue product comprising at least one creped, wet pressed tissue web comprising a blend of hesperaloe pulp fiber and wood pulp fibers, the product having a Slough less than about 3.00 mg, a TS7 value less than about 12.0, and a GMT ranging from about 600 g/3” to about 1,200 g/3”.
2. The creped, wet pressed tissue product of claim 1 having a Stiffness Index of about 13.0 or less.
3. The creped, wet pressed tissue product of claim 1 having a Stiffness Index ranging from about 10.0 to about 13.0 and a GM TEA greater than about 8.0 g•cm/cm2.
4. The creped, wet pressed tissue product of claim 1 having a basis weight from 30 to 45 gsm.
5. The creped, wet pressed tissue product of claim 1 having a sheet bulk from about 8.0 to about 12.0 cc/g.
6. The creped, wet pressed tissue product of claim 1 having a GM Slope from about 8.0 kg to about 12.0 kg.
7. The creped, wet pressed tissue product of claim 1 wherein the tissue product comprises from about 10% to about 50% high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers.
8. The creped, wet pressed tissue product of claim 1 having a TS7 value ranging from about 8.0 to about 10.0.
9. The creped, wet pressed tissue product of claim 1 having a CD Wet to Dry Ratio of about 0.30.
10. The creped, wet pressed tissue product of claim 1 wherein the tissue product is substantially free from NSWK fibers.
11. The creped, wet pressed tissue product of claim 1 wherein the tissue product has a GMT from about 700 to about 900 g/3″ and a basis weight from about 30 to about 35 gsm.
12. The creped, wet pressed tissue product of claim 1 wherein the tissue ply has first and second outer layers and a middle layer disposed therebetween, and wherein each of the first and second layers comprise hesperaloe pulp fibers.
13. The creped, wet pressed tissue product of claim 1 wherein at least one of the tissue plies comprise a first outer surface and the first outer surface comprises hesperaloe pulp fibers and wood pulp fibers and a non-fibrous olefin polymer disposed thereon.
14. The creped, wet pressed tissue product of claim 1 wherein at least one of the tissue plies comprises a olefin polymer disposed thereon, the olefin polymer comprising an alpha-olefin interpolymer of ethylene and at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of a C4-20 linear, branched or cyclic diene, vinyl acetate, and a compound represented by the formula H2C═CHR, wherein R is a C1-20 linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group or a C6-20 aryl group, or the alpha-olefin polymer comprises a copolymer of propylene with at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of ethylene, a C4-20 linear, branched or cyclic diene, and a compound represented by the formula H2C═CHR, wherein R is a C1-20 linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group or a C6-20 aryl group.
15. The creped, wet pressed tissue product of claim 1 wherein at least one of the tissue plies comprises a olefin polymer and the olefin polymer is present on the tissue ply in an amount from about 0.1 to about 5 percent by weight of the ply.
16. The creped, wet pressed tissue product of claim 1 wherein the tissue product comprises from about 10% to about 40% high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers.
17. A method of manufacturing a creped multiply tissue product comprising the steps of: a. dispersing high yield hesperaloe pulp fiber in water to form a first fiber slurry; b. dispersing wood pulp fibers in water to form a second fiber slurry; c. blending the first and the second fiber slurries together and depositing them on a moving belt to form a tissue web; d. transferring the tissue web to a felt; e. applying a non-fibrous olefin polymer to the surface of a rotating cylindrical dryer; f. pressing the tissue web against the surface of the rotating cylindrical dryer while supported by the felt; g. drying the tissue web to consistency from about 80 to about 99 percent solids; h. creping the dried tissue web from the dryer surface to yield a dried tissue web comprising at least 5%, by weight of the tissue web, high yield hesperlaoe pulp fibers; and i. plying two creped tissue webs together to form a creped multiply tissue product.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the creped multiply tissue product has a , the product having a Slough less than about 3.00 mg, a TS7 value less than about 12.0, a GMT ranging from about 600 g/3” to about 1,200 g/3”, such as from about 700 to about 1,000 g/3”.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein the high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers have been produced by mechanically refining hesperaloe biomass without the addition of chemicals and with a pulp yield of at least about 90%.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein the high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers have a Fiber Length of at least about 1.50 mm and Coarseness from about 3.5 to about 6.0 mg/100 m.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US202363469925P | 2023-05-31 | 2023-05-31 | |
| PCT/US2024/031872 WO2024249767A1 (en) | 2023-05-31 | 2024-05-31 | Creped hesperaloe tissue products |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP4719761A1 true EP4719761A1 (en) | 2026-04-08 |
Family
ID=93658490
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP24816510.2A Pending EP4719761A1 (en) | 2023-05-31 | 2024-05-31 | Creped hesperaloe tissue products |
| EP24816491.5A Pending EP4719760A1 (en) | 2023-05-31 | 2024-05-31 | Creped hesperaloe tissue products |
Family Applications After (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP24816491.5A Pending EP4719760A1 (en) | 2023-05-31 | 2024-05-31 | Creped hesperaloe tissue products |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (2) | EP4719761A1 (en) |
| KR (2) | KR20260020116A (en) |
| AU (2) | AU2024278931A1 (en) |
| MX (2) | MX2025014202A (en) |
| WO (2) | WO2024249740A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8071667B2 (en) * | 2005-06-02 | 2011-12-06 | Nalco Company | Compositions comprising (poly) alpha olefins |
| US10337148B2 (en) * | 2016-11-23 | 2019-07-02 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | Hesperaloe tissue having improved cross-machine direction properties |
| CA3181031A1 (en) * | 2021-11-04 | 2023-05-04 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Web material structuring belt, method for making and method for using |
-
2024
- 2024-05-31 AU AU2024278931A patent/AU2024278931A1/en active Pending
- 2024-05-31 EP EP24816510.2A patent/EP4719761A1/en active Pending
- 2024-05-31 WO PCT/US2024/031838 patent/WO2024249740A1/en not_active Ceased
- 2024-05-31 KR KR1020257041897A patent/KR20260020116A/en active Pending
- 2024-05-31 WO PCT/US2024/031872 patent/WO2024249767A1/en not_active Ceased
- 2024-05-31 EP EP24816491.5A patent/EP4719760A1/en active Pending
- 2024-05-31 AU AU2024283359A patent/AU2024283359A1/en active Pending
- 2024-05-31 KR KR1020257041896A patent/KR20260020115A/en active Pending
-
2025
- 2025-11-27 MX MX2025014202A patent/MX2025014202A/en unknown
- 2025-11-27 MX MX2025014200A patent/MX2025014200A/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| KR20260020116A (en) | 2026-02-10 |
| MX2025014200A (en) | 2026-01-07 |
| MX2025014202A (en) | 2026-01-07 |
| EP4719760A1 (en) | 2026-04-08 |
| WO2024249740A1 (en) | 2024-12-05 |
| WO2024249767A1 (en) | 2024-12-05 |
| AU2024283359A1 (en) | 2026-01-15 |
| AU2024278931A1 (en) | 2026-01-15 |
| KR20260020115A (en) | 2026-02-10 |
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