DISPERSIBLE NONWOVEN FABRIC AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME

摘要

Disclosed are a soft, absorbent nonwoven fibrous web capable of dispersing i n an aqueous environment into unrecognizable pieces and a method of making thereo f comprising the steps of forming a wet-laid nonwoven web from an aqueous slur ry of fibers; hydraulically needling the wet-laid nonwoven web; partially drying t he hydraulically needled web; applying a binder composition to one side of the web; creping the web such that interfiber adhesion is disrupted and z-direction fiber orientation is introduced; optionally applying a binder composition to the second side of t he web; recreping the web; drying and curing the web; and, converting the dried and cured web into a wet wipe, dry wipe, or other absorbent article. The web has a desirab le tensile strength, bulk and softness during storage and use, yet will disperse in an aqueous environment into unrecognizable pieces.