MXPA06007589A

MXPA06007589A - Splittable cloth like tissue webs

Info

Publication number: MXPA06007589A
Application number: MXPA/A/2006/007589A
Authority: MX
Inventors: D Lindsay Jeffrey; T Goulet Mike; Tirimacco Maurizio; A Hermans Michael; Hassman Mark; C Mohr Rebecca; J Johnson Jeffrey
Original assignee: Kimberlyclark Worldwide Inc
Priority date: 2003-12-31
Filing date: 2006-06-30
Publication date: 2006-12-13

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to paper products having great softness and strength. The paper products are formed from one or more paper webs that can be made according to various methods. In one embodiment, the paper web is an uncreped through-air dried web. According to the present invention, at least one side of the paper web is treated with a bonding material according to a preselected pattern and creped from a creping surface. Through the process, a two-sided tissue web is formed having a smooth side and a textured side. In one embodiment, tissue webs made according to the present invention may also be splittable, allowing the web to be pulled apart in two substantially continuous webs with distinctly different properties.

Description

TISSUE FABRICS OF TYPE OF PA OR DIVIDIBLE Background of the Invention Absorbent paper products such as paper towels, facial tissues and other similar products are designed to include several important properties. For example, the products should have good volume, a soft feel and should be highly absorbent. The product must also have good strength even while wet and must resist tearing. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to produce a high strength paper product that is also soft and highly absorbent. Usually, when steps are taken to increase a property of the product, other characteristics of the product are adversely affected. For example, the softness is typically increased by decreasing or reducing the fiber bond within the paper product. Inhibiting or reducing fiber bonding, however, adversely affects the strength of paper tissue.

A particular process that has been proven to be very successful in the production of paper towels and wipes is described in United States of America patent number 3,879,257 issued to Gentille et al., Which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In Gentille et al., A process is described in which a joining material is applied in a thin pattern, spaced on one side of a fibrous tissue. The fabric is then adhered to a creped surface heated and creped from the surface. A bonding material is applied to the opposite side of the fabric and the fabric is similarly creped. The process described in Gentille and others, produces cleaning cloth products that have exceptional volume, remarkable softness and good absorbency. The surface regions of the fabric also provide excellent strength, abrasion resistance, and dry cleaning cloth properties.

Even when the process and the products described in Gentille and others have provided many breakthroughs in the art of making cleaning paper products, further improvements in various aspects of cleaning paper products remain desired. For example, the products described above made in accordance with the Gentille and others document, are relatively expensive to produce not only from a material point of view but also from the amount of processing that is required to produce the product. A need now exists for a more economical tissue product having similar properties to a double-creped and double creped tissue product as described in Gentille et al. A need also exists for a tissue product that possesses properties and characteristics not present in the products described by Gentille et al.

Synthesis of the Invention In general, the present invention is directed to a method for producing tissue products and tissue products made of the method. The tissue products can be, for example, paper towels, industrial cleansing cloths, facial tissues, bath tissues, napkins and the like. The process includes the steps of providing a paper web containing the fibers for making paper. A bonding material is applied to at least one side of a fabric in a previously selected pattern. In some embodiments, a bonding material is applied only to a first side of the fabric, while in other embodiments, a bonding material is applied to the first side and the second opposite side of the fabric (either the same or different joining materials). they can be used on each side in the latter case). After application of the joining material to at least the first side of the fabric, the first side and only the first side of the fabric is then adhered to a creping and creping surface from the creping surface using a creping knife.

In one embodiment, a first joining material can be applied to the first side of the fabric in a previously selected pattern and a second joining material can be applied to a second and opposite side of the fabric in a prior selection pattern. The patterns can be the same or different. Also, the amount of bond material applied to each side of the fabric may vary. In this embodiment, however, only one side of the fabric is creped.

The tissues of tissue made in accordance with the present invention have been found to be capable of splitting as defined in the examples below. In particular, the tissue of tissue is capable of splitting into a first part and a second part. For example, the tissue of tissue is capable of splitting by an average match force of less than about 30 grams force (gf), of less than about 25 grams force (gf), of less than about 20 grams force ( gf), and in one embodiment, of less than about 12 grams force (gf). For example, the average match strength can be from about 5 grams force (gf) to about 30 grams force (gf). The tissue tissue capable of splitting can also have a peak match strength of less than about 40 grams force, such as less than about 35 grams force, such as less than about 30 grams force, such as less. about 25 grams strength, and in one embodiment, less than 20 grams strength. For example, the peak match strength can be from about 10 grams force to about 40 grams force.

When the tissue tissues made in accordance with the present invention are split, the first part and the second part can have a similar basis weight. For example, the basis weight between the first part and the second part may vary no more than about 20%, such as no more than about 10%. Alternatively, a part, such as the part that is in contact with a creping drum such as a Yankee dryer, can have a basis weight of more than 20% greater than that of the second part. Of particular advantage, the basis weight of each part can remain relatively uniform after the tissue is split. For example, the tissue of tissue may have a split basis weight uniformity index (as described in the examples below) of less than about 20%, such as less than about 10%, such as less than about of 5%, and, in one incorporation, of less than 3%. For example, the uniformity index of the split basis weight of the tissue fabrics made in accordance with the present invention may be from about 0.5% to about 15%. In an embodiment, the uniformity index of the split base weight of any of the split parts of a fabric is substantially the same as, and not more than about 30% greater than, or not more than 20% greater than, the index. of uniformity of the basis weight of the original tissue without splitting.

The tissue of tissue that is treated with the material to be joined and creped in accordance with the present invention can be any suitable fabric made in accordance with various processes. For example > The tissue can be a wet creped fabric, a calendered fabric, an etched fabric, an air-dried fabric continuously, an air-dried fabric continuously creped, a continuous air-dried fabric without creping , a fabric placed by air, and the like.

In a particular embodiment, however, the tissue comprises a highly textured fabric. When using a highly textured fabric, several other benefits and advantages can be realized.

For example, the tissue of tissue may be an air-dried fabric continuously without creping. After one side of the fabric is treated with a creping and creping material from a creping surface, the creped side of the fabric becomes relatively smooth. The opposite side of the fabric, however, maintains a textured feel and appearance. Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, in an embodiment, a tissue of tissue is produced having very different characteristics on each side of the fabric, with one side of the fabric being soft and one side of the fabric being textured. For example, in one embodiment, the first side or the creped side of the tissue may have a Surface Depth of less than about 0.15 millimeters, such as less than about 0.12 millimeters, or such less than about 0.1 mm. The second side or textured side of the tissue tissue, on the other hand, can have a dry Surface Depth of more than about 0.2 millimeters, such as more than about 0.25 millimeters, such as more than about 0.30 millimeters, or in an incorporation, still of more than around 0.33 millimeters.

Of particular advantage, the present inventors have also discovered that when the first side or the soft side of the tissue is moistened, the first side of the fabric becomes highly textured in a wet state. For example, after moistening and drying, the Depth of Surface of the first side of tissue tissue can be greater than about 0.2 millimeters, such as more than about 0.25 millimeters, and in one embodiment, more than about 0.3 millimeters.

In addition to having unique and desirable surface properties, tissue tissues made in accordance with the present invention also have fabric-like properties. For example, the tissue of tissue may have a drapery (as defined herein after) of less than about 1.5 seconds, such as less than about 1.3 seconds. When the drapery is normalized to a basis weight of 30 grams per square meter, tissue tissues made in accordance with the present invention can have a standardized drape of less than 1.5 seconds, such as less than about 1.3 seconds, and in one incorporation, of less than about 1.0 seconds. The drapery refers to the ability of the fabric to hang and bend under the influence of gravity. The materials with good hanging show little stiffness and feel more of the type of fabric than the more stiff paper tissues.

The tissue of tissue can have a basis weight from about 10 grams per square meter to about 120 grams per square meter, such as from about 35 grams per square meter to about 80 grams per square meter. The tissue of tissue may have a high volume and relatively low density. For example, the tissue tissue volume may be greater than about 8 cubic centimeters per gram, such as greater than about 10 cubic centimeters per gram, and in one embodiment, greater than about 11 cubic centimeters per gram. For example, in one embodiment, the volume can be from about 9 cubic centimeters per gram to about 12 cubic centimeters per gram.

In general, any suitable bonding material can be applied to the tissue of tissue in accordance with the present invention. The joining material can be, for example, an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer. The bonding material can be applied to one side of the tissue tissue in an amount from about 2% to about 10% based on the weight of the fabric. Depending on the desired result, as described above, the joining material can be applied only to one side of the fabric or to both sides of the fabric. In any case, only one side of the fabric is creped.

} Various patterns can be used to apply the material to bind tissue tissue. The pattern may comprise a grid or, alternatively, a succession of discrete shapes. Once applied to the tissue tissue, the joining material can cover from about 20% to about 80% of the surface area of one side of the fabric, such as in an amount greater than about 50% of the surface area.

When the tissue of the tissue comprises an air-dried fabric in a continuous, non-creped form, the fabric may include a cloth side that is placed against a dried cloth continuously during an air drying process in a continuous manner and one side opposed to air. The creped side of the fabric can be either the side to the fabric or the side to the air.

The process of the present invention is particularly well suited for producing tissue products from a single stratum. In other embodiments, however, multi-layer tissue products may be formed that contain one or more layers of tissue tissues made in accordance with the present invention. For example, the products may contain two, three, four, five or more layers.

By economy, the products of a single stratum or of two strata are advantageous. The various strata within any given product of multiple strata may be the same or different. By way of example, the various strata may contain different fibers, different chemistries, different base weights, or be made differently to impart different topography or pore structure. Different processes include continuous drying (creped or uncreped), placed by air and wet pressed, including modified wet pressing.

As used herein, the "wet modified press" refers to a wet placed tissue manufactured in which the tissue is pressed onto a drying drum such as a Yankee dryer in a bulky, relatively three dimensional state, as opposed to the completely flat dense state of the fabric on a traditional Yankee dryer before creping. Modified wet pressing typically means the use of a three dimensional fabric to add texture to a woven fabric as it is pressed onto a drying drum and can also mean the use of non-compressive dewatering means before the drum dryer to compensate for the decrease in the rate of drying that can occur due to the diminished contact area of the three-dimensional tissue on the drying drum. The apparatus and methods for making a modified wet pressed tissue are described in United States of America patent number 6,143,135 issued on November 7, 2000 to Hada et al .; U.S. Patent No. 6,096,169 issued August 1, 2000 to Hermans et al .; U.S. Patent No. 6,080,279 issued June 27, 2000 to Hada et al .; and U.S. Patent No. 6,318,727 issued November 20, 2001 to Hada et al., each of which is incorporated by reference.

Continuously dried wet-laid strata, such as continuously uncreped dried strata, have been found to be particularly advantageous because of their wet flexibility and three-dimensional topography.

The sheets may be perforated, cut, etched, laminated with adhesive means to similar or different layers, curled, punched, etc., and may comprise skin care additives, odor control agents, antimicrobials, perfumes, dyes, fillers. minerals, and the like.

The fibers used to form the sheets or strata useful for purposes of this invention may be substantially completely softwood kraft fibers or hardwood kraft or mixtures thereof. However, other fibers can also be used for part of the supply, such as sulfite pulp, mechanical pulp fibers, bleached chemo-thermomechanical pulp fibers (BCTMP), cross-linked pre-fibers, non-woody plant fibers, and the like. More specifically, by way of example, the fibers can be from about 50 to about 100 percent softwood kraft fibers, more specifically from about 60 to about 100 percent softwood kraft fibers, even more specifically from about 70 to about 100 percent softwood fiber kraft fibers, even more specifically from about 80 to about 100 percent softwood kraft fibers, and even more specifically from about 90 to about 100 percent softwood kraft fibers.

The tensile strengths of the products of this invention, which are expressed as the geometric average tensile strength, can be from about 500 grams per 3 inches wide to about 3000 grams or more per 3 inches wide depending on the intended use of the product. For paper towels, a preferred embodiment of this invention, the geometric average tensile strengths of about 1000-2000 grams per 3 inches is preferable. The ratio of the tensile strength in the machine direction to the tensile strength in the cross machine direction can vary from about 1: 1 to about 4: 1.

As used herein, the dry machine direction (MD) tensile strengths represent the peak load per sample width when a sample is pulled to break in the machine direction. In comparison, the dry machine direction (CD) traction resistors represent the peak load per sample width when a sample is pulled to break in the cross machine direction. Samples for testing tensile strength are prepared by cutting a strip 3 inches (76.2 millimeters) wide by 5 inches (127 millimeters) long in either machine direction orientation (MD) or in the cross machine direction (CD) using a JDC Precision Sample Cutter (from Thwing-Albert Instrument Company, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, model number JDC 3-10, series number 37333). The instrument used to measure the tensile strengths is an MTS Systems Sintech US, serial number 6233. The software for data acquisition is the MTS TestWorks® for Windows, version 3.10 (from MTS Systems Corp. of Research Triangle Park, Carolina from North) . The load cell is selected from either 50 Newton or 100 Newton maximum, depending on the resistance of the sample being tested, such that most peak load values fall between 10-90% of the full scale value of the load cell. The length of the caliber between the jaws is 4 + 0.4 inches (101.6 ± 1 mm). The jaws are operated using pneumatic action and are rubber coated. The minimum gripping face width is 3 inches (76.2 millimeters), and the approximate height of a jaw is 0.5 inches (12.7 millimeters). Crosshead speed is 10 + 0.4 inches per minute (254 + 1 millimeter per minute), and breakage sensitivity is set at 65%. The sample is placed in the jaws of the instrument, centered both vertically and horizontally. The test is then started and ends when the sample breaks. The peak load is recorded as either the "dry tensile strength in the machine direction (MD)" or the "dry tensile strength in the cross machine direction (CD)" of the sample depending on the sample being proven At least six representative samples are tested for each product and the arithmetic average of all individual sample tests is either tensile strength in the direction to the MD machine or in the direction transverse to the CD machine for the product.

Other features and aspects of the present invention are described in greater detail below.

Brief Description of the Drawings A complete and facilitative description of the present invention, including the best mode thereof for one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the specification, including references to the accompanying Figures in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a paper weaving machine illustrating the formation of a laminated paper fabric having multiple layers in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an incorporation of a process for forming uncreped continuous paper tissue for use in the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a process for applying a first bonding material to one side of the paper web, applying a second bonding material to an opposite side of the paper web and then creping a side of the web in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a process for applying a joining material to one side of a paper web and creping the web in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of an embodiment of a pattern that is used to apply bonding materials to paper fabrics made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 6 is another embodiment of a pattern that is used to apply bonding materials to paper tissues in accordance with the present invention; Figure 7 is a plan view of another alternative embodiment of a pattern that is used to apply bonding materials to paper tissues in accordance with the present invention; Figures 8-25 and 27-43 are graphs and photographs of depth depth analysis of the samples described in the examples; Y Figure 26 is a diagram illustrating the process by which the Depth of Surface is measured in accordance with the present invention.

The repeated use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings are intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.

Detailed description It should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broad aspects of the present invention, the broad aspects of which are incorporated in the exemplary construction.

In general, the present invention is directed to a process for producing paper cleaning cloth products having characteristics of great softness and strength. In particular, cleaning cloth products have high strength values when they are dry or wet. In addition, the products have good stretch characteristics and are resistant to tearing. The products also have an increased sheet gauge, and increased volume.

The process of the present invention generally involves first producing a tissue of tissue. For example, in one embodiment, the tissue tissue can be an airless, non-creped fabric that has been formed on a three dimensional surface in a manner that produces surface texture. A bonding material is applied to at least a first side of the base sheet or the tissue of the tissue in accordance with, for example, a prior selection pattern that includes treated areas and untreated areas. The first side of the tissue tissue is then adhered to a creping surface and creped from the surface. Through the above process, tissue tissues are produced that not only possess great softness and strength characteristics, but can be markedly capable of splitting, allowing tissue to be pulled into two substantially continuous tissues or parts - with distinctly different properties. For example, in one embodiment, the printed creped side of the fabric may be relatively flat, with a fabric-like texture and, in some cases, may have relatively higher wet strength due to the relative abundance of the bonding material that has been printed on it. the tissue. The opposite side can be an unprinted side and may have a topography more than three dimensions, have more roughness in its feel, and may have the ability to absorb liquids faster. Alternatively, the uncreped side of the fabric may also include a bonding material to increase wet strength. Applying a bonding material without creping the fabric, however, can help preserve the surface texture.

The term "capable of splitting" as used herein is defined in the examples below. Several tests can be used to analyze the ability to split a tissue tissue. For example, tissue capable of splitting tissue made in accordance with the present invention may have a mean breaking strength as defined in the examples below less than about 30 grams strength, less than about 25 grams strength, of less than about 20 grams force, less than about 15 grams force, and at some incorporation of less than about 12 grams force. For example, the average match strength of a tissue made in accordance with the present invention can be from about 5 grams strength to about 30 grams strength. The tissue tissue can also possess a match peak strength of less than about 40 grams force, from about 10 grams force to about 40 grams force. More particularly, the match peak force can be less than about 35 grams force, less than about 30 grams force, less than about 25 grams force, and in some embodiment, it can be less than about 20 grams. grams strength.

In one embodiment, the average match strength for a tissue made in accordance with the present invention can be standardized to a base sheet having a basis weight of about 40 grams per square meter. When the average strength of the match is normalized, the tissue tissues made in accordance with the present invention can have a normalized match strength of less than about 20 grams of force, of less than about 18 grams of force, of less than about 15 grams strength, less than about 12 grams strength, and in one embodiment, less than about 9 grams strength.

When the tissue tissues are split into two parts in accordance with the present invention, each part has a basis weight that is very similar to the basis weight of the other part. For example, the basis weight of a part may comprise from about 50% to about 60% of the basis weight of the tissue prior to departure. For example, the difference in the basis weight between the first part of the tissue capable of splitting and the second part may be no greater than about 20%, no greater than about 10%.

In addition to the above properties, it has been discovered that tissue tissues that are split according to the present invention include a first part and a second part each having a relatively uniform basis weight. Therefore, the tissues are split substantially along a plane running through the center of the fabric. For example, tissue tissue may have a split basis weight uniformity index (as defined in the examples below) of less than about 20%, less than about 10%, less than about 5%, and in an incorporation, of less than around 3%. The uniformity index of the base basis weight of the tissue tissues can be, for example, from about 0.5% to about 15%, from about 0.5% to about 5%.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the tissue of tissue treated with a bonding material according to the present invention comprises a highly textured fabric. When an initially highly textured fabric is used and subjected to a printed creping process, several other benefits and advantages are realized. For example, the tissue of tissue has opposite sides with very different characteristics. For example, the creped side of the tissue tissue is relatively smooth while the uncreped side of the tissue tissue remains highly textured. The properties of two sides of tissue tissue provide several advantages and benefits. For example, consumers can find different uses for each side of the fabric. For example, the untreated textured side of the fabric can serve as the surface that contacts liquids when cleaning spills and drying surfaces. The soft side of the fabric, on the other hand, can be better applied for use in polishing applications.

A technique used to measure the topographic characteristics of tissue tissue or surface texture is Moiré Interferometry. Moiré Interferometry, for example, can be used to measure the Depth of Surface which is a measurement of the height of the peaks relative to surrounding valleys in a representative part of the tissue of the tissue. The test for the Depth of Surface is described in detail in the examples that follow.

The tissue weaves made in accordance with the present invention, for example, can have a difference in the Depth of Surface between the first textured side of the woven fabric and the second soft side of the woven fabric of more than about 0.07 millimeter, more than about 0.1 millimeters. For example, in one embodiment, the difference in the Depth of Surface between both sides of the fabric in a dry state may be greater than about 0.15 millimeters.

For example, the textured side of the tissue made in accordance with the present invention can have a dry surface depth of more than about 0.2 millimeters, of more than about 0.25 millimeters, of more than about 0.30 millimeters, more around? '. 33 mm. In some embodiments, for example, the Surface Depth of the textured side of the fabric may be greater than about 0.34 millimeters. The soft side of the fabric, on the other hand, can have a dry surface depth of less than about 0.15 millimeters, of less than about 0.12 millimeters, of less than about 0.1 millimeter. For example, in one embodiment, the soft side of the tissue may have a dry Surface Depth of less than about 0.09 millimeters.

Of particular advantage, it has also been discovered by the present inventors that once the soft side of the tissue is moistened, the soft side becomes highly textured. In particular, for unknown reasons, when moistened, the relatively smooth printed creped side of the fabric may exhibit increased topography, gaining the original texture of the fabric. Conversely, previously produced tissue fabrics that have been creped printed on each side of the fabric may become relatively flat and less bulky when wetted, or exhibit any visible three-dimensional repeated pattern.

For example, the creped soft side of tissue tissues made in accordance with the present invention can have a Surface Depth when wetted and dried of more than about 0.2 millimeters, of more than about 0.25 millimeters, of more than about of 0.3 mm. In one embodiment, for example, the creped side of the fabric may exhibit a Surface Depth of more than about 0.32 millimeters when wetted.

In addition to exhibiting features on two sides of the surface, tissue tissues made in accordance with the present invention also have low stiffness, thus having fabric-like properties. A measure of stiffness, for example, is the hanging test which is described in detail in the examples that follow. The hanging test measures the ability of tissue tissue to bend freely and hang under the influence of gravity. Tissue tissues made in accordance with the present invention, for example, can have a drapery of less than about 1.5 seconds, less than about 1.3 seconds. When the drapery is normalized to the tissue of the tissue having a basis weight of 30 grams per square meter, the standardized draping of tissue tissues made in accordance with the present invention can also be less than about 1.5 seconds, less than about 1.3 seconds. For example, tissue tissues made in accordance with the present invention can have a standardized drapery of less than about 1.1 seconds.

Paper tissues according to the present invention can be made in different ways and can contain several different types of fibers. In general, however, the paper fabric contains papermaking fibers, such as soft wood fibers. In addition to the softwood fibers, the paper fabric may also contain hardwood fibers such as eucalyptus fibers and / or high production pulp fibers.

As used herein, "high production pulp fibers" are those papermaking fibers produced by pulping processes that provide a production of about 65 percent or more, more specifically about 75 percent or more, and even more specifically from around 75 to about 95 percent. Production is the resulting quantity of processed fiber expressed as a percentage of the initial mass of wood. Such pulping processes include bleached quimotermomechanical pulp (BCTMP), quimotermomechanical pulp (CTMP), pressure / pressure thermomechanical pulp (PTMP), thermomechanical pulp (TMP), thermomechanical chemical pulp (TMCP), high production sulfite pulps, and high production kraft pulp, all of which leave the resulting fibers with high levels of lignin. High production fibers are well known for their stiffness (in both dry and wet states) in relation to the typical fibers made chemically pulped. The cell wall of kraft and other fibers of non-high production tends to be more flexible due to the lignin, the "mortar" or "glue" on and in part of the wall of the cell, has been greatly removed. Lignin is also not able to swell in water and hydrophobic, and resists the softening effect of water on the fiber, maintaining the stiffness of the cell wall in high-production fibers moistened in relation to kraft fibers. Preferred high-production pulp fibers can also be characterized as being comprised of relatively undamaged, comparatively complete fibers, high freedom (250 Canadian Standard Freedom (CSF) or higher, more specifically 350 Canadian Standard Freedom (CFS) or higher, and even more specifically of 400 Canadian Standard Freedom (CFS) or higher), and of low fine content (less than 25 percent, more specifically less than 20 percent, still more specifically less than 15 percent, and even more specifically of less than 10 percent for the Britt jar test).

In one embodiment of the present invention, the paper fabric contains soft wood fibers in combination with high production pulp fibers, particularly bleached chemo-thermomechanical pulp fibers (BCTMP). Bleached chemo-thermomechanical pulp fibers (BCTMP) can be added to the fabric in order to increase the volume and gauge of the fabric, while also reducing the cost of the fabric.

The amount of high production pulp fibers present in the sheet may vary depending on the particular application. For example, high production pulp fibers may be present in an amount of about 2 percent by dry weight or greater, particularly about 15 percent by eco or higher weight, and more particularly from about 5 percent by weight. dry weight at about 40 percent by dry weight, based on the total weight of the fibers present within the fabric.

In one embodiment, the paper web can be formed of multiple layers of a fiber supply. The paper web can be produced, for example, from a stratified main box. Layered structures produced by any means known in the art are within the scope of the present invention, including those described in U.S. Patent No. 5,494,554 issued to Edwards et al., Which is incorporated herein by reference.

In one embodiment, for example, a layer or layered fabric is formed that contains high production pulp fibers in the center. Because high production pulp fibers are generally less smooth than other papermaking fibers, in some applications, it is advantageous to incorporate them into the middle of the paper tissue, such as being placed in the center of a sheet placed in three layers. . The outer layers of the sheet can then be made of soft wood fibers and / or hardwood fibers.

For example, in a particular embodiment of the present invention, the paper fabric contains outer layers made of soft wood fibers. Each outer layer may comprise from about 15% to about 40% by weight of the fabric and can particularly comprise about 25% by weight of the fabric. The middle layer, however, can comprise from about 40% to about 60% by weight of the fabric, and particularly about 50% by weight of the fabric. The middle layer may contain a mixture of softwood fibers and bleached chemo-thermo-mechanical pulp fibers (BCTMP). Bleached chemo-thermomechanical pulp fibers (BCTMP) may be present in the middle layer in an amount from about 40% to about 60% by weight of the middle layer, and particularly in an amount of about 505 by weight of the layer half.

The paper fabric of the present invention can also be formed without a substantial amount of fiber to inner fiber bond strength. In this regard, the fiber supply used to form the base fabric can be treated with a chemical binder agent. The debinding agent can be added to the fiber slurry during the pulping process or can be added directly to the main box. Suitable debinding agents which can be used in the present invention include cationic debinding agents such as fatty dialkyl quaternary amine salts, fatty mono alkyl tertiary amine salts, primary amine salts, imidazoline quaternary salts, silicon quaternary salt and amine salts unsaturated fatty alkyl. Other suitable debonding agents are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,529,665 issued to Kaun, which is incorporated herein by reference. In particular, Kaun discloses the use of cationic silicon compositions as de-agglutinating agents.

In one embodiment, the deagglutinating agent used in the process of the present invention is an organic quaternary ammonium chloride and particularly a silicon-based amine salt of a quaternary ammonium chloride. For example, the deagglutinating agent may be PROSOFT TQ1003, sold by Hercules Corporation. The debinding agent can be added to the fiber slurry in an amount from about 1 kilogram per metric ton to about 10 kilograms per metric ton of the fibers present within the slurry.

In an alternative embodiment, the de-binding agent may be an imidazoline-based agent. The imidazoline-based binder agent can be obtained, for example, from Witco Corp. The imidazoline-based binder agent can be added in an amount of between 2.0 to about 15 kilograms per metric ton.

In one embodiment, the debinding agent can be added to the fiber supply according to a process as described in the PCT application having an international publication number WO 99/34057 by Georger et al., Filed on December 17, 1998, or in the published PCT application having international publication number WO 00/66835 to Georger et al., filed on April 28, 2000, which are both incorporated herein by reference. In the above publications, a process is described in which a chemical additive, such as a debinding agent which is adsorbed on the fibers to make cellulose paper at high levels. The process includes the steps of treating a fiber slurry with an excess of chemical additive, allowing sufficient residence time for the adsorption to occur, filtering the slurry to remove chemical additives without adsorbing, and re-dispersing the filtered pulp with fresh water before of forming a non-woven weave.

In another embodiment, a layer or other part of the fabric, including the entire fabric, may be provided with wet or dry strength agents. For example, the side of the fabric that is creped can sometimes be liable to cause lint or detachment due to tissue disruption induced by creping. The tendency to release lint or dust in use can be reduced in some embodiments by adding suitable wet strength agents or dry strength agents to the supply, particularly in an outer layer of the supply. Some strength agents may include any wet strength resin known in the art of making paper such as KYMENE® resins (from Hercules, Inc., of Wilmington, Delaware) as well as dry strength aids such as starch, cationic starch, gums , anionic acrylamide copolymers, alum systems, various sized agents such as alkenylsuccinic anhydride (ASA) or alkyl ketone dimmers (AKD) or rosin dispersion size agents such as a Neutral Size Agent (NSA) from Georgia-Pacific Paper &; Pulp Chemicals (from Atlanta, Georgia), or retention aids such as HARMIDE resin from Harima Corp. (from Osaka, Japan). In a related embodiment, one side of the fabric before or after drying or before or after creping the fabric can be coated, sprayed, or printed with an aqueous solution or aqueous dispersion comprising a strength aid to increase the strength or resistance to the fluff on that side.

As used herein, "wet strength agents" are materials used to immobilize the bonds between the fibers in the wet state. Any material that when added to a tissue or sheet of paper at an effective level results in providing the sheet with a dry geometric tensile strength ratio: wet geometric tensile strength in excess of 0.1 will be, for the purposes of this invention , called a wet strength agent. Typically these materials are referred to as either permanent wet strength agents or as "temporary" wet strength agents. For the purposes of differentiating the permanent from the temporary in the wet resistance, the permanent will be defined as those resins that, when incorporated into the paper or tissue products, will provide a product that retains more than 50% of its original strength. Wet traction after exposure to water for a period of at least five minutes. Temporary wet strength agents are those that show less than 50% of their original wet strength after being saturated with water for five minutes. Both kinds of material find application in the present invention. The amount of wet strength or dry strength agent added to the pulp fibers can be at least about 0.1 percent by dry weight, more specifically about 0.2 percent by dry weight or greater, and even more specifically from about 0.1 to about 3 percent by dry weight, based on the dry weight of the fibers.

Suitable permanent wet strength agents are typically water-soluble cationic oligomeric or cationic resins, which are capable of either crosslinking themselves (homo-cross-linked) or with cellulose or other wood fiber constituent. The most widely used materials for this purpose are the class of polymer known as polyamide-polyamine-epichlorohydrin type resins. These materials have been described in the patents granted to Keim (U.S. Patent No. 3,700,623 and U.S. Patent No. 3,772,076) and sold by Hercules, Inc., located in Wilmington, Delaware, as KYMENE 557H polyamine-epichlorohydrin resins. Related materials are marketed by Henkel Chemical Co., located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Georgia-Pacific Resins, Inc., located in Atlanta, Georgia.

The psiamide-epichlorohydrin resins are also useful as binding resins in this invention. Materials developed by Monsanto and sold under the SANTO RES ™ label are activated base polyamide-epichlorohydrin resins that can be used in the present invention. These materials are described in the patents granted to Petrovich (U.S. Patent No. 3,885,158, U.S. Patent No. 3,899,388, U.S. Patent No. 4,129,528, and U.S. Patent Number 4,147,586) and van Eenam (U.S. Patent No. 4,222,921). Although not commonly used in consumer products, polyethyleneimine resins are also suitable for immobilizing the binding sites in the products of this invention. Another class of wet strength agents of the permanent type are exemplified by the aminoplast resins obtained by the reaction of formaldehyde with melamine or urea.

Suitable temporary wet strength resins include, but are not limited to, those resins that have been developed by American Cyanamid and marketed under the name of PAREZ ™ 631 NC, wet strength resins (now available from Cytec Industries, located in West Paterson, New Jersey). This and similar resins are described in the patent of the United States of America number 3, 556,932 granted to Coscia and others, and the United States of America patent number 3,556,933 granted to Williams and others. Other temporary wet strength agents that should find application in this invention include modified starches such as those available from National Starch and sold as CO BOND ™ 1000 modified starch. It is believed that these and related starches are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,675,394 issued to Solarek et al. Dialdehyde derivative starches can also provide temporary wet strength. Other temporary wet strength materials such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 4,981,557 are also expected.; U.S. Patent No. 5,008,344 and U.S. Patent No. 5,085,736, all issued to Bjorkquist, may be of use in this invention. With respect to the classes and types of wet strength resins listed, it should be understood that this listing is merely to provide examples and that this does not mean to exclude other types of wet strength resins, nor does it mean limiting the scope of this invention.

Although wet 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 flexibility. They can be applied at the wet end of the base sheet manufacturing process or applied by spraying or printing after the base sheet is formed or after drying.

In another embodiment, one or more portions of the tissue may contain agents per size to provide a degree of hydrophobicity. The agent by size may be applied to one or both sides of the fabric, either uniformly or in a pattern, and may be present in the supply for making paper or applied as an external treatment to the fabric, with application levels such as 0.1 kilogram per ton or more, or 0.3 kilogram per ton or more.

The aforementioned strength or size aids may be provided in the supply of the fabric or as a treatment to one or more sides of the fabric before printing with a joining material. In addition, strength or size aids may be provided in any, some or all layers of a multilayer fabric.

With reference to Figure 1, an embodiment of a device for forming a multilayer stratified pulp supply is illustrated. As shown, a three layer main box generally 10 includes a top main box wall 12 and a lower main box wall 14. The main box 10 further includes a first divider 16 and a second divider 18, which separate three layers of fiber of matter.

Each of the fiber layers comprises a dilute aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers. In one embodiment, for example, the middle layer 20 contains southern soft wood kraft fibers either alone or in combination with other fibers such as high production fibers. The outer layers 22 and 24, on the other hand, contain softwood fibers, such as softwood kraft from the north.

An endless displacement forming fabric 26, suitably supported and driven by rollers 28 and 30, receives the supply for making layered paper coming out of the main case 10. Once retained on the fabric 26, the fiber suspension in layers water passes through the fabric as shown by arrows 32. Water removal is achieved by combinations of gravity, centrifugal force, and vacuum suction depending on the formation configuration.

The formation of multilayer paper fabrics is also described and explained in U.S. Patent No. 5,129,988 issued to Farrington, Jr., which is incorporated herein by reference.

The basis weight of the paper tissues used in the process of the present invention may vary depending on the final product. For example, the process of the present invention can be used to produce facial tissues, bath tissues, paper towels, industrial cleansing wipes, and the like. For these products, the basis weight of the paper fabric can vary from about 10 grams per square meter to about 120 grams per square meter, and particularly from about 35 grams per square meter to about 80 grams per square meter. In a particular embodiment, it has been discovered that the present invention is particularly suitable for the production of cleaning cloth products having a basis weight from about 53 grams per square meter to about 63 grams per square meter.

As noted above, the manner in which the tissue paper is formed can also vary depending on the particular application. In general, paper tissue can be formed by any of a variety of papermaking processes known in the art. For example, the paper fabric may comprise an air dried fabric in continuous form such as a continuously dried fabric without creping. Other air dried fabrics in continuous form that can be used in the present invention include printed or densified fabrics by pattern. In another alternative embodiment, tissue tissue can be made in accordance with an air-forming process.

For example, with reference to Figure 2, a method for making continuously dried paper sheets that can be used in accordance with this invention is shown.

(For simplicity, the various tension rolls schematically used to define the various runs of the fabric are shown but not numbered It will be appreciated that variations of the apparatus and method illustrated in Figure 2 can be made without departing from the scope of the invention). A double wire former is shown having a main paper making box 34, such as a main layer placed in layers, which injects or deposits a jet 36 of an aqueous suspension of paper fibers into the forming fabric 38 placed on top. a forming roll 39. The forming fabric serves to support and carry the newly formed wet fabric downward in the process as the fabric is partially dewatered to a consistency of about 10 percent by dry weight. Additional dewatering of the wet fabric may be performed, such as by vacuum suction, while the wet fabric is supported by the forming fabric.

The wet fabric is then transferred from the forming fabric to a transfer fabric 40. In one embodiment, the transfer fabric can travel at a slower speed than the forming fabric in order to impart increased stretch in the fabric. This is commonly referred to as a "rushed transfer". Preferably the transfer fabric can have a vacuum volume that is equal to or less than that of the forming fabric. The relative speed difference between the two fabrics can be from 0-60 percent, more specifically from around 15-45 percent. The transfer is preferably performed with the assistance of a vacuum shoe 42 such that the forming fabric and the transfer fabric simultaneously converge and diverge at the leading edge of the vacuum slot.

The fabric is then transferred from the transfer fabric to the continuous drying fabric 44 with the aid of a vacuum transfer roller 46 or a vacuum transfer shoe, optionally again using a fixed aperture transfer as previously described. . The continuously dried fabric can travel at about the same speed or at different speeds relative to the transfer fabric. If desired, the drying fabric in continuous form can run at a slower speed for further improved stretching. The transfer can be done with a vacuum assist to ensure the deformation of the sheet to conform to the drying fabric continuously, thus producing the desired volume and texture. Suitable continuous drying fabrics are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,429,686 issued to Kai F. Chiu et al., And U.S. Pat. America number 5,672,248 granted to Wendt and others, which are incorporated by reference.

In one embodiment, the continuous drying fabric contains high and long print knuckles. For example, the continuous drying fabric can have about from about 5 to about 200 printing knuckles per square inch that are raised at least about 0.005 inches above the plane of the fabric. During drying, the fabric can be arranged macroscopically to conform to the surface of the drying fabric continuously and form a three dimensional textured surface.

The side of the fabric that contacts the drying fabric continuously is typically referred to as the "side to the fabric" of the paper fabric. The side to the fabric of the paper fabric, as described above, can have a shape that conforms to the surface of the drying fabric continuously after the fabric is dried in the dryer continuously. The opposite side of the tissue paper, on the other hand, is typically referred to as the "air side". The air side of the fabric may be softer than the side to the fabric during normal drying processes continuously.

The level of vacuum used for tissue transfers can be from about 3 to about 15 inches of mercury (75 to about 380 millimeters of mercury), preferably about 5 inches of mercury (125 millimeters). The vacuum shoe (negative pressure) can be supplemented or replaced by the use of positive pressure from the opposite side of the fabric to blow the fabric onto the next fabric in addition to or as replaced by the suction in the next fabric with vacuum. Also, a vacuum roller or rollers can be used to replace the shoe under vacuum.

While supported by the drying fabric continuously, the fabric is dried to a consistency of about 94 percent or greater by the dryer in a continuous form 48 and then transferred to a transfer fabric 50. The dried base sheet 52 is transported to the reel 54 using a transport fabric 50 and an optional transport fabric 56. An optional pressurized dump roller 58 can be used to facilitate the transfer of the fabric from the transport fabric 50 to the fabric 56. Suitable transport fabrics for this purpose they are Albany International 84M or 94M, and Asten 959 or 937, all of which are relatively soft fabrics that have a fine pattern. Even when not shown, a calender reel or subsequent calendering or off-line engraving may be used.

In one embodiment, the reel 54 shown in Figure 2 can run at a slower speed than the fabric 56 in a hasty transfer process to build up volume in the paper tissue 52. For example, the relative speed difference between the spool and the fabric can be from about 5% to about 25% and, particularly from about 12% to about 14%. The hasty transfer on the spool can occur either alone or in conjunction with an upward transfer process, such as between the forming fabric and the transfer fabric.

In one embodiment, the paper fabric 52 is a textured fabric that has been dried in a three dimensional state such that the hydrogen bonds joining the fibers were substantially formed while the fabric is not in a flat, planar state . For example, the fabric can be formed while the fabric is in a continuously highly textured continuous drying fabric or in another three dimensional substrate. Processes for producing fabrics continuously dried without creping are, for example, described in U.S. Patent No. 5,672,248 issued to Wendt et al .; U.S. Patent No. 5,656,132 issued to Farrington et al .; U.S. Patent No. 6,120,642 issued to Lindsay and Burazin; U.S. Patent No. 6,096,169 issued to Hermans et al .; U.S. Patent No. 6,197,154 issued to Chen et al .; and U.S. Patent No. 6,143,135 issued to Hada et al., all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Once the paper web is formed, a bonding material is applied to at least one side of the fabric and the treated side of the fabric is then creped. Referring to Figure 3, there is illustrated an embodiment of a system that can be used to apply the bonding materials to the tissue of paper and to crepe a side of the fabric. In the process shown in Figure 3, the bonding materials are applied to both sides of the tissue tissue. It should be understood, however, that in other embodiments, only one side of the tissue may be treated with the bonding material. The embodiment shown in Figure 3 may be in an online or offline process. As shown, the paper fabric 80 made according to the process illustrated in Figure 2 or according to a similar process, is passed through a first binding agent application station indicated generally with the number 82. The station 82 includes a pressure point formed by a smooth rubber press roll 84 and a rotogravure roller with pattern 86. The rotogravure roller 86 is in communication with the reservoir 88 containing a first bonding material 90. The rotogravure roller 86 applies the bonding material 90 to one side of the fabric 80 in a preselected pattern.

The fabric 80 is then brought into contact with a heated roller 92 after passing a roller 94. The heated roller 92 is for partially drying the fabric. The heated roller 92 can be heated to a temperature, for example, of up to about 250 ° Fahrenheit and particularly from about 180 ° Fahrenheit to about 220 ° Fahrenheit. In general, the fabric can be heated to a temperature sufficient to dry the fabric and evaporate any water.

It should be understood that in addition to the heated roller 92, any suitable heating device can be used to dry the fabric. For example, in an alternate embodiment, the tissue may be placed in communication with an infrared heater in order to dry the tissue. In addition to using a heated roller or an infrared heater, other heating devices may include, for example, any suitable convection oven or a microwave oven.

From the heated roller 92, the fabric 80 can be advanced by the pull-up rollers 96 to a second binding material application station generally indicated by the number 98. The station 98 includes a transfer roller 100 in contact with the roller rotogravure 102, which is in communication with a reservoir 104 containing a second bonding material 106. Similar to the station 82, the second bonding material 106 is applied to the opposite side of the fabric 80 in a preselected pattern. Once the second bonding material is applied, the fabric 80 is adhered to a creping roll 108 by a press roll 110. The fabric 80 is carried on the surface of the creping drum 108 for a distance and then removed from the same by the action of the creping blade 112. The creping blade 112 performs a creping operation with controlled pattern on the second side of the paper fabric.

Once creped, the paper fabric 80 in this embodiment is pulled through a drying station 114. The drying station 114 can include any form of a heating unit, such as an infrared heat-powered oven, energy microwave, hot air or similar. The drying station 114 may be necessary in some implications for drying the fabric and / or guring the bonding materials. Depending on the selected bonding materials, however, other drying station applications 114 may not be necessary.

The amount at which the paper fabric is heated within the drying station 114 may depend on the particular bonding materials used, the amount of bonding materials applied to the fabric, and the type of fabric used. In some applications for example, the tissue paper can be heated using a gas stream such as air at a temperature of about 510 ° Fahrenheit in order to cure the bonding materials.

Once passed through the drying station 114, the fabric 80 can be wound on a roll of material 116.

The bonding materials applied to each side of the paper fabric are selected to not only aid in the creping of the fabric but also to assist dry strength, wet strength, stretch, and tear resistance to tissue tissue. Particular binding materials that can be used in the present invention include latex compositions, such as carboxylated ethylene-vinyl acetate terpolymers, acrylates, vinyl acetates, vinyl chlorides and methacrylates. Some water-soluble binding materials can also be used including polyacrylamides, polyvinyl alcohols and cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethyl cellulose. Other bonding materials include styrene-butadiene copolymers, polyvinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl acetate acrylic copolymers, vinyl chloride-ethylene copolymers, ethylene-vinyl chloride-acetate copolymers, vinyl, acrylic polyvinyl chloride polymers, nitrile polymers and the like. Other examples of suitable latex polymers can be described in US Pat. No. 3,844,880 issued to Meisel, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In one embodiment, the binding materials used in the process of the present invention comprise an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer. In particular, the ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer can be entangled with N-methyl acrylamide groups using an acid catalyst. Suitable acidic catalysts include ammonium chloride, citric acid and maleic acid.

The bonding materials are applied to the base fabric as described above in a preselected pattern. In one embodiment, for example, the bonding materials can be applied to the weave in a lattice pattern, so that the pattern is interconnected forming a grid-like design on the surface.

In an alternate embodiment, however, the bonding materials are applied to the fabric in a pattern representing a succession of discrete shapes. The application of the bonding material in discrete forms such as dots, provides sufficient strength to the tissue without covering a substantial part of the surface area of the fabric.

According to the present invention, the bonding materials are applied to each side of the tissue tissue to cover from about 15% to about 75% of the surface area of the fabric. More particularly, in most applications, the bonding material will cover from about 20% to about 60% of the surface area of each side of the fabric. The total amount of bonding material applied to each side of the fabric may be in the range of from about 1% to about 25% by weight, such as from about 2% to about 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the fabric.

To the above quantities, the bonding materials can penetrate to the tissue of paper from about % to around 70% of the total thickness of the fabric. In many applications, the bonding material can penetrate from about 10% to about 15% of the thickness of the fabric.

Referring to Figure 5, there is shown an embodiment of a pattern that can be used to apply a binding material to a tissue of tissue according to the present invention. As illustrated, the pattern shown in Figure 5 represents a succession of discrete dots 120. In one embodiment, for example, the dots may be spaced such that they are approximately from about 25 to about 35 dots per inch. in the direction of the machine or in the direction transverse to the machine. The dots can have a diameter, for example, from about 0.01 inches to about 0.03 inches. In a particular embodiment, the dots may have a diameter of about 0.02 inches and may be present in the pattern so that approximately 28 dots per inch extend in either the machine direction or the cross machine direction. In this embodiment, the dots can cover from about 20% to about 30% of the surface area of one side of the paper fabric, and more particularly, they can cover about 25% of the surface area of the fabric.

In addition to the points, several other discrete forms may also be used. For example, as shown in Figure 7, a pattern is illustrated in which the pattern is made of discrete shapes that each comprise three elongated hexagons. In one embodiment, the hexagons may be about 0.02 inches long and may have a width of about 0.006 inches. Approximately 35 to 40 groups of hexagons per inch are shown which may be spaced in the machine direction and cross machine direction. When hexagons are used as shown in Figure 7, the pattern can cover from about 40% to about 60% of the surface area of one side of the fabric, and more particularly they can cover about 50% of the surface area of the tissue.

Referring to Figure 6, another embodiment of a pattern for applying a binding material to a paper web is shown. In this embodiment, the pattern is a reticulated grid, more specifically, the reticulated pattern is in the form of diamonds. When a cross-linked pattern was used it can provide more resistance to the fabric compared to the patterns that are made over a succession of discrete shapes.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention especially suitable for constructing the single-layer products, a first bonding material is applied to a paper weave according to the pattern shown in Figure 5. A second bonding material, on the other hand , is applied to a second side of the paper fabric according to the pattern illustrated in Figure 7. The second bonding material is applied to a larger amount of the surface area than the first bonding material. For example, the first bonding material may be applied according to the pattern shown in Figure 5 and may cover about 25% of the surface area of the first side of the fabric. The second bonding material, however, is applied according to the pattern shown in Figure 7 and covers approximately 50% of the surface area of the second side of the fabric. Through this process, a paper product is formed that has improved overall properties.

The process that is used to apply the binding materials to the paper web according to the present invention may vary, for example, various printing methods may be used to print the bonding materials on the base sheet depending on the particular application. . Such printing methods can include direct gravure printing using two separate photoetches for each side. Offset gravure printing using duplex printing (both sides are printed simultaneously) or station-to-station printing (consecutive printing on each side in one pass). In another embodiment, a combination of offset and direct gravure can be used. In yet another embodiment, flexographic printing using either duplex or station-to-station printing can also be used to apply the bonding materials.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, each side of the tissue 80 is treated with a binding material and only one side of the tissue is creped. This can be mentioned as a printing-printing-creping process. As described above, the application of the bonding materials to both sides of the fabric is optional. In an alternate embodiment, for example, only one side of the fabric is treated with a bonding material leaving an untreated side. Leaving aside the untreated tissue tissue can provide several benefits and advantages under some circumstances. For example, the untreated side can increase the ability of tissue tissue to absorb liquids faster. In addition, the untreated side may have a greater texture if the side were treated with a bonding material.

Referring to Figure 4, there is shown an embodiment of a process for applying a binding material to only one side of tissue tissue according to the present invention. The process illustrated in Figure 4 is similar to the process shown in Figure 3. In this aspect, the like reference numbers have been used to indicate similar elements.

As shown, a fabric 80 is advanced to a binding material application station generally indicated with the number 98. The station 98 includes a transfer roller 100 in contact with a rotogravure roller 102, which is in communication with a reservoir 104 containing the bonding material 106. In station 98, the bonding material 106 is applied to one side of the fabric 80 in a preselected pattern.

Once the bonding material is applied, the fabric 80 is adhered to a creping drum 108 by a press roll 110. The fabric 80 is carried on the surface of the creping drum 108 for a distance and then removed therefrom. by the action of the creping blade 112. The creping blade 112 performs a creping operation with controlled pattern on the treated side of the fabric.

From the creping drum 108, the paper fabric 80 is fed through a drying station 114 which dries and / or cures the bonding material 106. The fabric 80 is then wound onto a roll 116 for use in forming of tissue products.

When only one side of the paper fabric 80 is treated with the bonding material, in one embodiment, it may be desirable to apply the bonding material according to a pattern that covers more than about 40% of the surface area of one side of the tissue. For example, the pattern can cover from about 40% to about 60% of the surface area of one side of the fabric. In a particular example, for example, the bonding material can be applied according to the pattern shown in Figure 7.

According to the process of the present invention, numerous and different tissue products can be formed. For example, tissue products can be single layer cleaning products. The products can be, for example, facial tissues, toilet tissue, paper towels, napkins, industrial cleaning cloths and the like. As indicated above, the basis weight can vary anywhere from about 10 grams per square meter to about 120 grams per square meter. In a particular embodiment, the present invention is directed to the production of a single stratum paper towel product having a basis weight of from about 35 grams per square meter to about 80 grams per square meter.

The tissue products made according to the present invention can have a relatively high volume. These products made according to the present invention for example, can have a volume greater than 10 cubic centimeters per gram. For example, in one embodiment, the volume of the tissue products made according to the present invention may be greater than about 11 cubic centimeters per gram, such as more than about 12 cubic centimeters per gram.

In an alternative, tissue tissues made according to the present invention can be incorporated into multiple layer products. For example, in one embodiment, a tissue of tissue made according to the present invention can be attached to one or more tissues of tissue to form a cleaning product having the desired characteristics. The other fabrics laminated to the tissue of the present invention can be, for example, a wet-creped fabric, a calendered fabric, an etched fabric, a fabric dried through air, a fabric dried through air and creped, a fabric dried by non-creped air, a fabric placed by air and the like.

The present invention can be better understood with reference to the following examples.

EXAMPLES The following examples were completed in order to demonstrate the properties of tissue tissues made in accordance with the present invention. The following are several tests that were carried out on the samples.

Division Measurements The paper sheets of the present invention can be divided into two integral layers even when the base sheets before creping are single layer materials. Without wishing to be bound by a theory, it is believed that the division of the leaves is caused by a degree of internal delamination or internal fracture in the tissue during creping. This delamination or internal fracture can contribute not only to the good softness and fall, but also in some additions, to the volume and absorbency of the tissue through the creation of a pore space. Because it is expected that the strong latex bonded layer will have different mechanical properties on the opposite side of the fabric, the difference in mechanical properties during severe mechanical disruption of the creping can result in a degree of internal fracture that can allow the fabric to be Easily divided into two layers.

The division of the dried TAPPI-conditioned fabrics of the present invention can generally be easily manifested by fastening the adhesive tape (eg, SCOTCH® Magic ™ 810 tape, manufactured by 3M Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota) to the opposite surfaces of a part of the fabric along a cutting edge, and then gently separating the two pieces of tape. The two surfaces of the fabric tend to adhere to the tape and are pulled and separated. In particular, two pieces of a 0.5 inch wide SCOTCH® Magic ™ 810 tape, each cut to a length of about 1 inch, are passed coextensively over the opposite surfaces in a corner of a perforated paper towel of the present invention, with about 0.5 inch of the length of 1 inch being in contact with the sheet and the remainder of the length of the tape strips extending outwardly from the sheet, but restricted from adhesion to one another. The tape is pressed with the fingers on the paper with an applied force of about 1 pound applied to a fingertip, being careful not to join the two free ends of the tape that extend out from the corner (these are maintained separated) . The free ends are then grasped and slowly pulled and separated at a rate of approximately 0.5 inches per second to begin the separation. The separated parts are then grasped with hands and pulled and separated for complete separation of the two layers. The two separate layers have essentially the same flat dimensions as the original sheet. If the division can not be made in this way, the fabric can not be divided, according to the definition used here.

VIVA® paper towels, made by double recirculation processes are generally divisible. Surprisingly, the single layer textured air dried towels that are converted into the towels of the present invention by the latex printing on both sides followed by a single creping operation are also divisible, giving divided portions which are each surprisingly homogeneous For tissues that are divisible, a useful measure that belongs to the division is the force of division. As used herein, the "dividing force" is the average tensile force required to divide a 2-inch-wide section of a paper towel that is divided in the transverse direction of the fabric. The test is similar to the tests used to measure the peel strength in adhesives. The TAPPI conditioning fabric is cut in the transverse direction (parallel to the perforation lines between the sheets on a converted roll) to give a strip 2 inches wide to at least six inches long. Using the adhesive tape on the opposite sides at one end of the strip, the division is initiated and the strip is divided along a section of 2 inches long. The ends of the two divided parts are placed and centered on the pneumatically operated jaws of 1.5 inches wide opposite - in a universal test machine for the stress test, namely an MTS Alliance RT / l voltage tester (MTS Corporation , of Eden Prairie, Minnesota) running with a TestWorks® 4 Universal Test Software for Electromechanical Systems, also from MTS Corporation.

The tension test device was configured with an initial jaw extension of 2 inches (measuring length) and set at a crosshead speed of 2 inches per minute. A split layer was first placed on the upper jaw, and then the opposite split layer was placed on the lower jaw, so that the separation line (the region where the two divided parts meet in an undivided fabric) was approximately in the middle between the two jaws with the separation line being essentially horizontal. The tissue was loaded into the jaws so that the tension force was less than 3 grams strength (and typically essentially zero grams force) before the initiation of the test. The test was started, and as the crossarms moved and separated, a 100 N load cell was used to measure the tensile force required to further divide the tissue. The test is continued over at least two inches and, when possible, exactly four inches of crosshead movement. The average separation force measured is the Medium Division Force and the measured peak force is the Peak Divided Force.

The VIVA® paper towel had a Medium Division Strength of around 35 to 40 grams strength (gf) and a Peak Division Force of around 50 grams strength. In contrast, the towels of the present invention can be more easily divided and therefore have lower division force values, such as a Peak Division Force of less than about 40 grams force, specifically less than about 35 grams. strength, more specifically less than about 30 grams force, more specifically still less than about 25 grams force, and more specifically less than about 20 grams force, such as from about 10 grams force to about 40 grams force or from about 5 grams force to around 30 grams force. The towels of the present invention may have a Medium Division Force of less than about 30 grams of force, specifically less than about 25 grams of force, more specifically less than about 20 grams of force, more specifically still less than about 15 grams. force, and more specifically less than about 12 grams force such as from about 5 grams force to about 30 grams force from about 7 grams force to about 20 grams force.

The Average Division Force can be normalized in relation to a base weight of 40 grams per square meter by multiplying the Average Division Force by 40 grams force and dividing it by the base weight of the fabric in units of grams force to give a Force of Normalized Division. The average normalized Division Force can be less than about 20 grams force, specifically less than about 18 grams force, more specifically less than 15 grams force, more specifically still less than 12, and more specifically less than 9 grams. grams force, such as from about 4 grams force to about 18 grams force or from about 3 grams force to about 15 grams force.

One measure of the homogeneous nature of the divided fabrics of the present invention is the Divided Base Weight Uniformity Index. In this test, a sheet of TAPPI conditioned paper towel is divided into two layers as previously described. Each of the two layers is then cut into two-inch squares using a two-inch strip cutter such as a JDC Precision Sample Cutter (from Thwing Albert Company, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) to give at least 16 squares and , when possible, 20 squares. The 20 squares of a layer are each weighed individually on a digital balance having an accuracy of 0.0001 grams, and the standard deviation of the mass of the squares is determined. The standard division divided by the average mass of the squares, multiplied by 100%, is the Divided Base Weight Index for the particular measured layer. The tissue made according to the present invention may have a Divided Base Weight Uniformity Index of about 20% or less, specifically of about 10% or less, more specifically of about 5% or less, and more specifically of about 3% or less, such as from about 0.5% to about 15% or from about 0.5% to about 5%.

Topographic Evaluation Moiré interferometry can be applied to obtain various measurements of the topographic characteristics of the tissue made according to the present invention. A measure of the topography in a tissue is the Depth of Surface. As used herein, "Surface Depth" refers to the height characteristic of the peaks in relation to the surrounding valleys in a part of the tissue tissue. The characteristic elevation in relation to a baseline defined by the surrounding valleys is the Depth of Surface of a particular part of the structure that is being measured. Unless stated otherwise, Surface Depth measurements are taken for the characteristic profiles in the direction of the fabric machine, and should be measured along characteristic structures having the highest typical peak-to-valley heights.

A suitable method for the measurement of the Depth of Surface is the interferometry Moiré, which allows an exact measurement without the deformation of the surface of the tissue of tissue. The surface topography of the tissues of tissue must be measured using a Moiré interferometer-moved from light-white field controlled by computer with around a field of view of 38 millimeters. The principles of a useful implementation of such a system are described by Bieman et al. (L. Bieman, K. Harding, and A. Boehnlein, "Absolute Measurement Using Moiré Changed Field", Proceedings of the SPIE Optical Conference, Volume 1614, pages 259-264, 1991). A suitable commercial instrument for Moiré interferometry is the CADEYES® interferometer produced by Vision Integral (of Framington Hills, Michigan), built for a field of view of 38 millimeters (a field of vision within the range of 37 to 39.5 millimeters is adequate) . The CADEYES® system uses white light which is projected through a screen to project fine black lines onto the sample surface. The surface is seen through a similar grid, creating the Moiré stripes that are seen by the CCD camera. The appropriate lenses and the stepping motor adjust the optical configuration for the field change (a technique described below). A video processor sends the captured band images to a PC for processing, allowing the details of the surface height to be calculated back from the fringe patterns seen by the video camera.

In the Moiré CADEYES interferometry system, each pixel in the CCD video image is said to belong to a Moiré band or band that is associated with a particular height range. The field change method, as described in the aforementioned work by Bieman et al. And as originally patented by Boehnlein (U.S. Patent No. 5,069,548, incorporated herein by reference), is used to identify the number of fringes for each point in the video image (indicating to which fringe a point belongs). The number of strips is necessary to determine the absolute height of the midpoint in relation to the reference plane. A field change technique (sometimes called a phase change in the art) is also used for the sub-strip analysis (exact determination of the height of the measurement point within the range of height occupied by its fringe). These field change methods coupled with camera-based interferometry allow the accurate and rapid approach to the absolute height measurement, allowing the measurement to be made despite possible discontinuities of height on the surface. The technique allows an absolute height of each of the approximately 250,000 discrete points (pixels) on the sample surface that is obtained, if the appropriate optics, video hardware, data acquisition equipment and software are used which they incorporate the principles of Moiré interferometry with field change. Each measured point has a resolution of approximately 1.5 microns in its height measurement.

The computerized interferometry system is used to acquire topographic data and then generate a gray scale image of the topographic data, said image hereinafter called "the height map". The height map is displayed on a computer monitor, typically in 256 shades of gray and is quantitatively based on the topographic data obtained by the sample being measured. The resulting height map for the measurement area of 38 square millimeters should contain approximately 250,000 data points corresponding to approximately 500 pixels in both horizontal and vertical directions of the height map displayed. The pixel dimensions of the height map are based on a 512 x 512 CCD camera which provides images of moire patterns on the sample which can be analyzed by the computer software. Each pixel in the height map represents a height measurement at the location x and y corresponding on the sample. In the recommended system, each pixel has a width of approximately 70 microns, for example represents a region on the sample surface of about 70 microns long in both directions in orthogonal plane). This level of resolution prevents the single fibers projecting above the surface from having a significant effect on the measurement of the surface height. The height measurement in the z-direction should have a nominal accuracy of less than 2 microns and a range in the z-direction of at least 1.5 millimeters. (For an additional background on the measurement method, see the CADEYES Product Guide, Integral Vision, of Farmington Hills, Michigan 1994, or the CADEYES manuals and publications of Vision Integral, formerly known as Medar, Inc.).

The CADEYES system can measure up to 8 moiré bands, with each strip being divided into 256 depth counts (sub-strip height increases, the smallest resolvable height difference). There will be 2048 tall counts over the measurement range. This determines the range in the total z-direction, which is approximately 3 millimeters in the 38 millimeter field of view instrument. If the variation of height in the field of vision covers more than eight strips, a wrap around effect occurs, in which the ninth stripe is marked as if it were the first strip and the tenth stripe is marked as the second, etc. In other words, the measured height can be changed by 2048 depth counts. The exact measurement is limited to the main field of 8 stripes.

The Moiré interferometry system, once installed and calibrated at the factory to provide the range of accuracy and z-direction stated above, can provide accurate topographic data for materials such as paper towels. (Those skilled in the art can confirm the accuracy of the factory calibration by carrying out measurements on surfaces with known dimensions). The tests are carried out in a room under Tappi conditions (23 ° Centigrade, 50% relative humidity). The sample must be placed flat on a surface that is aligned or almost aligned with the measuring plane of the instrument and should be at such a height that both lower and higher regions of interest are within the measurement region of the instrument.

Once properly placed, data acquisition is initiated using Integral Visions PC software and a height map of 250,000 data points is acquired and typically displayed within 30 seconds of when the time data acquisition was initiated. (Using the CADEYES® system, the "contrast threshold level" for noise rejection is set to 1, providing some rejection of noise without excessive rejection of data points). Data reduction and display are achieved using CADEYES® software for PC which incorporates a customized interconnection based on a Microsoft Visual Basic Professional for Windows (version 3.0). The Visual Basic interconnection allows users to add custom analysis tools.

The height map of the topographic data can then be used by those skilled in the art to determine the peak depth depth characteristics of the individual structures or of the Depth of Surface.

For the purposes of the present determinations, the engraved regions and perforations should be generally avoided, and the tissue should be kept flat. To facilitate holding the fabric in a flat state, the fabric resting on a stable and flat surface, should be restrained with a metal weight such as an aluminum plate about 2 centimeters thick having a central opening of 50 square centimeters to through which measurements of moiré interferometry of the tissue in the open area can be made. Profile lines showing the topography along a line on the surface of the tissue in the measured area should be taken in areas free of perforations or etched marks, focusing instead on characteristic structures that define the texture of the tissue before conversion operations such as engraving and perforation. The profiles can then be analyzed for the peak-to-valley distance. To eliminate the effect of occasional optical noise and possible outer layers, the height of 10% and the lowest 10% of the profile must be excluded and the height range of the remaining points is taken as the Depth of Surface. Technically, the procedure regulates the calculation of what we call "PÍO", defined as the height difference between 10% and 90% of material lines., with the concept of lines of material being well known in art, as explained by L. Mummery, in Surface Texture Analysis: The Text, Hommelwerke GmbH, Mühlhausen, Germany, 1990. In this approach, which will be illustrated with respect to Figure 26, the surface 70 is viewed as an air transition 71 to the material 72. For a given profile 73 taken from a sheet lying flat, the greater height at which the surface begins, the height of the peak load - is the elevation of "0% of reference line" 74 or "0% of material line", meaning that 0% of the length of the horizontal line at that height is occupied by material 72. Over time of the horizontal line that passes through the lowest point of profile 73, 100% of the line is occupied by material 72, making that line the "100% of material line" 75. Between lines of material 0% and 100% 74 and 75 (between the maximum and minimum points of the profile), the fraction of the long The horizontal line occupied by the material 72 will increase onotonically as the line elevation is decreased. The material ratio curve 76 gives the relationship between the fraction of material along a horizontal line passing through the profile 73 and the height of the line. The material ratio curve 76 is also the cumulative height distribution of a profile 73. (A more accurate term may be "material fraction curve").

Once the material proportion curve 76 is established, one can use it to define a peak height characteristic of the profile 73. The "typical peak-to-valley height" parameter is defined as the difference 77 between the heights of 10% of the material line 78 and 90% of the line of material 79. This parameter is relatively robust in that the unusual excursions of the typical profile structure have little influence on the height PÍO. The PÍO units are millimeters (mm). The Global Surface Depth of a material 72 is reported as the PÍO Surface Depth value for the profile lines spanning the height extremes of the characteristic region of that surface 70.

Tissue Drop Test One measure of the flexibility of a paper towel is its ability to bend freely. "Fall" is a term used in the textile arts to refer to the ability of a textile to bend and fall under the influence of gravity. Materials with good drop are those that show little rigidity and deform easily under the influence of gravity. In some applications, dropping may be a useful feature in tissue products as well, particularly when rigid or sharp edges are undesirable in a folded product or wadding. Highly flexible and soft tissue tissues with good drop can be obtained in at least some embodiments of the present invention.

Previously, the fall measurements have measured the stiffness of a small part of the sample or the flexibility around a line of flexure in a tissue. A measure that can give a representation of the falling ability of a full-sized paper towel has been developed which may reflect the ability to fall out of the whole fabric rather than just a small part or a single bending shaft thereof . This measurement reflects the aerodynamic drag offered by a leaf falling with a central weight attached to the leaf. The leaves with good fall can yield under an aerodynamic effort and have an effective small diameter and a somewhat aerodynamic shape, allowing the fabric to fall faster than a rigid fabric with a poor fall. The value of "Drop", as used herein, refers to the time required by a paper towel fabric to fall by a predetermined distance under the conditions set forth below.

To carry out the Fall Test, a full-sized paper towel sheet having the dimensions of about 26 to 29 square centimeters was conditioned under the TAPPI conditions (73 ° Fahrenheit and 50% relative humidity). The test was carried out in a room at TAPPI conditions at normal atmospheric pressure corresponding to an altitude of about 770 feet above sea level. The sheet is removed from a roll of product perforated with the outer surface of the sheet (the surface that was out of the core of the roll) oriented to be the lowest surface of the sheet. One peso is prepared comprising a penny from the United States of America in 1989 and about 0.55 grams of a Dow Corning 3179 Dilator Compound of coral color (which is thought to be the material "Chair Putty®" - a macula may be used similar silicone), together having a mass of 2.86 grams. The macula is shaped into a disk about 1 centimeter in diameter and pressed against the surface of the penny to adhere to it. The macula side of the combination is then placed in contact with the center of the bottom surface of the paper towel sheet and pressed to adhere the macula to the fabric. Generally, the macula should not extrude beyond the edges of the penny after it has joined in the center of the leaf. The perforated edges of the sheet are then held by hand in a horizontal orientation so that the sheet is generally horizontal, with the central part being around 2 inches more below the perforated edges. The leaf is maintained so that the penny is six feet above the floor. For example, a relatively tall first person holding the eyes at a height of six feet above the floor can visually align the penny with a mark of six feet on a wall about 4 feet out to hold the penny at a height of six. feet. The penny must be held directly on a marked target on the floor in the center of a circle with a diameter of three feet. A second person with a digital timer having a resolution of 0.01 seconds can start the timing and count the time at a predetermined time such as 5 seconds, where the first person releases the sheet at the predetermined time. The second person watches the descent of the heavy leaf centrally and stops the chronometer when the penny hits the floor. The descent time is the elapsed time shown on the chronometer minus the predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) when the sheet was released. The blade must descend in such a way that the penny makes contact with the floor within the circle having a diameter of three feet around the target that was directly below the penny when the leaf was released. If the penny makes contact with the floor outside the circle, the time of descent is discarded. The test is repeated seven times for a given sheet and the medium is reported as the value of Drop.

For a tissue of the present invention, the drop value may be about 1.5 seconds or less, more specifically about 1.4 seconds or less, and more specifically still about 1.3 seconds or less, such as from about 0.8 seconds to around 1.5 seconds, or from about 1.0 seconds to around 1.4 seconds.

Within some practical ranges of base weights, the Fall value for a leaf with a good fall can be expected to increase with increasing base weight, since the increased base weight can increase the stiffness of the fabric proportionally more than decreases the effect relative of the aerodynamic drag. Therefore, the variable basis weight between the samples can be normalized to a degree by assuming a linear relationship between the Fall value and the base weight. A normalized fall value is obtained by dividing the Fall value with the base weight of the towel in grams per square meter and multiplying by 30 grams per square meter (eg, Normalized Drop = Drop / Base Weight * 30 grams per meter square) . For the tissues of the present invention, the Normalized Fall can be about 1.5 seconds or less, about 1.3 seconds or less, about 1.1 seconds or less, or less than 1 second such as from about 0.6 seconds. to about 1.5 seconds or from about 0.8 seconds to about 1.3 seconds. In one embodiment, the fabrics of the present invention may have a Drop value approximately equal to or less than that of the VIVA® paper towels (specifically, less than 1.3 seconds) while having a normalized fall substantially greater than that of the VIVA® paper towels (specifically more than 0.70 seconds) reflecting the lower base weights required to obtain the voluminous, strong and soft towels suitable under the present invention.

Example 1 Sample No. 1 A pilot tissue machine was used to produce a dried non-creped continuous towel base sheet in layers according to this invention generally as described in Figure 2. After manufacture on a tissue machine, the sheet of non-creped continuous dried base was printed on each side with a latex binder (moisture barrier coating). The binder-treated sheet was adhered to the surface of a Yankee dryer to re-dry the sheet and then the sheet was creped. The resulting sheet was converted into rolls of single layer paper towels in a conventional manner.

More specifically, the base sheet was made from a stratified fiber supply containing a central layer of fibers placed between two outer layers of fibers. Both outer layers of the base sheet containing 100% kraft pulp from northern softwood and about 3.75 kilograms (kg / metric ton (Mton) of dry fiber from a binder agent (ProSoft® TQ1003 from Hercules, Inc.). Each of the outer layers comprised 25% of the total fiber weight of the sheet The core layer, which comprised 50% of the total fiber weight of the sheet, was composed of 100% by weight of softwood kraft pulp The fibers in this layer were also treated with 3.75 kilograms / Mton of ProSoft® TQ 1003 binder.

The supply of the machine box containing the chemical additives was diluted to approximately a 0.2 percent consistency and delivered to a top layer box. The speed of the forming fabric was approximately 561 meters per minute. The base sheet was then transferred quickly to a transfer cloth (Voith Fabrics, 807) moving 15% slower than the forming fabric using a vacuum roller to assist the transfer. In a second transfer assisted with vacuum, the base sheet was transferred and molded wet on the continuous drying fabric (Voith Fabrics, tl203-8). The leaf was dried with a continuous air dryer that resulted in a base sheet having an air-dried base weight of 45.2 grams per square meter (gsm).

As shown in Figure 3, the resulting sheet was supplied to a gravure printing line where the latex binder was printed on the surface of the sheet. The first side of the sheet was printed with a binder formulation using direct rotogravure printing. The sheet was printed with a "dot" pattern of 0.020 in diameter as shown in Figure 5 where 28 dots per inch were printed on the sheet in both directions of the machine and across the machine. The resulting surface area coverage was approximately 25%. Then the printed sheet was passed over a heated roll to evaporate the water.

Then, the second or the opposite side of the sheet was printed with the same latex binder formula using a second direct rotogravure printer. The sheet was printed with discrete shapes, where each shape was composed of three elongated hexagons as illustrated in Figure 7. Each hexagon within each discrete shape was approximately 0.02 inches long with a width of about 0.006 inches. The hexagons within a discrete form were essentially in contact with each other and aligned in the machine direction. The spacing between discrete shapes was approximately the width of a hexagon. The sheet was printed with 37.5 discrete sheets per inch in the machine direction and 40 items per inch in the cross machine direction. The resulting surface area coverage was approximately 50%. Of the total latex binder material applied, approximately 60% was applied to the first side and 40% to the second side of the fabric, even though the surface area coverage of the second side was greater than that of the first side. This arrangement provided greater penetration of the binder material into the sheet by the first pattern than the second pattern, which remained essentially on the surface of the second side of the sheet.

The sheet was then pressed against and doctorate on a rotating drum, which had a surface temperature of 100 ° C. Finally, the sheet was rolled into a roll. Then, the resulting printed / creped / printed sheet was converted into single layer paper towel rolls in a conventional manner. The finished product had a dry air base weight of approximately 55.8 grams per square meter.

The latex binder material in this example was a carboxylated vinyl acetate-ethylene terpolymer, AIRFLEX® A426, which was obtained from Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. of Allentown, Pennsylvania. The aggregate amount of binder applied to the sheet was approximately 7 percent by weight.

The binding formulation for this example was prepared as two separate mixtures called the "latex" and the "reagent". The "latex" material containing the epoxy-reactive polymer and the "reagent" was the epoxy-functional polymer. The procedure requires that each mixture be made independently and then combined before use. After the latex and reagent mixtures were combined, the appropriate amount of "thickener" (Natrosol solution) was added to adjust the viscosity. The mixtures of "latex" and "reactive" containing the following listed ingredients, in their order of addition.

Latex 1. AIRFLEX®426 (62% solids) 34,200 grams 2. Defoamer (Nalco 7565) 200 grams 3. Water 7,633 grams. Follower of LiCl Solution (10% solids) 200 grams Reagent 1. Kymene®2064 (20% solids) 5.435 grams 2. Water 8,005 grams 3. NaOH (10% solution) 2,800 grams When the NaOH was added, the pH of the reaction mixture was approximately 12. After all the reactive ingredients were added, the mixture was allowed to combine for at least 15 minutes before adding the latex mixture.

Thickener 1. Natrosol 250MR, Hercules (2% solids) 500 grams After all the ingredients have been added, the printing fluid was allowed to mix for approximately 5 - 30 minutes before use in the engraving printing operation. For this binding formulation, the percent ratio by weight of epoxy-functional polymer based on the functional polymer-carboxylic acid (reactive-epoxy polymer) was about 5.1%.

The viscosity of the printing fluid was 110 centipoise, when measured at room temperature using a viscometer (Brookfield® Synchro-lectric Model RVT Viscometer, Brookfield Engineering Laboratories Inc. of Stoughton, Massachusetts) with a # 1 spindle operating at 20 revolutions per minute. The solids dried in the printing fluid oven were 39.1 percent by weight. The pH of the printing fluid was 5.2.

The resulting single stratum sheet was tested for tensile strength, base weight and gauge shortly after fabrication. As used here, the tensile strengths in the machine direction (MD) represent the peak load per sample width when a sample is pulled until it breaks in the machine direction.

In comparison, the tensile strengths in the transverse direction to the dry machine (CD) represent the peak load per sample width when a sample is pulled to break in the cross machine direction. Samples for the tensile strength test are prepared by cutting a strip 76.2 millimeters wide by 127 millimeters long in any orientation in the machine direction (MD) or in the cross machine direction (CD) using a JDC Precision Sample Cutter (from Thwing-Albert Instrument Company, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Model Number JDC-3-10, Series Number 37333). The instrument used to measure the resistance to voltage is a Sintech Systems MTS US, Series Number 6233. The data acquisition software is an MTS TestWorks® for Windows Version 3.10 (from MTS Systems Corporation, Research Triangle Park, Carolina North). The load cell is selected to either a maximum of 50 Newton or 100 Newton, depending on the resistance of the sample being tested, such as most peak load values that fall between 10-90% of the value of full load cell scale. The length measured between the jaws is 4 +/- 101.6 +/- 1 mm. The jaws are operated using a pneumatic action and are covered with rubber. The minimum grip face width is 3 inches (76.2 millimeters), and the approximate height of a jaw is 12.7 millimeters. The crosshead speed is 10 +/- 0.4 inches / minute (254 +/- 1 millimeter / minute), and the sensitivity to breakage was set at 65%. 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 is broken. The peak load is recorded as either the "Dry Stress Direction of the Machine" or the "Dry Stress Strength in the Transverse Direction" of the specimen depending on the sample being tested. At least (6) representative samples are tested for each product and the arithmetic average of all individual specimen tests is either the tensile strength in the Machine Direction or the Transverse Direction to the machine for the product.

Measurements of wet tensile strength are measured in the same way, but are typically only measured in the Transverse Direction to the sample machine. Before the test, the central part of the sample strip in the machine's Transverse Direction is saturated with water from the tap immediately before loading the specimen inside the tension test equipment. The Transverse Direction to the machine can be made both immediately after the product is made and some time after the natural aging of the product For a simulated natural aging, the experimental product samples were artificially aged for 10 minutes in an oven at 105 ° Celsius. Sample wetting is carried out by first layering a single test strip on a piece of blotting paper (Fiber Mark, from Reliance Basis 120). A pad is then used to wet the same strip before the test. The pad is a general-purpose commercial scouring pad of the Scotch-Brite® brand (3M) to prepare the pad for testing, a full size pad is cut approximately 63.5 millimeters long by 101.6 millimeters wide. A piece of masking tape is wrapped around one of the 101.6 millimeter long edges. The tapered side then becomes the "top" edge of the wet pad. To wet a tension strip, the tester holds the top edge of the pad and. submerges the bottom edge in approximately 6.35 millimeters of tap water located in a wetting tray. After the end of the pad has been saturated with water, the pad is then removed from the wetting tray and the excess water is removed from the pad by sticking lightly on the wet edge three times onto a mesh screen. wire. The wet edge of the pad is then placed gently through the sample parallel to the width of the sample in the approximate center of the sample strip. The pad is held in place for approximately one second and then removed and placed in the dampening pad. The wet sample is then immediately inserted into the tension handles so that the wetted area approximately centers between the upper and lower handles. The test strip must be centered both horizontally and vertically between the handles. (It should be noted that if any of the wetted part comes in contact with the handle faces, the specimen should be discarded and the jaws dried before resuming the test). The stress test is then carried out and the peak load is recorded as the wet tensile strength in the Transversal Direction to the machine of this specimen. As with dry stress tests, the characterization of a product is determined by the average of six representative sample measurements.

Sample 2 A single stratum bound sheet was produced as described above, except that the fibers were treated with 3.5 kilograms / Mton ProSoft binder TQ1003, the speed of the forming fabric was approximately 518 meters per minute, with the resulting base sheet having an air-dry basis weight of 45.0 grams per square meter. The sheet was then run through the printing / printing / creping process except that the second side or opposite side of the sheet was printed with the discrete pattern shown in Figure 7, with 40 discrete sheets per inch in the machine direction and 40 elements per inch in the cross machine direction. The sheet was then cured using the heated air at about 38 ° Celsius and then rolling it into a roll. Then, the printing / printing / creping sheet was converted into single layer paper towel rolls in a conventional manner. The finished product had an air-dried basis weight of approximately 55.1 grams per square meter.

A different binder recipe was used which also incorporated glyoxal as a crosslinking agent in the latex formula. The ingredients of "latex", "reactive" and "thickener" are listed below.

Latex 1. AIRFLEX®426 (62% solids) 17,200 grams 2. Defoamer (Nalco 7565) 100 grams 3. Water 0 grams 4. Follower of LiCl Solution (10% solids) 100 grams . Glioxal (40% solids) 2,715 grams Reagent 1. Kymene®2064 (20% solids) 5.475 grams 2. Water 8,000 grams 3. NaOH (10% solution) 2,800 grams When the NaOH was added the pH of the reaction mixture was approximately 12. After all the reactive ingredients were added, the mixture was allowed to combine for at least 15 minutes before adding the latex mixture.

Thickener 1. Natrosol 250MR, Hercules (2% solids) 0 grams After all the ingredients have been added, the printing fluid was allowed to mix for approximately 5 - 30 minutes before use in a gravure printing operation. For this formulation, the proportion of percent by weight of epoxy-functional polymer based on the carboxylic acid functional polymer was 10% and the proportion of percent by weight of the glyoxal based on the functional polymer-carboxylic acid was 10%.

The viscosity of the printing fluid was 120 centipoise, when measured at room temperature using a viscometer (Brookfield® Synchro-lectric Model RVT, from Brookfield Engineering Laboratories Inc. of Stoughton, Massachusetts) with a spindle # 1 operating at 20 revolutions per minute. The oven-dried solids of the printing fluid were 35.7 percent by weight. The pH of the printing fluid was 5.2.

The resulting single stratum sheet was tested for tensile strength, base weight and caliper just after manufacture.

The test results are summarized in Table 1 given below. Please note that the samples used for the tensile strength measurements were artificially aged for 10 minutes in an oven at 105 ° C to simulate a naturally aged wet tension.

Table 1 Example 2 The topography was examined on sheets of single perforated sheets taken from five different paper towel products, including Samples Numbers 1 and 2 described above, all of which were conditioned under TAPPI conditions at 73 ° Fahrenheit and 50% relative humidity : 1. VIVA® paper towels, manufactured by Kimberly-Clark (from Dallas, Texas), obtained in November 2003 in Neenah, Wisconsin. The studied leaf had dimensions of 28.5 centimeters by 25.5 centimeters, a conditional mass of 5.03 grams. 2. SCOTT® paper towels, manufactured by Kimberly-Clark (from Dallas, Texas), obtained in November 2003 in Neenah, Wisconsin. The studied leaf had dimensions of 28 centimeters by 28 centimeters, and a conditioned mass of 2.86 grams. 3. BOUNTY® paper towels, manufactured by Procter & Gamble (Cincinnati, Ohio), obtained in November 2003 in Neenah, Wisconsin. The leaf studied had dimensions of 28.5 centimeters by 28.5 centimeters, and a conditioned mass of 3.26 grams. 4. Sample Number 1, having dimensions of 28 centimeters by 29.5 centimeters and a conditioned mass of 4.38 grams.

. Sample Number 2, having dimensions of 28.5 centimeters by 26 centimeters and a conditioned mass of 4.14 grams.

The Fall measurements were carried out, giving the results of Table 2: Table 2. Fall Results The sheets of VIVA® and Samples Numbers 1 and 2 were cut into 2-inch squares and a Uniformity Index of Weight Base of Cut was obtained for each of the layers of these samples, with the results shown in Table 3 given down. The samples of the present invention had the Divided Base Weight Uniformity Index values in both divided layers of less than about 5%, indicating that the division process did not result in large variations in basis weight, as if the division to along a well-defined fracture zone in the tissue.

Table 3. Index of Uniformity of Weight Base of Divided into three divisible tissues.

The division force measurements were also carried out on three divisible fabrics. The peak division force for the VIVA® towel in two runs was around 49 grams strength and about 50 grams strength, while the Medium Division Force was around 35 grams strength and 38 grams strength, respectively. In the second run, the test only proceeded by 2.7 inches in the cross head movement instead of 4 inches desired due to a momentary drop in the tension force that was interpreted as a break. All the other results reported here are about a run length of 4 inches. Sample Number 1, two runs gave a Pico Division Force of 13.6 grams force and 14.3 grams force, with the values of Medium Cut Strength of about 8 grams force and about 8.5 grams force, respectively. In Sample Number 2, two runs gave a Peak Division Force of 31.6 grams force and 34.1 grams force, with the Average Force Strength values of about 18 grams force and about 17 grams force, respectively.

The topography of each sample was examined to perform moiré interferometry measurements on sections of both surfaces of the samples. Figure 8 shows a screen shot of 200 of a CADEYES-related software showing a height map 202 for the first side of the Sample Number 2. The height map 202 shows a gray scale representation of the topography of a square region about 38 millimeters from Sample Number 2. In the height map 202, the light regions correspond to the elevated regions of the tissue and the dark regions correspond to the depressed regions of the tissue. The horizontal direction here corresponds to the address of the machine, as is generally the case in the following height maps, unless otherwise indicated. A manually selected profile line 204 was drawn through the height map 202, where it extends into the first and second end points 206 and 208. The various elevations along the profile line 204 are graphically portrayed. down the height map 202 in a profile box 212, where the two-dimensional height profile 222 is shown. The height profile 222 shows a series of peaks 214 and valleys 216, punctuated by the falls 224 when a measurement could not be obtained (often due to an undefined surface or an out-of-range surface corresponding to the affected pixels on the height map 222) or by the upward peaks 226 or the downward peaks 228 which typically differ from the height of the adjacent pixels by an amount equal to a strip count, a problem that arises when there is an optical noise 210 in the sample, particularly near the sides of the measured area where the signal-to-noise ratio can be effectively low. Measurements are made better in regions with relatively little noise (for example, the tips affecting less than about 4% of the points that are being measured).

In profile box 212, 90% of material line 218 and 10% of material line 220 are shown. The vertical separation between 90% of material line 218 and 10% of material line 220 is the PICO value for height profile 222, which is 0.267 mm in Figure 8, even though the. Peak-to-valley depth for several individual peaks is larger (eg, around 0.35 millimeters). PIE tends to be a conservative estimate of depth from peak to valley because the highest and lowest points are excluded from the measurement.

Figure 9 shows the same height map 200 as in Figure 8 but with a different profile line 204 selected and therefore a different height profile 222. The PICO value in this case now being 0.350 millimeters. In general, the topographic measurements of Sample Number 2 indicate that the Depth of Surface is about 0.3 millimeters and the depths of characteristic from peak to valley are somewhat larger, such as about 0.35 millimeters.

The height map 200 also shows that the surface being measured has a series of rounded peaks extending laterally in the transverse direction. Large dominant structures have a width of about 2 millimeters (for example, there are approximately 20 large peaks along a profile in the machine direction of 38 millimeters), although other smaller peaks may also occur.

Figure 10 shows the height map 202 for the second side (creped side) of the Sample Number 2, the side opposite which was measured in Figures 8 and 9. For the profile line 204 shown, also taken in the direction of the machine, the corresponding height profile 222 gives a PICO value of 0.096 millimeters and other measurements give similar results, indicating that the Depth of Surface of the second side of Sample Number 2 is around 0.1 millimeters and that the peak heights A valley characteristics for individual peaks 216 is also around 0.1 millimeters or less. In this case, a lack of plain (macroscopic tissue) on the blade may slightly inflate the PIE measurement so that it may be slightly higher than the characteristic height of typical peaks.

Figure 11 is another screen box 200 showing a height map 202 for the first side of Sample Number 1, made according to the present invention. Structures similar to those on the first side of Sample Number 2 are evident. The PICO value along the profile line 204 is 0.343 millimeters.

Figure 12 shows the height map 202 for the second side of Sample Number 1. The PÍO value along the profile line 204 is 0.076 millimeters.

Figure 13 is a screen shot 200 showing a height map 202 for the first side of the commercial VIVA® paper towel. The PICO value along the profile line 204 is 0.228 millimeters. Individual peaks tend to have characteristic heights above the order of about 0.1 millimeters to about 0.2 millimeters.

Figure 14 shows the height map of 202 for the second side of the VIVA® paper towel. The PICO value along the profile line 204 is 0.088 millimeters.

Figure 15 shows the height map 202 for the first side of the BOUNTY® paper towel. Here the surface is sufficiently undulated so that the PICO value along a profile line of more than about 10 millimeters will be inflated excessively. ead of automatically generating the material lines, the horizontal lines 230 and 232 were manually selected, and the vertical distance between them was then computed as being 0.35 millimeters per software based on the topographic data associated with the height map 202. The "z" value of 0.35 millimeters is an estimate of the characteristic peak-to-valley height for the sample and is an estimate of the Surface Depth. The height map 202 shows that there is an array of relatively deep depressed regions 234 that correspond to the markings etched onto the tissue surface. The smaller depressed regions 236 are believed to correspond to the underside of the "domes" or "pillows" imposed on the fabric during printing and continuous drying processes used in the manufacture of the BOUNTY® product., and it is not believed that they are recorded.

Figure 16 shows the height map 202 for the second side of the BOUNTY® paper towel. The "z" value of 0.316 millimeters is an estimate of the peak-to-valley characteristic height for the sample.

Following the topography measurements of the conditioned and dried samples as previously described, each of the four leaves of the four samples was wet in a corner. Each sheet was placed on a flat back surface, and then one corner of the sample was saturated with deionized water at room temperature by spraying the sample until the corner was completely wet and saturated. The wetted area represented around 20% of the surface area of the leaf. After wetting, the sample was wrapped on the edge of a table in a TAPPI conditioned room, with the moistened corner hanging down and the opposite dry corner held in place with a weight, so that the lower half of the towel was suspended in a vertical orientation to allow the wet corner pointing directly downwards to drip dry. The wet sample was allowed to dry for several hours, and then the topography of the region was now dry but once it had been wet it was examined again. Generally, it was observed that the basic topography of the commercial samples, as observed with the 38 millimeter field of view, did not change dramatically by wetting and drying, even though it was evident at some increased ripple. However, the topography of the samples made according to the present invention showed an increased texture corresponding to the topography of the TAD fabric.

Figure 17 shows the height map 202 for the first side once wet of Sample Number 2 of the present invention, showing a PIO value of 0.367 millimeters. Figure 18 shows the same height map 202 with a different line profile 204 selected. A "z" value of 0.402 millimeters is shown for the height between two manually selected height lines 230 and 232. In general, the characteristic peak height of the structures on the first side of Sample Number 2 had increased relative to the measurements made before wetting, as shown in Figures 8 and 9.

Figure 19 shows the height map 202 for the second side once wet of Sample Number 2, with a PIO value of 0.227 millimeters for the profile line 204, which is about twice the PIO value shown in Figure 10. before the wet. A pattern of spaced and spaced depressions 240 is seen in the height map 202 that is believed to correspond to the texture of the dried cloth in a continuous manner that created the base sheet before re-creping. The depressions 240 have a characteristic depth of about 0.2 millimeters relative to the immediately surrounding surface.

Figure 20 shows the height map 202 for the first side once moistened of Sample Number 1 of the present invention, showing a PIO value of 0.452 millimeters and showing a pattern of spaced and spaced depressions 240 'which is believed to correspond to the texture of the dried cloth in continuous form that created the base sheet before re-creping.

Figure 21 shows the height map 202 for the second side of Sample Number 1 once wet, showing a PIO value of 0.322 millimeters. There is a pattern of spaced and spaced depressions 240 and a pattern of spaced and spaced elevations 242 that are believed to correspond to the texture of the dried cloth in continuous form that created the base sheet before re-creping.

In general, the fabrics of the present invention have a two-sided topography with a relatively textured first side, a relatively smooth second side, and a tendency for the second side to exhibit an increased texture after wetting and drying, having a spaced pattern and separated from high and depressed regions that correspond to the pattern of a dried cloth in continuous form.

Figure 22 is a screen shot 200 showing a height map 202 of the first side of the commercial VIVA® paper towel after wetting and drying. The PICO value along the profile line 204 is 0.300 millimeters, which is greater than what was observed before drying (see Figure 13).

Figure 23 shows the height map 202 for the second side of the VIVA® paper towel after wetting and drying. The PICO value along the profile line 204 is 0.139 millimeters, which is greater than what was observed before drying (see Figure 14).

Figure 24 is a screen shot 200 showing a height map 202 for the first side of the commercial BOUNTY® paper towel after wetting and drying. The "z" value along the profile line 204 is 0.399 millimeters, which is about 14% greater than what was observed before drying (see Figure 15).

Figure 25 shows the height map 202 for the second side of the BOUNTY® paper towel and after wetting and drying. The "z" value along the profile line 204 is 0.429 millimeters.

Figure 27 shows a height map 202 of the first side of a non-creped continuously dried tissue base sheet made essentially as Sample Number 1, but without printing or creping. In this case, the horizontal direction of the height map 202 corresponds to the transverse direction of the fabric, so that the orientation of the fabric in the height map is rotated by 90 degrees in relation to the height maps in the previous figures. The height map 202 shows the texture created by the molding on the Voith Fabrics a continuous drying fabric T1203-8, which is a highly three-dimensional sculpted fabric that is believed to have been made according to the teachings of the United States Patent. United States Number 5,429,686, granted to Chiu, and others on July 4, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference. For a profile line in the transverse direction 204 it showed the PICO value is 0.692, and the individual peaks have a height of about 0.7 millimeters or greater.

The depressed regions 260 are believed to correspond to the depressed regions 240 noted in Figure 20, which became clearly defined after the tissue had to have been wetted and dried, taking out some of the original three-dimensional structure of the base sheet .

Figure 28 shows the same height map 202 as in Figure 27 but with a profile line in the machine direction 204 drawn along an elevated region 250 having a PIO value of 0.322 millimeters.

Figure 29 shows the same height map 202 as in Figure 28 but with a profile line in the machine direction drawn in a depressed region 252 between the raised regions 250. A PIO value of about 0. 4 millimeters is shown.

Figure 30 shows the height map 202 for the second side of the non-creped dried tissue base sheet of Figure 27. A profile line in the transverse direction 204 is drawn showing a profile 222 having a value PIE of 0.653 millimeters. The narrow elevated regions 262 are believed to correspond to the narrow elevated regions 242 of Figure 21.

Figure 31 shows the same height map 202 as in Figure 30 but with a profile line in the machine direction 204 drawn along a relatively depressed region 252 with a PIO value of about 0.35 millimeters at length of the elevated structures and around 0.35 mm along the depressed regions.

Figure 32 is a scanned image 260 of the first side of the tissue sheet made in Example 2 after the first side of the fabric has been cut out of the second side of the fabric. The scanned image 260 was made by placing the split tissue on a flatbed scanner (HP Scanjet ™ 5470C, from Hewlett-Packard Corporation, Palo Alto, California) with the original first side of the sheet facing down. A black surface was placed on top of the divided sheet to provide contrast and then scanned to a region of 4 square inches. The fibrous structure of the divided tissue can be seen, showing excellent uniformity and without tearing regions in the tissue.

Figure 33 is a scanned image 260 of the second side of the tissue sheet made in Example 2, which corresponds to the opposite split half that was removed from the tissue shown in Figure 32. The scanned image 260 was made by placing the divided fabric with the second original surface down on the flat bed scanner with a black surface placed on it, and scan a square region of 4 inches. The scanned image showed excellent uniformity and no torn regions in the tissue.

An additional evaluation of the surface topography was carried out using the profilometry of style with a Taylor-Hobson S5 surface prophyllometer (Taylor-Hobson Limited, of Leicester, England) equipped with a diamond pen of a radius of 2 microns. and an interferometric laser shot. The surface topography data were collected on an area of 15 millimeters by 15 millimeters from the VIVA® towel surface and also the tissue surface from Sample 1. The maximum of 256 indicia were placed with a spacing between each indicia of 58 micrometers The data was analyzed using the TalyMap 2.02 software.

Table 4 summarizes below the surface roughness amplitude measurements assessed over the area of 15 millimeters by 15 millimeters per side. In Table 3, all results are reported in micrometers. The parameter "Sa" is the roughness of the average surface, the three-dimensional analog of the arithmetic mean roughness Ra shown in the profilometry of style; "Sq" is the mean roughness rms; "Sv" is the depth of the deepest valley and the evaluated area; "St" is the total height extended by the measured volume (the envelope-Z); and "Sz" is the roughness parameter of 10 points.

Table 4. Measurements of Surface Roughness The parameters of average roughness amplitude for the textured side of Sample 1 are about 10% higher than the A side of VIVA®, the side with more texture. However, the geometrical shape of the two surfaces is clearly different, with Sample Number 1 having an approximately sinusoidal anisotropic structure while the VIVA® side has a widely undulating and isotropic shape.

Figures 34 and 35 show the optical photomicrographs of both sides of a VIVA® towel taken using incident illumination. Surface photos were taken using a Wild M420 photoscope (from Leica Optics, Wetzlar, Germany) and incident light directed at approximately 30 degrees of incidence. A scale with 0.5 millimeters of divisions is included.

Figures 36 and 37 show the optical photomicrographs on both sides of Sample Number 1 according to the present invention.

Figures 38 and 39 show the electron scanning microscope (SEM) micrographs of the cross sections of the VIVA® paper towel. The cross sections of the tissue samples were produced using a new surgical single edge blade for each cut.

The leaf was frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor to properly stiffen it for cleaning. The sections were coated with gold and examined on a JEOL 840 SEM manufactured by JEOL USA, Inc. (of Peabody, Massachusetts) operating with an electronic beam of 3 kV. The amplification shown is 75X. The micrographs showed a structure that appears to have relatively dense outer layers and thicker inner layers.

Figures 40 to 43 show the electron scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of cross sections of the paper towel of Sample Number 1 of the present invention. The cross sections were taken through the placement of the flanges on the textured side. The SEM photos showed that Sample Number 1 had a high density / low density interior surface structure. In contrast to the VIVA® structure, Sample Number 1 exhibited large, very low internal regions which are thought to contribute to the ease of division observed with this tissue.

These and other modifications and variations of the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various

Claims

Incorporations can be exchanged in whole or in part. In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and that it is not intended to limit the invention thus described in such appended claims. CLAIMS

1. A tissue product comprising: a first side and a second opposite side, the tissue tissue comprises pulp fibers; a bonding material applied to the first side of the tissue of tissue according to a preselected pattern, the first side of tissue tissue having been creped after application of the bonding material; Y wherein the tissue of tissue is divided into a first part and a second part, tissue tissue being divided by a Medium Division Force of less than about 30 grams force and by a peak division force of less than about 40 grams strength, the tissue tissue having a division base weight uniformity index of less than about 20%.

2. A tissue product as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the tissue of tissue has a Medium Division Force of less than about 25 grams force, preferably less than about 20 grams force, preferably less than about of 15 grams force, and preferably from about 5 grams force to about 15 grams force.

3. A tissue product as claimed in clauses 1 or 2, characterized in that the tissue tissue has a peak splitting strength of less than about 30 grams force, preferably less than about 25 grams force, and preferably less than about 20 grams strength.

4. A tissue product as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the tissue has a base weight uniformity index divided by less than about 10%, preferably less than about 5%, and preferably less than about 3%.

5. A tissue product as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the difference in basis weight between the first part and the second part of the tissue of dividing tissue is less than about 20%, preferably less than around 10%.

6. A tissue product as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the tissue tissue comprises a tissue dried through non-creped air.

7. A tissue product as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the bonding material comprises a copolymer of ethylene vinyl acetate, a terpolymer of ethylene-vinyl acetate carboxylated, a copolymer of styrene-butadiene, a polymer of polyvinyl acetate, a vinyl acetate-acrylic copolymer, a vinyl chloride-ethylene copolymer, a vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride-ethylene polymer, an acrylic vinyl chloride polymer, an acrylic polymer, or a nitrile polymer .

8. A tissue product as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the tissue tissue comprises a laminated fabric having a first outer layer, a middle layer and a second outer layer, the middle layer comprising wood fibers hard or high performance fibers.

9. A tissue product as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the tissue of tissue has a basis weight of from about 10 grams per square meter to about 120 grams per square meter, preferably from about 35 grams per square meter to around 80 grams per square meter.

10. A tissue product as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the preselected pattern by which the bonding material is applied comprises a succession of discrete shapes.

11. A tissue product as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the tissue tissue includes one side to the air and one side to the fabric, the first side of the tissue tissue being the air side of the tissue.

12. A tissue product as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the second side of the tissue is not creped.

13. A tissue product as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the tissue of tissue contains a resistance agent.

14. A tissue product as claimed in clause 13, characterized in that the tissue is made of a stratified fiber supply including a first outer layer, a central layer and a second outer layer, the resistance agent being incorporated in one or more of the first outer layer, the central layer 109 and the second outer layer, the first outer layer forms the first side of the tissue of tissue.

15. A tissue product as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the characteristics of the first side of the tissue of the tissue are different from the characteristics of the second side of the tissue of the tissue, the first side having a depth of surface. dry of less than about 0.15 10 millimeters, preferably less than about 0.12 millimeters, and a wet surface depth of more than about 0.2 millimeters, preferably more than about 0.25 millimeters, the second side of the tissue tissue having a dry surface depth of more than around 0.2 15 millimeters, preferably more than about 0.25 millimeters.

16. A tissue product as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, 20 characterized in that the tissue tissue has a drop of less than about 1.5 seconds.

17. A tissue product as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, 25 characterized in that the bonding material is applied to the first side of the tissue tissue to cover at least 40% of the surface area of the first side of the fabric.

18. A tissue product as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that a second bonding material has been applied to the second side of the tissue of tissue according to a preselected pattern.

19. A tissue product as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the binding material is applied to the tissue of tissue in an amount of from about 2% to about 10% by weight of the tissue.

20. A tissue product as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the product comprises a single layer cleaning product.