RU2683101C1 - Fiber elements, fibrous structures and products containing inhibiting agent, and methods for production thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: manufacturing technology.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to fibrous elements, for example, filaments and/or fibers, fibrous structures containing such fibrous elements, and products containing such fibrous elements and/or fibrous structures. Fibrous element contains one or more materials forming a thread, one or more active agents and one or more inhibiting agents, at least one of the materials, forming a fibrous element, contains a material soluble in a polar solvent, and preferably a material soluble in a polar solvent, is a water-soluble material.EFFECT: fiber element is a water soluble material.14 cl, 7 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fibrous elements, for example yarns and / or fibers, fibrous structures containing such fibrous elements, and products containing such fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures, and in particular to fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures, and / or products containing one or more restraining agents, and methods for their manufacture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the relevant industry, methods for applying bitter agents to films are known. For example, methods for coating a film with bitter agents are known, for example by spraying, applying and / or pouring powdered bitter agents onto a film surface.

In the technological field associated with fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures, fibrous elements are found, for example fibrous elements containing active agents, and / or fibrous structures containing such fibrous elements, and products containing similar fibrous elements that are intended for oral administration human and / or animals, however, some fibrous elements, even fibrous elements that contain active agents, and / or fibrous structures containing such fibrous elements, and / or products containing similar fibrous elements that are not intended for oral administration by humans and / or animals. Thus, there is a problem associated with reducing the risk of accidental ingestion of such fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures and / or products containing such fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures by humans and / or animals that are not intended for ingestion. Such fibrous elements, and / or fibrous structures, and / or products to date do not contain inhibitory agents, such as bitter agents, and / or burning agents, and / or vomiting agents, to prevent ingestion by humans and / or animals.

Accordingly, one problem faced by developers of compositions of fibrous elements, and / or fibrous structures, and / or products containing such fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures, such as those presented in the present invention, which are not intended for human ingestion and / or animals, is how to prevent and / or reduce the risk of ingestion, for example by accidental ingestion, by a person and / or animals of such fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures and / or products, containing of such fibrous elements and / or fibrous structure.

In light of the foregoing, it is obvious that there is a need to prevent and / or reduce the risk of ingestion, for example, accidental ingestion of fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures and / or products containing such fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures, for example fibrous elements, which contain one or more active agents that are not intended for oral administration by humans and / or animals, by the application of one or more inhibiting agents, such as a bitter agent and / or a burning agent, and / or emetic agent into and / or onto the fibrous elements, and / or fibrous structures and / or products containing such fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures and methods for their manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies the needs described above by providing fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures containing such fibrous elements and / or products containing such fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures that are not intended for ingestion by humans and / or animals, for example fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures and / or products that contain one or more active agents not intended for oral administration by humans and / or animals, containing an inhibiting agent inside three and / or on the surface of the fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures and / or products.

One solution to the above problem is to add one or more restraining agents to the fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures and / or products, for example fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures and / or products containing one or more active agents, to prevent ingestion or attempts to swallow such fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures and / or products of the present invention by humans and / or animals.

In one example of the present invention, there is provided a fibrous element, for example a thread and / or fiber, which is not intended and / or not suitable for oral administration by humans and / or animals, containing one or more materials forming the fibrous element and one or more restraining agents, for example, which are located inside the fibrous element, for example in the form of a mixture of materials forming the fibrous element and restraining agents and / or on the surface of the fibrous element, for example in the form of a composition for coating the shell and / or as a result of deposition on the surface.

In another example of the present invention, there is provided a fibrous element, for example a thread and / or fiber, which is not intended and / or not suitable for oral administration by humans and / or animals, comprising one or more materials forming the fibrous element and one or more active agents, for example, located inside the fibrous element, for example inside a mixture containing materials that form the fibrous element, active agents and restraining agents, and / or on the surface of the fibrous element, for example in the form of a composition for coating by coating and / or as a result of application to a surface, for example in a mixture of materials forming the fibrous element, and active agents, for example, which can be released from the fibrous elements under the conditions of the intended use, and one or more restraining agents, for example, located inside the fibrous element for example, inside a mixture containing materials forming the fiber element, active agents and restraining agents, and / or on the surface of the fiber element, for example in the form of a composition for coatings and / or as a result of application to the surface.

In another example of the present invention, there is provided a composition forming a fibrous element, for example a composition forming a filament suitable for creating fibrous elements of the present invention, for example, using a molding method containing one or more materials forming a fibrous element, one or more restraining agents and optionally one or more polar solvents (such as water).

In another example of the present invention, there is provided a composition forming a fibrous element, for example a composition forming a filament suitable for creating fibrous elements of the present invention, for example, using a molding method containing one or more materials forming a fibrous element, one or more active agents, one or more restraining agents and optionally one or more polar solvents (such as water).

         In yet another example of the present invention, there is provided a fibrous element, for example a thread and / or fiber, which is not intended and / or not suitable for oral administration by humans and / or animals, containing one or more materials forming the fibrous element, one or more active agents, for example, a mixture of materials forming the fibrous element and active agents, and one or more restraining agents, for example, which are located inside the fibrous element, for example, inside a mixture of materials forming the fibrous element, is active x agents and restraining agents, and / or on the surface of the fibrous element, for example in the form of a coating composition and / or as a result of application to the surface, the active agents containing one or more surfactants, one or more enzymes, one or more suds suppressants and / or one or more flavorings.

In an additional example of the present invention, there is provided a fibrous structure containing one or more fibrous elements, for example filaments and / or fibers, which contains one or more active agents, for example, inside one or more fibrous elements, for example, in a mixture containing materials forming the fibrous element and active agents and / or on the surface of one or more fibrous elements and / or inside the fibrous structure, for example between fibrous elements, for example inside the voids of the fibrous structure (e.g., a coforming fibrous structure containing one or more particles containing one or more active agents) and / or between two or more fibrous structures that are directly or indirectly attached to each other, and / or between two or more layers of fibrous elements that form the fibrous structure, and / or on the surface of the fibrous structure, and / or on the surface of one or more fibrous elements, and one or more restraining agents, for example, inside one or more fibrous x elements, for example, inside a mixture containing materials forming the fibrous element, active agents and restraining agents, and / or on the surface of one or more fibrous elements, and / or inside the fibrous structure, for example between the fibrous elements, for example, inside the voids of the fibrous structure (for example , a coforming fibrous structure containing one or more particles containing one or more active agents), and / or between two or more fibrous structures, which are directly or indirectly Attach to each other and / or between two or more layers of fibrous elements that form a fibrous structure and / or on the surface of the fibrous structure and / or on the surface of one or more fibrous elements.

In another additional example of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a fibrous element, such as filaments and / or fibers, including:

a. obtaining a composition forming a fibrous element containing one or more materials forming the fibrous element, one or more active agents, one or more restraining agents and optionally one or more polar solvents (such as water); and

b. forming the composition forming the fibrous element into one or more fibrous elements, for example yarns and / or fibers containing one or more materials forming the fibrous element, one or more active agents, for example, capable of being released or released from the fibrous element under the conditions of the intended use a fibrous element, and one or more restraining agents. In one example, the total content of the fibrous element forming materials present in the fibrous element is 80% or less and / or 70% or less and / or 60% or less and / or 50% or less and / or 40% or less, and / or 30% or less, and / or 20% or less by weight based on the dry fiber element, and the total content of active agents present in the fiber element is 20% or more and / or 30% or more, and / or 40% or more, and / or 50% or more, and / or 60% or more, and / or 70% or more, and / or 80% or more by weight, calculated on dry fiber th element.

In another additional example of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a fibrous element, such as filaments and / or fibers, including:

a. obtaining a composition forming a fibrous element containing one or more materials forming a fibrous element, one or more active agents and optionally one or more polar solvents (such as water);

b. forming the composition forming the fibrous element into one or more fibrous elements, for example yarns and / or fibers containing one or more materials forming the fibrous element, one or more active agents, for example, capable of being released or released from the fibrous element under the conditions of the intended use fiber element; and

c. applying one or more restraining agents (for example, in liquid form and / or solid form, for example in the form of a particle containing a restraining agent) on the surface of one or more fibrous elements. In one example, the total content of the fibrous element forming materials present in the fibrous element is 80% or less and / or 70% or less and / or 60% or less and / or 50% or less and / or 40% or less, and / or 30% or less, and / or 20% or less by weight based on the dry fiber element, and the total content of active agents present in the fiber element is 20% or more and / or 30% or more, and / or 40% or more, and / or 50% or more, and / or 60% or more, and / or 70% or more, and / or 80% or more by weight, calculated on dry fiber th element.

In another example of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a fibrous structure, including:

a. obtaining a fibrous structure, for example a fibrous structure containing one or more fibrous elements of the present invention, and

b. applying one or more restraining agents (for example, in liquid form and / or in solid form, for example in the form of a particle containing a restraining agent) on the surface of the fibrous structure.

In another example of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a fibrous structure, including:

a. obtaining a composition forming a fibrous element containing one or more materials forming the fibrous element, one or more active agents, one or more restraining agents and optionally one or more polar solvents (such as water);

b. forming the composition forming the fibrous element into one or more fibrous elements, for example yarns and / or fibers containing one or more materials forming the fibrous element, one or more active agents, for example, capable of being released or released from the fibrous element under the conditions of the intended use a fibrous element, and one or more restraining agents; and

c. collecting a plurality of fibrous elements on a collecting device, such as a tape or fabric, so that the fibrous elements are intertwined to form a fibrous structure; and

d. optionally applying one or more restraining agents (for example, in liquid form and / or solid form, for example in the form of a particle containing a restraining agent) on the surface of one or more fibrous elements and / or fibrous structure.

In another example of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a fibrous structure, including:

a. obtaining a composition forming a fibrous element containing one or more materials forming a fibrous element, one or more active agents and optionally one or more polar solvents (such as water);

b. molding the composition forming the fibrous element into one or more fibrous elements, for example yarns and / or fibers containing one or more materials forming the fibrous element, and one or more active agents, for example, capable of being released or released from the fibrous element under the conditions provided the use of a fibrous element;

c. applying one or more restraining agents (for example, in liquid form and / or solid form, for example in the form of a particle containing a restraining agent) on the surface of one or more fibrous elements; and

d. collecting a plurality of fibrous elements on a collecting device, such as a tape or fabric, so that the fibrous elements are intertwined to form a fibrous structure; and

e. optionally applying one or more restraining agents (for example, in liquid form and / or solid form, for example in the form of a particle containing a restraining agent) on the surface of the fibrous structure.

In another example of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a fibrous structure, including:

a. obtaining a composition forming a fibrous element containing one or more materials forming a fibrous element, one or more active agents and optionally one or more polar solvents (such as water);

b. molding the composition forming the fibrous element into one or more fibrous elements, for example yarns and / or fibers containing one or more materials forming the fibrous element, and one or more active agents, for example, capable of being released or released from the fibrous element under the conditions provided the use of a fibrous element;

c. collecting a plurality of fibrous elements on a collecting device, such as a tape or fabric, so that the fibrous elements are intertwined to form a fibrous structure; and

d. applying one or more restraining agents (for example, in liquid form and / or solid form, for example in the form of a particle containing a restraining agent) on the surface of one or more fibrous elements and / or on the surface of the fibrous structure.

In yet a further example of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a fibrous structure, comprising:

a. obtaining a composition forming a fibrous element containing one or more materials forming the fibrous element, one or more active agents, one or more restraining agents and optionally one or more polar solvents (such as water);

b. forming the composition forming the fibrous element into one or more fibrous elements, for example yarns and / or fibers containing one or more materials forming the fibrous element, one or more active agents, for example, capable of being released or released from the fibrous element under the conditions of the intended use a fibrous element, and one or more restraining agents;

c. collecting a plurality of fibrous elements on a collecting device, such as a tape or fabric, so that the fibrous elements are intertwined to form a fibrous structure; and

d. applying one or more restraining agents (for example, in liquid form and / or solid form, for example in the form of a particle containing a restraining agent) on the surface of one or more fibrous elements and / or on the surface of the fibrous structure.

In another example of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a fibrous structure, including:

a. obtaining a composition forming a fibrous element containing one or more materials forming a fibrous element, one or more active agents and optionally one or more polar solvents (such as water);

b. forming the composition forming the fibrous element into a plurality of fibrous elements, for example yarns and / or fibers containing one or more materials forming the fibrous element, and one or more active agents, for example, capable of being released or released from the fibrous element under the conditions of the intended use of the fibrous element item;

c. mixing a plurality of particles containing one or more restraining agents with a plurality of fibrous elements to form a mixture; and

d. collecting the mixture on a collection device, such as a tape or cloth, so that the fibrous elements intertwine with the particles to form a fibrous structure; and

e. optionally applying one or more restraining agents (for example, in liquid and / or solid form, for example in the form of a particle containing a restraining agent) on the surface of one or more fibrous elements and / or on the surface of the fibrous structure.

In another example of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a fibrous structure, including:

a. obtaining a composition forming a fibrous element containing one or more materials forming the fibrous element, one or more active agents, one or more restraining agents and optionally one or more polar solvents (such as water);

b. molding the composition forming the fibrous element into a plurality of fibrous elements, for example filaments and / or fibers containing one or more materials forming the fibrous element, one or more active agents, for example, capable of being released or released from the fibrous element under the conditions of the intended use of the fibrous element , and one or more restraining agents;

c. mixing a plurality of particles containing one or more restraining agents with a plurality of fibrous elements to form a mixture; and

d. collecting the mixture on a collection device, such as a tape or cloth, so that the fibrous elements intertwine with the particles to form a fibrous structure; and

e. optionally applying one or more restraining agents (for example, in liquid and / or solid form, for example in the form of a particle containing a restraining agent) on the surface of one or more fibrous elements and / or on the surface of the fibrous structure.

In another example of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a fibrous structure, including:

but. obtaining a composition forming a fibrous element containing one or more materials forming the fibrous element, and optionally one or more active agents, one or more restraining agents and / or one or more polar solvents (such as water);

b. forming the composition forming the fibrous element into a plurality of fibrous elements, for example yarns and / or fibers containing one or more materials forming the fibrous element, and optionally one or more active agents, for example, capable of being released or released from the fibrous element under the conditions of the intended use a fibrous element, and / or one or more restraining agents;

c. mixing a plurality of particles containing one or more active agents and / or one or more restraining agents with a plurality of fibrous elements to form a mixture; and

d. collecting the mixture on a collection device, such as a tape or cloth, so that the fibrous elements intertwine with the particles to form a fibrous structure; and

e. optionally applying one or more restraining agents (for example, in liquid and / or solid form, for example in the form of a particle containing a restraining agent) on the surface of one or more fibrous elements and / or on the surface of the fibrous structure. In one example, one or more of the particles may comprise a coating composition comprising one or more restraining agents that coat or partially coat the particles.

In yet a further example of the present invention, there is provided a product, for example, a detergent for washing, and / or a detergent for washing dishes, and / or an agent for cleaning hard surfaces, and / or an agent for hair care, containing one or more fibrous elements and / or one or more fibrous structures of the present invention and one or more restraining agents. In one example, in addition to the fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures, the product may comprise a film. In one example, the film may contain one or more restraining agents located inside the film and / or on the surface of the film.

Although the examples described herein relate to fibrous elements, for example, filaments and / or fibers made from the filaments of the present invention, for example, by cutting the filaments into fibers, the fibrous structures of the present invention may contain a mixture of fibrous elements, for example a mixture of filaments and fibers.

Accordingly, the present invention provides fibrous elements, for example filaments, and / or fibers, and / or fibrous structures containing fibrous elements, and / or products containing such fibrous elements, and / or fibrous structures containing one or more restraining agents, and methods for their manufacture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of a fibrous element in accordance with the present invention;

in FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example of a soluble fibrous structure in accordance with the present invention;

in FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an example of a method for manufacturing the fibrous elements of the present invention;

in FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an enlarged scale of the dye used in the method of FIG. 3;

in FIG. 5 is a front view of an example arrangement of equipment used to measure dissolution in accordance with the present invention;

in FIG. 6 is a side view of the equipment shown in FIG. 5; and

in FIG. 7 is a top view of the equipment shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Definitions

The term "fibrous structure" in the context of this document means a structure that contains one or more fibrous elements. In one example, a fibrous structure in accordance with the present invention means the combination of fibrous elements and particles, which together form a single structure that is able to perform a function.

The fibrous structures of the present invention may be homogeneous or may be multilayer. If the fibrous structures are multilayer, they may contain at least two, and / or at least three, and / or at least four, and / or at least five layers, for example, one or more layers of fibrous elements, one or more layers particles and / or one or more layers of a mixture of fibrous elements and particles. In one example, in a multilayer fibrous structure, one or more layers can be formed and / or superimposed directly on an existing layer to form a fibrous structure, while in a multi-strand fibrous structure, one or more strands of an existing fibrous structure can be connected, for example, by thermal bonding, gluing, embossing, stringing, making holes with a rotating knife, punching with a needle, rolling, tufting and / or other methods of mechanical connection, with one or more by strands of another existing fibrous structure to form a multi-strand fibrous structure.

In one example, the fibrous structure is a multi-strand fibrous structure, the mass of a square meter of which is less than 10,000 g / m ² and / or less than 7500 g / m ² and / or less than 5000 g / m ² and / or less than 3000 g / m ² and / or more than 50 g / m ² and / or more than 100 g / m ² and / or more than 250 g / m ² and / or more than 500 g / m ² when measured in accordance with the method of checking the mass square meter described in this document.

In one example, the fibrous structure is a sheet of fibrous elements (fibers and / or filaments, such as continuous filaments) of any nature or origin, which have been formed into the fibrous structure by any means and can be joined together by any means, except for weaving or knitting. Felt obtained by wet grinding, are not soluble fibrous structures. In one example, a fibrous structure in accordance with the present invention means an ordered filament system within a structure designed to perform a function. In another example, the fibrous structure of the present invention is a system comprising many of two or more and / or three or more fibrous elements that are intertwined or otherwise connected to each other to form a fibrous structure. In yet another example, the fibrous structure of the present invention may contain, in addition to the fibrous elements of the present invention, one or more solid auxiliary components, such as particles and / or fibers.

In one example of the present invention, the fibrous structure of the present invention contains one or more fibrous elements, for example filaments and / or fibers, and the fibrous structure contains one or more active agents, for example, in solid and / or liquid form, for example in the form of particles, inside one or more fibrous elements and / or on the surface of one or more fibrous elements and / or inside the fibrous structure, for example between fibrous elements, for example inside the voids of the fibrous structure and / or between two many or more fibrous structures that are directly or indirectly attached to each other, and / or between two or more layers of fibrous elements that form the fibrous structure, and / or on the surface of the fibrous structure, and / or on the surface of one or more fibrous elements, and one or more restraining agents, for example, inside one or more fibrous elements and / or on the surface of one or more fibrous elements, and / or inside the fibrous structure, for example between fibrous elements, for example inside the voids of the fibrous structure and / or between two or more fibrous structures that are directly or indirectly connected to each other, and / or between two or more layers of fibrous elements that form the fibrous structure, and / or on the surface of the fibrous structure, and / or on the surface of one or more fibrous elements.

In another example, the fibrous structure of the present invention may contain one or more active agents which, upon initial manufacture, are located within the fibrous structure but are then released onto the surface of the fibrous structure before and / or under the conditions of the intended use of the fibrous structure.

In addition, or in an alternative embodiment, the fibrous structure of the present invention may contain one or more active agents which, upon initial manufacture, are located inside the fibrous structure but then are released onto the surface of the fibrous structure before and / or under the conditions of the intended use of the fibrous structure.

The fibrous structure and / or the product containing the fibrous structure may have a shape and size, for example, suitable for adding to the washing machine and / or dishwasher, and contains such a total concentration (by weight) of active agents that ensures delivery of more than 1 g, and / or more than 3 g, and / or more than 5 g, and / or more than 8 g, and / or more than 10 g of active agents in the process of using the fibrous structure and / or product, for example, in the process of washing clothes in a washing machine and / or bath and / or washing dishes in the dishwasher.

In one example, the fiber structure of the present invention is a “single fiber structure”.

The term “single fiber structure” as used herein is a system comprising a plurality of two or more and / or three or more fiber elements that are intertwined or otherwise connected to each other to form a fiber structure. A single fiber structure of the present invention may contain one or more strands within a multi-strand fiber structure. In one example, a single fibrous structure of the present invention may contain three or more different fibrous elements. In another example, a single fibrous structure of the present invention may comprise two different fibrous elements, for example, it can be a co-formed fibrous structure on which various fibrous elements are superimposed to form a fibrous structure containing three or more different fibrous elements. In one example, the fibrous structure may contain soluble, for example, water-soluble, fibrous elements and insoluble, for example, water-insoluble, fibrous elements.

The term “coforming fibrous structure” as used herein means that the fibrous structure contains a mixture of at least two different materials, at least one of the materials contains a fibrous element and at least one other material contains a particle, such as a particle, containing an active agent and / or a restraining agent.

The term "soluble fibrous structure" in the context of this document means that the fibrous structure and / or its components are, for example, more than 0.5%, and / or more than 1%, and / or more than 5%, and / or more than 10%, and / or more than 25%, and / or more than 50%, and / or more than 75%, and / or more than 90%, and / or more than 95% and / or more than 100% by weight of the fibrous structure soluble, for example soluble in a polar solvent, for example water-soluble. In one example, the soluble fibrous structure contains fibrous elements, with at least 50%, and / or more than 75%, and / or more than 90%, and / or more than 95%, and / or about 100% by weight of the fibrous elements inside the soluble fibrous structures are soluble.

The soluble fibrous structure contains many fibrous elements. In one example, the soluble fibrous structure comprises two or more and / or three or more different fibrous elements.

The soluble fibrous structure and / or its fibrous elements, for example, the filaments constituting the soluble fibrous structure, may contain one or more active agents, for example, an active agent for cleaning fabrics, an active agent for washing dishes, an active agent for cleaning hard surfaces, an active agent for hair care, an active agent for floor care, an active agent for skin care, an active agent for caring for the oral cavity, a medicinal active agent and mixtures thereof. In one example, the soluble fibrous structure of the present invention and / or its fibrous elements contain one or more surfactants, one or more enzymes (for example, in the form of an enzyme granule), one or more flavorings and / or one or more suds suppressants . In another example, the soluble fibrous structure of the present invention and / or its fibrous elements contain a modifier and / or chelating agent. In another example, the soluble fiber structure of the present invention and / or its fiber elements contain a whitening agent (such as an encapsulated whitening agent). In yet another example, the soluble fiber structure of the present invention and / or its fiber elements contain one or more surfactants and optionally one or more flavorings.

In one example, the soluble fiber structure of the present invention is a water-soluble fiber structure.

In one example, the mass per square meter of the soluble fiber structure of the present invention is less than 10,000 g / m ² and / or less than 5,000 g / m ² and / or less than 4,000 g / m ² and / or less than 2,000 g / m ² and / or less than 1000 g / m ² and / or less than 500 g / m ² and / or more than 10 g / m ² and / or more than 25 g / m ² and / or more than 50 g / m ² and / or more than 100 g / m ² and / or more than 250 g / m ² when measured in accordance with the method for checking the mass of a square meter described herein.

The term “fiber element” in the context of this document means an elongated particle having a length substantially greater than its average diameter, that is, a particle whose ratio of length to average diameter is at least about 10. The fiber element can be a thread or fiber. In one example, the fibrous element is a single fibrous element or yarn containing many fibrous elements. In another example, the fibrous element is a single fibrous element.

The fibrous elements of the present invention can be formed from compositions forming a fibrous element, also called fiber forming compositions, by implementing a molding method such as blown melting, spin bonding, electrospinning and / or rotor molding.

The fibrous elements of the present invention can be single-component and / or multi-component. For example, fibrous elements may contain bicomponent fibers and / or filaments. Bicomponent fibers and / or filaments can be in any form, for example, tightly touching, such as “core and cladding”, “islands in the sea”, etc.

In one example, a fibrous element, which may be a thread, and / or a fiber, and / or a thread cut into smaller fragments (fibers) of a thread, can have a length of at least 0.254 cm (0.1 inches), and / or at least 1.27 cm (0.5 in.) And / or at least 2.54 cm (1.0 in.) And / or at least 5.08 cm (2 in.) And / or at least 7.62 cm (3 inches) and / or at least 10.16 cm (4 inches) and / or at least 15.24 cm (6 inches). In one example, the fiber of the present invention has a length of less than 5.08 cm (2 inches).

The term "thread" in the context of this document means an elongated particle, as described above. In one example, the thread has a length of at least 5.08 cm (2 inches) and / or at least 7.62 cm (3 inches), at least 10.16 cm (4 inches), and / or at least 15.24 cm (6 inches).

Threads are generally considered to be of continuous or substantially continuous nature. Threads are relatively longer than fibers. Threads are relatively longer than fibers. Non-limiting examples of threads include Meltblown and / or Spunbond.

In one example, one or more fibers can be formed from the filaments of the present invention, for example, when cutting filaments into shorter fragments. Thus, in one example, the present invention also includes a fiber made from a thread of the present invention, for example, a fiber containing one or more materials constituting the fiber element and one or more additional components, such as active agents. Thus, unless otherwise indicated herein, references to a thread and / or threads of the present invention also include fibers made from such a thread and / or threads. Fibers are generally considered discontinuous in nature, unlike filaments that are considered continuous in nature.

Non-limiting examples of fibrous elements include meltblown and / or spunbond fibrous elements. Non-limiting examples of polymers that can be formed into fibrous elements include natural polymers such as starch, starch derivatives, cellulose, for example viscose and / or lyocell, and cellulose derivatives, hemicellulose, hemicellulose derivatives and synthetic polymers, including , without limitation, thermoplastic polymeric fibrous elements such as polyesters, nylons, polyolefins such as polypropylene yarns, polyethylene yarns, and biodegradable thermoplastic fibers, Which as a polylactide filament yarn poligidroksialkanoatnye, polyetheramide and polycaprolactone filament yarn. Depending on the polymer and / or composition from which the fibrous elements are made, the fibrous elements may be soluble or insoluble.

The term “fibrous element forming composition” in the context of the present invention means a composition that can be used to make a fibrous element, for example a yarn, of the present invention, for example, by melting with a blow and / or spinning. The composition forming the fibrous element contains one or more materials forming the fibrous element, which have properties that can be used for molding into a fibrous element, for example a thread. In one example, the fiber forming material comprises a polymer. In addition to one or more materials forming the fibrous element, the composition forming the fibrous element may contain one or more additional components, for example one or more active agents. In addition, the composition forming the fibrous element may contain one or more polar solvents, such as water, in which one or more materials forming the fibrous element are dissolved and / or dispersed, for example, all and / or one or more active agents.

In one example, as shown in FIG. 1, a fiber element 10, for example a thread, of the present invention, made from a composition forming the fiber element of the present invention, is one in which one or more active agents 12 can be located inside the fiber element 10, for example a thread, and not on the fiber element 10, for example, in the form of a coating. The total content of the materials forming the fibrous element and the total content of active agents within the composition forming the fibrous element can be any acceptable amount, provided that it allows the production of fibrous elements, for example, filaments of the present invention. In addition to the active agents 12 located inside the fibrous element 10, the fibrous element 10 may contain one or more restraining agents (not shown) located inside and / or on the surface of the fibrous element. Additionally, in addition to locating the active agents 12 inside the fiber element 10, or in an alternative embodiment, the fiber element 10 may contain one or more active agents 12 on the surface of the fiber element 10.

In another example, the fibrous element of the present invention may contain one or more active agents that, upon initial manufacture, are located inside the fibrous element but then stand out on the surface of the fibrous element before and / or under the conditions of the intended use of the fibrous element.

The term “fiber forming material” as used herein means a material, such as a polymer or monomers, capable of producing a polymer that has properties that can be used to make the fiber element. In one example, the fiber-forming material comprises one or more substituted polymers, such as an anionic, cationic, zwitterionic and / or non-ionic polymer. In another example, the polymer may comprise a hydroxyl polymer, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and / or a polysaccharide, such as starch and / or a starch derivative, such as ethoxylated starch and / or acid diluted starch. In another example, the polymer may contain polyethylenes and / or tetrafthalates. In yet another example, the material forming the fibrous element is a material soluble in a polar solvent.

The term "particle" in the context of this document means a solid additional component, such as a powder, granule, capsule, microcapsule and / or spherical particle. In one example, the fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures of the present invention may contain one or more particles. Particles can be located inside the fibrous element (within the fibrous elements, for example, active agents and / or restraining agents), on the surface of the fibrous element, for example, a coating composition, and / or among the fibrous elements (between the fibrous elements inside the fibrous structure, for example soluble fibrous structure). Non-limiting examples of fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures containing particles are described in US 2013/0172226, which is incorporated herein by reference. In one example, the median particle size is 1600 μm or less when measured in accordance with the median particle size verification method described herein. In another example, the median particle size is from about 1 μm to about 1600 μm, and / or from about 1 μm to about 800 μm, and / or from about 5 μm to about 500 μm, and / or from about 10 μm to about 300 microns, and / or from about 10 microns to about 100 microns, and / or from about 10 microns to about 50 microns, and / or from about 10 microns to about 30 microns when measured in accordance with the method for checking the median particle size described in this document. The particle may take the form of a ball, rod, tube, square, rectangle, disk, star, fiber, or have regular or irregular random shapes.

The term "particle containing a deterrent agent" in the context of this document means a solid additional component containing one or more deterrent agents. In one example, a particle containing a restraining agent is a particulate restraining agent (in other words, the particle is 100% composed of the restraining agent (s)). The median size of a particle containing a restraining agent can be 1600 μm or less when measured in accordance with the method for checking the median particle size described herein. In another example, the median size of the particle containing the restraining agent is from about 1 μm to about 1600 μm, and / or from about 1 μm to about 800 μm, and / or from about 5 μm to about 500 μm, and / or from about 10 microns to about 300 microns, and / or from about 10 microns to about 100 microns, and / or from about 10 microns to about 50 microns, and / or from about 10 microns to about 30 microns when measured in accordance with the median verification method particle size described herein. In one example, one or more of the inhibiting agents is in the form of a particle whose median size is 20 μm or less when measured in accordance with the method for checking the median particle size described herein.

The term "particle containing an active agent" in the context of this document means a solid additional component containing one or more active agents. In one example, a particle containing an active agent is an active agent in the form of a particle (in other words, the particle is 100% composed of active agent (s)). The median particle size of the active agent-containing particle may be 1600 μm or less when measured in accordance with the median particle size verification method described herein. In another example, the median size of the particle containing the restraining agent is from about 1 μm to about 1600 μm, and / or from about 1 μm to about 800 μm, and / or from about 5 μm to about 500 μm, and / or from about 10 microns to about 300 microns, and / or from about 10 microns to about 100 microns, and / or from about 10 microns to about 50 microns, and / or from about 10 microns to about 30 microns when measured in accordance with the median verification method particle size described herein. In one example, one or more of the active agents is in the form of a particle whose median size is 20 μm or less when measured in accordance with the method for checking the median particle size described herein.

In one example of the present invention, the fibrous structure comprises a plurality of particles, for example particles containing an active agent, and a plurality of fibrous elements with a mass ratio of particles, for example, particles containing an active agent, to fiber elements of 1: 100 or more, and / or 1: 50 or more, and / or 1:10 or more, and / or 1: 3 or more, and / or 1: 2 or more, and / or 1: 1 or more, and / or from about 7: 1 to about 1: 100, and / or from about 7: 1 to about 1:50, and / or from about 7: 1 to about 1:10, and / or from about 7: 1 to about 1: 3, and / or from about 6: 1 to 1: 2, and / or from about 5: 1 to about 1: 1, and / if from about 4: 1 to about 1: 1, and / or from about 3: 1 to about 1.5: 1.

In another example of the present invention, the fibrous structure contains many particles, for example particles containing an active agent, and many fibrous elements with a mass ratio of particles, for example particles containing an active agent, to fiber elements equal to from about 7: 1 to about 1: 1, and / or from about 7: 1 to about 1.5: 1, and / or from about 7: 1 to about 3: 1, and / or from about 6: 1 to about 3: 1.

In another example of the present invention, the fibrous structure contains many particles, for example particles containing an active agent, and many fibrous elements with a mass ratio of particles, for example particles containing an active agent, to fiber elements equal to from about 1: 1 to about 1: 100 and / or from about 1: 2 to about 1:50, and / or from about 1: 3 to about 1:50, and / or from about 1: 3 to about 1:10.

In another example, the fibrous structure of the present invention contains many particles, for example particles containing an active agent, the mass of a square meter of which is more than 1 g / m ² and / or more than 10 g / m ² and / or more than 20 g / m ² , and / or more than 30 g / m ² and / or more than 40 g / m ² and / or from about 1 g / m ² to about 5000 g / m ² and / or up to about 3500 g / m ² and / or up to about 2000 g / m ² and / or from about 1 g / m ² to about 1000 g / m ² and / or from about 10 g / m ² to about 400 g / m ² and / or about 20 g / m ² to about 300 g / m ² and / or from about 30 g / m ² to about 200 g / m ² and / or from about 40 g / m ² to about 100 g / m ² measurement in Compliant with the method of checking square meter weight as described herein.

In another example, the fibrous structure of the present invention contains many fibrous elements, the mass of a square meter of which is more than 1 g / m ² and / or more than 10 g / m ² and / or more than 20 g / m ² and / or more than 30 g / m ² and / or more than 40 g / m ² and / or from about 1 g / m2 to about 10,000 g / m ² and / or from about 10 g / m ² to about 5,000 g / m ² and / or up to about 3000 g / m ² and / or up to about 2000 g / m ² and / or from about 20 g / m ² to about 2000 g / m ² and / or from about 30 g / m ² about 1000 g / m ² and / or from about 30 g / m ² to about 500 g / m ² and / or from about 30 g / m ² to about 300 g / m ² and / or from about 40 g / m ² to about 100 g / m ² , and / or from about 40 g / m ² to about 80 g / m ² when measured in accordance with the method for checking the mass of a square meter described herein. In one example, the fibrous structure contains two or more layers, wherein the fibrous elements are in at least one of the layers and have a square meter mass of about 1 g / m ² to about 500 g / m ² .

The term "additional component" in the context of this document means any material located in the fibrous element of the present invention, which is not a material forming the fibrous element. In one example, the additional component contains an active agent. In yet another example, the additional component contains a restraining agent. In another example, the additional component contains a processing aid. In yet another example, the additional component comprises a filler. In one example, the additional component contains any material located in the fiber element that, if removed from the fiber element, will not cause the fiber element to lose its structure, in other words, its absence will not lead to the fiber element losing its solid shape. In another example, an additional component, for example an active agent, contains non-polymeric material.

In another example, the additional component comprises a plasticizer for the fibrous element. Non-limiting examples of acceptable plasticizers of the present invention include polyols, copolyols, polycarboxylic acids, polyesters and dimethicone copolyols. Examples of useful polyols include, but are not limited to, glycerin, diglycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, butylene glycol, pentylene glycol, cyclohexane dimethanol, hexanediol, 2,2,4-trimethylpentane-1,3-diol, polyethylene glycol (200-600), pentaerythritol, alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol, lactitol and other monohydric and polyhydric low molecular weight alcohols (for example, C2-C8 alcohols); mono, di- and oligosaccharides such as fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, lactose, high fructose corn syrup, and dextrins, and ascorbic acid.

In one example, the plasticizer includes glycerol and / or propylene glycol and / or glycerol derivatives such as propoxylated glycerol. In another example, the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycidol, urea, sorbitol, xylitol, maltitol, sugars, ethylene bisformamide, amino acids, sorbates, and mixtures thereof.

In another example, the additional component contains a crosslinking agent used to crosslink one or more materials forming the fiber element that are in the fiber elements of the present invention. In one example, a crosslinking agent comprises a crosslinking agent capable of crosslinking between hydroxyl polymers, for example, via the hydroxyl groups of hydroxyl polymers. Non-limiting examples of suitable crosslinking agents include imidazolidinones, polycarboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof. In one example, the crosslinking agent comprises a glyoxal adduct, for example, dihydroxyimidazolidinone, such as dihydroxyethylene urea (DHEU). A crosslinking agent may be present in the composition forming the fiber element and / or the fiber element of the present invention to control the solubility and / or dissolution of the fiber element in a solvent, such as a polar solvent.

In another example, the additional component comprises a rheology modifier, such as a shear flow modifier and / or a longitudinal flow modifier. Non-limiting examples of rheology modifiers include, without limitation, polyacrylamide, polyurethanes and polyacrylates that can be used in the fibrous elements of the present invention. Non-limiting examples of rheology modifiers are available from The Dow Chemical Company (Midland, MI).

In yet another example, the additional component contains one or more pigments and / or dyes that are incorporated into the fibrous elements of the present invention to provide a visual signal when the fibrous elements are placed under the intended use and / or when the active agent is released from the fibrous elements, and / or with a change in the morphology of the fibrous element.

In another example, the additional component contains one or more release agents and / or lubricants. Non-limiting examples of suitable release agents and / or lubricants include fatty acids, fatty acid salts, fatty alcohols, fatty acid esters, sulfonated acid esters, fatty amine acetates, fatty acid amides, silicones, aminosilicones, fluoropolymers and mixtures thereof. In one example, release agents and / or lubricants are added to the fiber element after the formation of the fiber element. In one example, one or more release agents / lubricants are introduced into the fibrous element prior to collection of the fibrous elements on the collection device to form a soluble fibrous structure. In another example, one or more release agents / lubricants are introduced into a soluble fibrous structure formed from the fibrous elements of the present invention, until one or more soluble fibrous structures come into contact with each other, for example, in a set of soluble fibrous structures. In yet another example, one or more release agents / lubricants are introduced into the fiber element of the present invention and / or the soluble fiber structure containing the fiber element until the fiber element and / or soluble fiber structure come into contact with a surface, such as the surface of equipment used in a process system to facilitate removal of the fibrous element and / or soluble fibrous structure and / or to prevent adhesion of the layers of fibrous elements and / or soluble fibrous structures of the present invention to each other, even random. In one example, release agents / lubricants contain particles.

In yet another example, the additional component contains one or more anti-caking agents and / or anti-tack agents. Non-limiting examples of acceptable anti-caking agents and / or tackifying agents include starches, starch derivatives, cross-linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone, cross-linked cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, silicon dioxide, metal oxides, calcium carbonate, talc, mica and their mixtures.

The term "intended use conditions" in the context of this document means the temperature, physical, chemical and / or mechanical conditions in which the fibrous element of the present invention is located when using the fibrous element for one or more intended purposes. For example, if the fibrous element and / or the soluble fibrous structure containing the fibrous element are intended to be used in a washing machine for washing clothes, the intended use conditions will include the temperature, physical, chemical and / or mechanical conditions created in the washing machine, including any washing water during the washing process. In another example, if the fibrous element and / or the soluble fibrous structure containing the fibrous element are intended to be used by a person as a shampoo for the purpose of hair care, the conditions for the intended use will include temperature, physical, chemical and / or mechanical conditions created in the process of washing human hair. Similarly, if the fibrous element and / or the soluble fibrous structure containing the fibrous element are intended to be used for washing dishes (manually or using a dishwasher), the intended use will include temperature, physical, chemical and / or mechanical conditions created in dishwashing water and / or in a dishwasher during dishwashing.

The term "active agent" in the context of this document means an additional component that produces the intended effect in the environment relative to the fibrous element and / or fibrous structure containing the fibrous element of the present invention, for example, when placing the fibrous element in the conditions of the intended use of the fibrous element and / or a fibrous structure containing the fibrous element. In one example, the active agent contains an additional component that acts on a hard surface (i.e., kitchen worktops, bathtubs, toilets, toilets, washbasins, floors, walls, teeth, cars, windows, mirrors, dishes) and / or a soft surface (i.e. fabric, hair, skin, carpet, crops, plants). In another example, the active agent contains an additional component that produces a chemical reaction (i.e., foam formation, bubble formation, staining, heating, cooling, soaking, disinfecting, and / or clarification, and / or chlorination, for example, clarification of water, and / or disinfection water, and / or chlorination of water). In another example, the active agent contains an additional component that acts on the environment (i.e. deodorizes, cleanses, aromatizes air). In one example, the active agent is formed in situ, for example, during the formation of a fibrous element containing an active agent, for example, the fibrous element may contain a water-soluble polymer (eg, starch) and a surfactant (eg, an anionic surfactant), which can create a polymer complex or coacervate, which acts as an active agent used to treat tissue surfaces.

The term “acting” in the context of this document in relation to surface treatment means that the active agent has a beneficial effect on the surface or the environment. The term “acting” includes regulating and / or immediately improving the appearance, cleanliness, smell and / or tactile perception of a surface or environment. In one example, the term “exposure” to the surface of keratinized tissue (eg, skin and / or hair) means the regulation and / or immediate improvement of the cosmetic appearance and / or tactile perception of keratinized tissue. For example, “adjusting the condition of the skin, hair or nails (keratinized tissue)” includes thickening of the skin, hair or nails (eg, the growth of the epidermis and / or dermis and / or subcutaneous [eg, subcutaneous fat or muscle] layers of the skin and if applicable, keratinized layers of the nail or hair shaft) to reduce atrophy of the skin, hair or nails by increasing the tortuosity of the dermo-epidermal border (also called epidermal combs), and preventing loss of skin or hair elasticity (reduction, damage and / or other activation of functional elastin of the skin), for example, with elastosis, sagging, cessation of skin or hair recovery after deformation; melanin or non-melanin discoloration of the skin, hair or nails, for example, circles under the eyes, spots (for example, uneven red coloring due to, for example, pink acne) (hereinafter “red spotting”), yellowish color (pale color), discoloration caused by telangiectasia or spider veins, and graying hair.

In another example, the term “exposure” means the removal of stains and / or odors from fabric products, such as clothing, towels, linen, and / or hard surfaces, such as countertops and / or utensils, including pots and pans.

The term “active tissue care agent” as used herein means an active agent that, when applied to a tissue, has a beneficial effect and / or improves tissue. Non-limiting examples of beneficial effects and / or improvements in tissue include cleaning (for example, by means of surfactants), stain removal, stain reduction, wrinkle reduction, color restoration, prevention of static electricity, wrinkle resistance, crease resistance, reduction of abrasion, resistance to abrasion, removal of spools, prevention of spools, removal of dirt, resistance to contamination (including dirt repellent), preservation of shape we, shrinkage reduction, softness, aroma, antibacterial effect, antiviral effect, odor resistance and odor elimination.

The term “active dishwashing agent” as used herein means an active agent which, when applied to glassware, glassware, pots, pans, cooking utensils and / or cooking paper, has a beneficial effect and / or improves glassware, glassware, plastic products, pots, pans and / or cooking paper. A non-limiting example of beneficial effects and / or improvements to utensils, glassware, plastic products, pots, pans, cooking utensils and / or cooking paper includes removing food and / or dirt, cleaning (e.g. using surface-active substances), stain removal, stain reduction, grease removal, water stain removal and / or water stain prevention, glass and metal care, sanitization, shine and polish.

The term "active agent for hard surfaces" in the context of this document means an active agent, which when applied to floors, countertops, washbasins, windows, mirrors, showers, bathtubs and / or toilets has a beneficial effect and / or improves floors, countertops, washbasins, windows, mirrors, showers, bathtubs and / or toilets. A non-limiting example of the beneficial effects and / or improvements of floors, countertops, washbasins, windows, mirrors, showers, bathtubs and / or toilets includes the removal of food and / or dirt, cleaning (for example, using surfactants), stain removal, stain reduction, fat removal, water stain removal and / or prevention of water stains, descaling, disinfection, glossing, polishing and refreshing.

The term "active agent for giving beauty" in the context of this document means an active agent that is capable of causing one or more beneficial effects associated with giving beauty.

The term "active agent for skin care" in the context of this document means an active agent that when applied to the skin has a beneficial effect or improves the skin. It should be understood that active agents for skin care are used for application not only to the skin, but also to the hair, scalp, nails and other keratinized mammalian tissue.

The term "active agent for hair care" in the context of this document means an active agent that when applied to the hair of a mammal has a beneficial effect and / or improves hair. Non-limiting examples of beneficial effects and / or improvements to hair include softness, prevention of static electricity, hair restoration, dandruff removal, prevention of dandruff, hair coloring, maintaining shape, hair fixing and hair growth.

The term "mass ratio" in the context of this document means the ratio of the mass (g or%) of a dry fibrous element, for example a thread, and / or a material forming a fibrous element, in a fibrous element, for example a thread, calculated on the dry matter, to the weight of the additional component , such as active agent (s) (s) (g or%), in a fibrous element, for example yarn, in terms of dry matter.

The term “hydroxyl polymer” in the context of this document includes any polymer containing a hydroxyl group that can be incorporated into the fibrous element of the present invention, for example, in the form of a material forming the fibrous element. In one example, the hydroxyl polymer of the present invention includes more than 10%, and / or more than 20%, and / or more than 25% by weight of hydroxyl groups.

The term "biodegradable" in the context of this document means in relation to a material, such as a fibrous element as a whole and / or a polymer inside a fibrous element, such as a material forming a fibrous element, that the fibrous element and / or polymer is able to undergo and / or undergo physical chemical and / or biological degradation at an urban solid waste composting plant in such a way that at least 5% and / or at least 7% and / or at least 10% of the initial amount of fiber that element and / or polymer is converted to carbon dioxide after 30 days when measured in accordance with the OECD Chemicals Testing Guide 301 V (1992); “Total Biodegradability: CO ₂ Emission Test (Sturm Modified Test)”, incorporated herein by reference.

The term "non-biodegradable" in the context of this document means in relation to a material, such as a fibrous element as a whole and / or a polymer inside a fibrous element, such as a material forming a fibrous element, that the fibrous element and / or polymer is not able to undergo physical, chemical and / or biodegradation at a municipal solid waste composting plant in such a way that at least 5% of the initial amount of the fiber element and / or polymer is converted to carbon dioxide after 30 days when measured in accordance with the OECD Chemicals Testing Guide 301V (1992); “Full biodegradability: CO ₂ emission test (modified Sturm test)”, incorporated herein by reference.

The term "non-thermoplastic" in the context of this document means in relation to a material, such as a fibrous element as a whole and / or a polymer inside a fibrous element, such as a material forming a fibrous element, that the fibrous element and / or polymer does not have a melting point and / or softening point, which allows it to maintain fluidity under pressure in the absence of a plasticizer, such as water, glycerin, sorbitol, urea, etc.

The term "non-thermoplastic biodegradable fibrous element" in the context of this document means a fibrous element that has the properties of biodegradability and non-thermoplasticity in accordance with the above definitions.

The term "non-thermoplastic non-biodegradable fibrous element" in the context of this document means a fibrous element that has the properties of non-biodegradable and non-thermoplastic in accordance with the above definitions.

The term "thermoplastic" in the context of this document means in relation to a material, such as a fibrous element as a whole and / or a polymer inside a fibrous element, such as a material forming a fibrous element, that the fibrous element and / or polymer has a certain melting point and / or softening temperature, which allows it to maintain fluidity under pressure in the absence of plasticizer.

The term "thermoplastic, biodegradable fibrous element" in the context of this document means a fibrous element that has the properties of biodegradability and thermoplasticity in accordance with the above definitions.

The term "thermoplastic non-biodegradable fibrous element" in the context of this document means a fibrous element that has the properties of non-biodegradable and thermoplastic in accordance with the above definitions.

The term “cellulose-free” as used herein means that there is less than 5% and / or less than 3% and / or less than 1% and / or less than 0.1% and / or 0% in the fiber element the mass of the cellulose polymer, the cellulose derivative polymer and / or the cellulose copolymer. In one example, “cellulose-free” means that the fiber element contains less than 5% and / or less than 3% and / or less than 1% and / or less than 0.1% and / or 0% by weight of the polymer cellulose.

The term “polar solvent soluble material” as used herein means a material that is capable of being mixed with a polar solvent. In one example, a material soluble in a polar solvent is capable of being miscible with alcohol and / or water. In other words, a material soluble in a polar solvent is a material that is capable of forming a stable (not phase separated for more than 5 minutes after the formation of a homogeneous solution) homogeneous solution with a polar solvent, such as alcohol and / or water, under ambient conditions. Wednesday.

The term "alcohol-soluble material" in the context of this document means a material that is capable of mixing with alcohol. In other words, the material is capable of forming a stable (not phase separated for more than 5 minutes after the formation of a homogeneous solution) homogeneous solution with alcohol under ambient conditions.

The term "water-soluble material" in the context of this document means a material that is capable of mixing with water. In other words, the material is capable of forming a stable (not separated for more than 5 minutes after the formation of a homogeneous solution) homogeneous solution with water under ambient conditions.

The term “soluble non-polar solvent material” as used herein means a material that is capable of being mixed with a non-polar solvent. In other words, a material soluble in a non-polar solvent is a material that is capable of forming a stable (not phase separated for more than 5 minutes after the formation of a homogeneous solution) homogeneous solution with a non-polar solvent.

The term "environmental conditions" in the context of this document means a temperature of about 23 ° C ± 2.2 ° C (73 ° F ± 4 ° F) and a relative humidity of 50% ± 10%.

The term "weight average molecular weight" in the context of this document means the weight average molecular weight determined by the method of checking the weight average molecular weight described herein.

The term "length" in the context of this document in relation to the fiber element means the length along the longest axis of the fiber element from one end to the other end. If the fibrous element has a loop, curl or bend, then the length is the length along the entire path of the fibrous element.

The term "diameter" in the context of this document in relation to the fibrous element means a diameter that is measured in accordance with the method of checking the diameter described in this document. In one example, the fibrous element of the present invention has a diameter of less than 100 microns, and / or less than 75 microns, and / or less than 50 microns, and / or less than 25 microns, and / or less than 20 microns, and / or less than 15 microns, and / or less than 10 microns, and / or less than 6 microns, and / or more than 1 microns, and / or more than 3 microns.

The term “triggering condition”, as used herein in one example, means something, such as an action or event that acts as a stimulus, or triggers, or accelerates a change in the fiber element, such as the loss or violation of the physical structure of the fiber element and / or the release of an additional component, such as an active agent. In another example, the triggering condition may be an environment, such as water, when a fibrous element and / or a soluble fibrous structure and / or film of the present invention are added to water. In other words, nothing changes in water, except for the fact that the fibrous element and / or soluble fibrous structure and / or film of the present invention are added to water.

The term "morphological changes" in the context of this document in relation to a change in the morphology of a fiber element means that a change in its physical structure occurs in the fiber element. Non-limiting examples of morphological changes in the fiber element of the present invention include dissolution, melting, swelling, compression, breaking into pieces, blasting, elongation, shortening, and combinations thereof. The fibrous elements of the present invention may completely or substantially lose their physical structure, or their morphological structure may change, or they may retain or essentially retain their physical structure when exposed to the conditions of the intended use.

The expression "by weight calculated on the dry fibrous element and / or in terms of the dry soluble fibrous structure" means that the mass of the fibrous element and / or soluble fibrous structure was measured immediately after keeping the fibrous element and / or soluble fibrous structure in an air-conditioned room at temperature 23 ° С ± 1 ° С and relative humidity 50% ± 2% for 2 hours. In one example, the expression "by weight based on the dry fibrous element and / or in terms of the dry soluble fibrous structure" means that the fibrous element and / or soluble fibrous structure contains less than 20% and / or less than 15%, and / or less than 10%, and / or less than 7%, and / or less than 5%, and / or less than 3%, and / or up to 0%, and / or more than 0% moisture, such as water, for example free water, in relation to the mass of the fibrous element and / or soluble fibrous structure when measured in accordance with the method of checking the water content described in this document m.

The term "total content" in the context of this document, for example, in relation to the total content of one or more active agents present in the fibrous element and / or soluble fibrous structure, means the sum of the masses or mass percentages of all materials considered, for example active agents. In other words, the fibrous element and / or soluble fibrous structure may contain 25% by weight based on the dry fibrous element and / or dry soluble fibrous structure of the anionic surfactant, 15% by weight based on the dry fibrous element and / or dry the soluble fibrous structure of the nonionic surfactant, 10% by weight of a chelating agent and 5% flavoring agent so that the total content of active agents present in the fibrous element is more than 50%; namely 55% by weight, calculated on the dry fibrous element and / or dry soluble fibrous structure.

The term "detergent" in the context of this document means a solid substance of a certain shape, for example a rectangular solid substance, sometimes called a sheet, which contains one or more active agents, for example, an active agent for the care of fabrics, an active agent for washing dishes, an active agent for solids surfaces and their mixtures. In one example, the detergent of the present invention contains one or more surfactants, one or more enzymes, one or more flavors, and / or one or more suds suppressants. In another example, the detergent of the present invention contains a modifier and / or chelating agent. In another example, the detergent of the present invention contains a whitening agent.

In one example, the detergent contains a fibrous structure, for example a soluble fibrous structure.

The term "different" or "different" in the context of this document means in relation to a material, such as a fibrous element as a whole, and / or a material forming a fibrous element inside the fibrous element, and / or an active agent inside the fibrous element, that one material, such as a fibrous element and / or the material forming the fibrous element and / or the active agent has chemical, physical and / or structural differences from another material, such as the fibrous element, and / or the material forming the fibrous ele ment and / or active agent. For example, the material forming the fibrous element in the form of a thread is different from the same material forming the fibrous element in the form of a fiber. Similarly, starch is different from cellulose. However, the same materials with different molecular weights, such as starches with different molecular weights, are not different materials for the purposes of the present invention.

The term “random polymer blend” as used herein means that two or more different materials constituting the fiber element are arbitrarily combined to form the fiber element. Accordingly, two or more different materials forming a fibrous element, which are orderly combined to form a fibrous element, such as a two-component fiber element, of the type of "core and sheath" are not an arbitrary mixture of various materials forming the fibrous element, for the purposes of the present invention.

The terms “bonding”, “bonding” and / or “bonding” in the context of this document in relation to fibrous elements and / or particle means combining by direct contact or indirect contact of the fibrous elements and / or particles so that a fibrous structure is formed. In one example, the connected fibrous elements and / or particles can be bonded, for example, by adhesives and / or thermal bonds. In another example, fibrous elements and / or particles can be bonded to each other by superposing on the same fibrous structure to form a belt and / or structured belt.

In the context of this document, the terms in the singular, for example, "anionic surfactant" or "fiber", should be understood as meaning one or more of the claimed or described materials.

All percentages and ratios are calculated by weight unless otherwise indicated. All percentages and ratios are calculated based on the entire composition, unless otherwise indicated.

Unless otherwise indicated, all contents of a component or composition are related to the active content of that component or composition and exclude impurities, such as residual solvents or by-products, which may be present on commercially available sources.

Fiber structure

Fibrous structures, for example soluble fibrous structures, of the present invention comprise a plurality of fibrous elements, for example a plurality of filaments, one or more active agents and one or more restraining agents. In one example, a plurality of fibrous elements are intertwined to form a fibrous structure, for example a soluble fibrous structure.

In one example of the present invention, the fibrous structure is a soluble fibrous structure.

In one example of the present invention, the soluble fibrous structure is a water-soluble fibrous structure.

In another example of the present invention, the fibrous structure is a fibrous structure with holes. In one example, the fibrous structure is a water-soluble fibrous structure containing many holes. The holes inside the fibrous structures of the present invention can be arranged in the form of a nonrandom, repeating pattern.

If holes are present in the fibrous structures, they can be of almost any shape and size. In one example, the holes have a substantially circular or oblong shape and are arranged in the form of a regular pattern at a distance from each other. Each of the holes may have a diameter of from about 0.1 to about 2 mm and / or from about 0.5 to about 1 mm. The holes can form an open area within the water-soluble fibrous structure with holes equal to from about 0.5% to about 25%, and / or from about 1% to about 20%, and / or from about 2% to about 10%. It is contemplated that the advantages of the present invention can be achieved by using non-repeating and / or incorrect hole patterns having various shapes and sizes. Holes in fibrous structures, for example water-soluble fibrous structures, can be created using a number of methods. For example, holes can be created using a variety of methods, including bonding and stretching, such as described in US patent No. 3,949,127 and No. 5,873,868. In one embodiment, the openings can be formed by forming a plurality of spaced apart fusible stabilized regions, followed by rolling the fibrous structure to stretch the fibrous structure and forming openings in the fusible stabilized regions, as described in US Pat. Nos. 5,628,097 and 5,916,661, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. In another embodiment, the holes can be formed in a multilayer fibrous structure using the method described in US Pat. Nos. 6,830,800 and 6,863,960, which are incorporated herein by reference. Another method for creating holes in fibrous structures is described in US Pat. No. 8,241,543, entitled Method And Apparatus For Making An Apertured Fibrous Structure, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In one example, a fibrous structure, for example a soluble fibrous structure, contains many identical or substantially identical from a compositional point of view of the fibrous elements in accordance with the present invention. In another example, a fibrous structure, for example a soluble fibrous structure, may contain two or more different fibrous elements in accordance with the present invention. Non-limiting examples of differences in the fibrous elements may be physical differences, such as differences in diameter, length, texture, shape, stiffness, elasticity, etc .; chemical differences such as degree of crosslinking, solubility, melting point, Tg, active agent, fiber forming material, color, active agent content, square meter mass, fiber forming material, any coating on the fiber biodegradability or its absence, hydrophobicity or its absence, contact angle, etc .; differences in whether the fiber element loses its physical structure when the fibrous element is exposed to the conditions of the intended use; differences in whether the morphology of the fiber element changes when the fiber element is exposed to the conditions of the intended use; and differences in the rate at which one or more active agents are released from the fiber element upon exposure to the fiber element under the conditions of intended use. In one example, two or more fibrous elements and / or two or more particles within the soluble fibrous structure may contain various active agents. This may be the case when the various active agents may be incompatible with each other, for example, an anionic surfactant (such as an active shampoo agent) and a cationic surfactant (such as an active hair conditioner).

In another example, a fibrous structure, for example a soluble fibrous structure, may contain various regions, such as regions with different mass per square meter, density and / or thickness. In yet another example, a fibrous structure, for example a soluble fibrous structure, may contain a texture on one or more of its surfaces. The surface of the fibrous structure, for example a soluble fibrous structure, may contain a pattern, such as a non-random, repeating pattern. On a fibrous structure, for example a soluble fibrous structure, a relief pattern may be embossed.

In one example, the fibrous structure may comprise separate regions of fibrous elements that are different from other parts of the soluble fibrous structure. Non-limiting examples of various regions within the fibrous structures are described in published US patent applications No. 2013/0171421 and No. 2013/0167305, incorporated herein by reference.

The fibrous structure of the present invention may contain a variety of particles, for example, particles containing active agents, particles containing restraining agents, and particles containing both active agents and restraining agents. Non-limiting examples of fibrous structures containing particles containing active agents are described in US patent application No. 2013/0172226, incorporated herein by reference.

The fibrous structure of the present invention can be used in its original state or can be coated with one or more active agents and / or one or more restraining agents.

In one example, the thickness of the fibrous structure of the present invention is more than 0.01 mm and / or more than 0.05 mm and / or more than 0.1 mm and / or up to about 100 mm and / or up to about 50 mm and / or up to about 20 mm and / or up to about 10 mm and / or up to about 5 mm and / or up to about 2 mm and / or up to about 0.5 mm and / or up to about 0.3 mm when measured by the method of checking the thickness described in this document.

In another example, the geometric mean (SG) tensile strength of the fibrous structure of the present invention is about 200 g / cm or more, and / or about 500 g / cm or more, and / or about 1000 g / cm or more, and / or about 1500 g / cm or more and / or about 2000 g / cm or more and / or less than 5000 g / cm and / or less than 4000 g / cm and / or less than 3000 g / cm and / or less than 2500 g / cm when measured in accordance with the tensile strength test method described herein.

In another example, the geometric mean (SG) of the maximum elongation of the fibrous structure of the present invention is less than 1000%, and / or less than 800%, and / or less than 650%, and / or less than 550%, and / or less than 500%, and / or less than 250% and / or less than 100% when measured in accordance with the tensile strength test method described herein.

In another example, the geometric mean (SG) of the tangential modulus of the fibrous structure of the present invention is less than 5000 g / cm and / or less than 3000 g / cm and / or more than 100 g / cm and / or more than 500 g / cm and / or more than 1000 g / cm and / or more than 1500 g / cm when measured in accordance with the tensile strength test method described herein.

In another example, the geometric mean (SG) of the secant fiber module of the present invention is less than 5000 g / cm and / or less than 3000 g / cm and / or less than 2500 g / cm and / or less than 2000 g / cm and / or less than 1,500 g / cm and / or more than 100 g / cm and / or more than 300 g / cm and / or more than 500 g / cm when measured in accordance with the tensile strength test method described herein.

One or more and / or many of the fibrous elements of the present invention can form a fibrous structure using any suitable method known in this field. The fibrous structure can be used to deliver active agents from the fibrous elements of the present invention when exposed to the fibrous element under the conditions of the intended use of the fibrous elements and / or the fibrous structure.

The fibrous structures of the present invention may contain many identical or substantially identical from a compositional point of view fibrous elements in accordance with the present invention. In another example, the fibrous structure may contain two or more different fibrous elements in accordance with the present invention. Non-limiting examples of differences in the fibrous elements may be physical differences, such as differences in diameter, length, texture, shape, stiffness, elasticity, etc .; chemical differences such as degree of crosslinking, solubility, melting point, Tg, active agent, material forming the fibrous element, color, content of active agent, content of the material forming the fibrous element, the presence of any coating on the fibrous element, biodegradability or its absence, hydrophobicity or its absence, contact angle, etc .; differences in whether the fiber element loses its physical structure when the fibrous element is exposed to the conditions of the intended use; differences in whether the morphology of the fiber element changes when the fiber element is exposed to the conditions of the intended use; and differences in the rate at which one or more active agents are released from the fiber element upon exposure to the fiber element under the conditions of intended use. In one example, two or more fibrous elements within a soluble fibrous structure may contain the same material forming the fibrous element, but have different active agents. This may be the case when the various active agents may be incompatible with each other, for example, an anionic surfactant (such as an active shampoo agent) and a cationic surfactant (such as an active hair conditioner).

As shown in FIG. 2, the fibrous structure 14 of the present invention may comprise two or more different layers 16, 18 (in the z direction of the soluble fibrous structure 14) of the fibrous elements 10, for example, the filaments of the present invention, which form the fibrous structure 14. The fibrous elements 10 in the layer 16 can be identical or different from the fibrous elements 10 of the layer 18. Each layer 16, 18 may contain many identical or substantially identical or different fibrous elements 10. For example, fibrous elements 10, which can release active agents at a faster rate than other elements inside the fibrous structure 14, can be located on the outer surface of the fibrous structures 14. In addition to the fibrous elements 10, one or more layers may contain one or more particles (not shown), for example particles containing an active agent, and / or particles containing a restraining agent, a distribution spread over the entire volume of layers 16, 18 and / or over the entire volume of the fibrous structure 14. In addition and / or in an alternative embodiment, one or more surfaces of the fibrous structure may contain one or more active agents and / or one or more restraining agents.

Non-limiting examples of the use of the fibrous structure of the present invention include, but are not limited to, a laundry detergent base, a washing machine base, a soft washcloth, a base for cleaning and / or polishing hard surfaces, a base for cleaning and / or floor polishing, as a component in the battery, wet wipes for children, wet wipes for adults, wet wipes for intimate hygiene, toilet paper, the basis for window cleaners, the basis for collection and / or absorption of oil, the basis of insect repellent, the basis of a chemical for a swimming pool, food, an oral freshener, deodorant, a garbage collection bag, packaging film and / or paper, a wound dressing, drug delivery, isolation buildings, a coating and / or substrate for crops and / or plants, an adhesive base, a skin care product base, a hair care product base, an air freshener base, a water base and / or filter for water treatment, a cleaning agent base and a toilet base candy pet, bedding for livestock, bases means for bleaching teeth bases means for carpet cleaning and other suitable applications of the active agents of the present invention.

The average disintegration time of the soluble fiber structures of the present invention can be about 60 seconds (s) or less, and / or about 30 s or less, and / or about 10 s or less, and / or about 5 s or less, and / or about 2.0 s or less, and / or about 1.5 s or less when measured in accordance with the solubility test method described herein.

The average dissolution time of the soluble fiber structures of the present invention can be about 600 seconds (s) or less, and / or about 400 s or less, and / or about 300 s or less, and / or about 200 s or less, and / or about 175 s or less, and / or about 100 s or less, and / or about 50 s or less, and / or more than 1 s. when measured in accordance with the solubility verification method described herein.

The average decay time per g / m ^{2 of the} soluble fibrous structures of the present invention can be about 1.0 second / g / m ² (s / g / m ² ) or less, and / or about 0.5 s / g / m ² or less, and / or about 0.2 s / g / m ² or less, and / or about 0.1 s / g / m ² or less, and / or about 0.05 s / g / m ² or less, and / or about 0.03 s / g / m ² or less when measured in accordance with the solubility verification method described herein.

The average dissolution time per g / m of the soluble fibrous structures of the present invention having such fibrous elements can be about 10 seconds / g / m ² (s / g / m ² ) or less, and / or about 5.0 s / g / m ² or less, and / or about 3.0 s / g / m ² or less, and / or about 2.0 s / g / m ² or less, and / or about 1.8 s / g / m ² or less, and / or about 1.5 s / g / m ² or less when measured in accordance with the solubility verification method described herein.

In one example, the soluble fiber structure of the present invention has a thickness of more than 0.01 mm, and / or more than 0.05 mm, and / or more than 0.1 mm, and / or up to about 20 mm, and / or up to about 10 mm, and / or up to about 5 mm and / or up to about 2 mm and / or up to about 0.5 mm and / or up to about 0.3 mm when measured by the thickness verification method described herein.

In some embodiments, the implementation of the water content (% moisture) in acceptable fibrous structures may be from 0% to about 20%; in certain embodiments, the water content in the fibrous structures may be from about 1% to about 15%; and in certain embodiments, the water content in the fibrous structures may be from about 5% to about 10% when measured in accordance with the method for checking the water content described herein.

Fiber elements

A fibrous element, such as a thread and / or fiber, of the present invention contains one or more materials forming the fibrous element. In addition to the materials forming the fibrous element, the fibrous element may further comprise one or more active agents within the fibrous element, which are capable of being released from the fibrous element, for example filaments, for example when exposed to a fibrous element and / or a soluble fibrous structure containing a fibrous element, conditions of intended use. In one example, the total content of one or more materials forming the fibrous element located in the fibrous element is less than 80% by weight, calculated on the dry fibrous element and / or in terms of the dry soluble fibrous structure, and the total content of one or more active agents located in the fibrous element, is more than 20% by weight, calculated on the dry fibrous element and / or in terms of the dry soluble fibrous structure.

In one example, the fibrous element of the present invention contains about 100%, and / or more than 95%, and / or more than 90%, and / or more than 85%, and / or more than 75%, and / or more than 50% by weight, calculated on a dry fibrous element and / or in terms of a dry soluble fibrous structure of one or more materials forming the fibrous element. For example, the fiber forming material may comprise polyvinyl alcohol, starch, modified starch, such as propoxylated starch and / or ethoxylated starch, modified cellulose, such as carboxymethyl cellulose and / or hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and other suitable polymers, in particular.

In another example, the fibrous element of the present invention contains one or more materials forming the fibrous element, and one or more active agents, and the total content of materials forming the fibrous element located in the fibrous element is from about 5% to less than 80% by weight in in terms of dry fibrous element and / or in terms of dry soluble fibrous structure, and the total content of active agents in the fibrous element is more than 20% and up to about 95% by weight in terms of soup fibrous element and / or in dry soluble fibrous structure.

In one example, the fibrous element of the present invention contains at least 10% and / or at least 15% and / or at least 20% and / or less than 80% and / or less than 75% and / or less 65%, and / or less than 60%, and / or less than 55%, and / or less than 50%, and / or less than 45%, and / or less than 40% by weight, calculated on the dry fiber element and / or in terms of on a dry soluble fibrous structure of materials forming the fibrous element, and more than 20%, and / or at least 35%, and / or at least 40%, and / or at least 45%, and / or at least 50 %, and / or at least 60%, and / or men e 95%, and / or less than 90%, and / or less than 85%, and / or less than 80%, and / or less than 75% by weight, calculated on the dry fibrous element and / or in terms of the dry soluble fibrous structure of the active agents.

In one example, the fibrous element of the present invention contains at least 5%, and / or at least 10%, and / or at least 15%, and / or at least 20%, and / or less than 50%, and / or less than 45%, and / or less than 40%, and / or less than 35%, and / or less than 30%, and / or less than 25% by weight, calculated on the dry fibrous element and / or in terms of the dry soluble fibrous structure materials forming the fibrous element, and more than 50%, and / or at least 55%, and / or at least 60%, and / or at least 65%, and / or at least 70%, and / or less than 95%, and / or less than 90%, and / or less e 85%, and / or less than 80%, and / or less than 75% by weight, calculated on the dry fibrous element and / or in terms of the dry soluble fibrous structure of the active agents. In one example, the fibrous element of the present invention contains more than 80% by weight based on the dry fiber element and / or based on the dry soluble fibrous structure of the active agents.

In another example, one or more materials forming the fibrous element and active agents are in the fibrous element in a mass ratio of the total content of materials forming the fibrous element to active agents of 4.0 or less, and / or 3.5 or less, and / or 3.0 or less, and / or 2.5 or less, and / or 2.0 or less, and / or 1.85 or less, and / or less than 1.7, and / or less than 1, 6, and / or less than 1.5, and / or less than 1.3, and / or less than 1.2, and / or less than 1, and / or less than 0.7, and / or less than 0.5, and / or less than 0.4, and / or less than 0.3, and / or less than 0.1, and / or less than 0.15, and / or less than 0.2.

In yet another example, the fibrous element of the present invention contains from about 10% and / or from about 15% to less than 80% by weight based on the dry fiber element and / or based on the dry soluble fibrous structure of the material forming the fibrous element, such as a polymer of polyvinyl alcohol, a starch polymer and / or a carboxymethyl cellulose polymer, and more than 20% and up to about 90% and / or up to about 85% by weight, calculated on the dry fibrous element and / or in terms of the dry soluble fibrous structure of the active agent. The fibrous element may further comprise a plasticizer, such as glycerin, and / or pH adjusting agents, such as citric acid.

In a further example, the fiber element of the present invention contains from about 10% and / or from about 15% to less than 80% by weight based on the dry fiber element and / or based on the dry soluble fiber structure of the material forming the fiber element, such as a polymer polyvinyl alcohol, starch polymer and / or carboxymethyl cellulose polymer, and more than 20% and up to about 90% and / or up to about 85% by weight, calculated on the dry fibrous element and / or in terms of the dry soluble fibrous structure of the active agent, eat the weight ratio of the material forming the fibrous element to the active agent is 4.0 or less. The fibrous element may further comprise a plasticizer, such as glycerin, and / or pH adjusting agents, such as citric acid.

In another additional example of the present invention, the fibrous element contains one or more materials that form the fibrous element, and one or more active agents that are selected from the group consisting of enzymes, bleaching agents, modifiers, chelating agents that create the sensation of substances, dispersants and mixtures thereof which are capable of being released and / or released upon exposure to the fiber element and / or soluble fiber structure containing the fiber element, the conditions provided for by enhenia. In one example, the total content in the fiber element of the materials forming the fiber element is less than 95%, and / or less than 90%, and / or less than 80%, and / or less than 50%, and / or less than 35%, and / or up to about 5%, and / or up to about 10%, and / or up to about 20% by weight, calculated on the dry fibrous element and / or in terms of the dry soluble fibrous structure, and the total content of active agents that are selected from the group consisting of enzymes, bleaching agents, modifier, chelating agents, flavorings, antimicrobial agents, antibacterial more than 5%, and / or more than 10%, and / or more than 20%, and / or more than 35%, and / or more than 50%, and / or more than 65%, and / or up to about 95%, and / or up to about 90%, and / or up to about 80% by weight, based on the dry fiber element and / or based on the dry soluble fiber structure. In one example, the active agent contains one or more enzymes. In another example, the active agent contains one or more whitening agents. In yet another example, the active agent contains one or more modifiers. In a further example, the active agent contains one or more chelating agents. In a further example, the active agent contains one or more flavorings. In another further example, the active agent contains one or more antimicrobial agents, antibacterial agents and / or antifungal agents.

In yet another example of the present invention, the fibrous element of the present invention may contain active agents which, when released into the air, can lead to health and / or safety problems. For example, the fiber element can be used to prevent the ingress of enzymes inside the fiber element into the air.

In one example, the fibrous elements of the present invention may be Meltblown fibrous elements. In another example, the fibrous elements of the present invention may be spunbond fibrous elements. In another example, the fibrous elements may be hollow fibrous elements before and / or after the release of one or more of their active agents.

The fibrous elements of the present invention may be hydrophilic or hydrophobic. The fibrous elements can be surface treated and / or processed internally to alter the internal hydrophilic or hydrophobic properties of the fibrous element.

In one example, the diameter of the fibrous element is less than 100 microns, and / or less than 75 microns, and / or less than 50 microns, and / or less than 25 microns, and / or less than 10 microns, and / or less than 5 microns, and / or less 1 μm as measured in accordance with the diameter verification method described herein. In another example, the diameter of the fibrous element of the present invention is more than 1 μm when measured in accordance with the method of checking the diameter described in this document. The diameter of the fiber element of the present invention can be used to control the release rate of one or more active agents present in the fiber element and / or the rate of loss and / or violation of the physical structure of the fiber element.

The fibrous element may contain two or more different active agents. In one example, the fibrous element contains two or more different active agents, wherein two or more different active agents are compatible with each other. In another example, the fibrous element contains two or more different active agents, wherein two or more different active agents are incompatible with each other.

In one example, the fibrous element may comprise an active agent within the fibrous element and an active agent on the outer surface of the fibrous element such that the active agent covers the fibrous element. The active agent on the outer surface of the fibrous element may be identical to or different from the active agent present in the fibrous element. If it is different, the active agents may be compatible or incompatible with each other.

In one example, one or more active agents may be uniformly distributed or substantially uniformly distributed throughout the volume of the fibrous element. In another example, one or more active agents may be distributed as separate regions within the fibrous element. In another example, at least one active agent is distributed evenly or substantially uniformly throughout the volume of the fiber element and at least one other active agent is distributed as one or more separate regions within the fiber element. In a further example, at least one active agent is distributed in the form of one or more separate regions within the fiber element and at least one other active agent is distributed in the form of one or more separate regions different from the first separate regions within the fiber element.

The fibrous structures and / or products of the present invention may also contain a graphic symbol or characters that convey and / or inform the user or subject looking at the fibrous structure and / or product that the fibrous structure and / or product contains one or more inhibiting agents. Although the mere fact that one or more inhibiting agents are present in the fibrous structure and / or product is important, a visual signal that reports the presence and / or is preliminarily associated with one or more inhibiting agents can further contribute to the goal of reducing the risk of accidental ingestion by humans. In an alternative embodiment, the graphic symbol or characters may contain both a visual signal and one or more inhibitory agents. Additional non-limiting examples of fibrous structures and / or products, which include graphic symbols and / or characters, are shown in US patent application No. 14/558,829, filed December 3, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The term “graphic symbol” or “signs” refers to images or patterns that may form a figure (eg, line (s)), symbol or designation, one-color symbol or designation, color difference or transition from at least two colors, multicolor symbol or designation, etc. A graphic symbol may include an aesthetic image or pattern that may provide some advantage (s) when viewing. The graphic symbol may be in the form of a photographic image. The graphic symbol may also be in the form of a 1-dimensional (1D) or 2-dimensional (2D) bar code or a quick response bar code (QR code). The graphic design is determined, for example, by the color (s) used (s) in the graphic symbol (individual pure ink or color fills, as well as built-in primary colors), the dimensions of the entire graphic symbol (or components of the graphic symbol), and the positions of the graphic symbol ( or graphic symbol components), movements of the graphic symbol (or graphic symbol components), geometric shapes of the graphic symbol (or graphic symbol components), the number of colors in the graphic symbol, options color combinations in the graphic symbol, the number of printed graphic symbols, the disappearance of the color (s) in the graphic symbol and the content of text messages in the graphic symbol.

The fiber forming material

The material forming the fibrous element is any suitable material, such as a polymer or monomers, capable of creating a polymer that has properties that make it possible to produce the fibrous element, for example, by means of a molding method.

In one example, the material forming the fibrous element may be a material soluble in a polar solvent, such as an alcohol-soluble material and / or a water-soluble material.

In another example, the fiber forming material may comprise a material soluble in a non-polar solvent.

In another example, the material forming the thread may contain material that is soluble in a polar solvent, and not contain (less than 5%, and / or less than 3%, and / or less than 1%, and / or 0% by weight, calculated on dry fiber element and / or in terms of dry soluble fiber structure) of materials soluble in a non-polar solvent.

In a further example, the material forming the fibrous element may be a film forming material. In another additional example, the material forming the fibrous element may be of artificial or natural origin and may be chemically, enzymatically and / or physically modified.

In yet another example of the present invention, the fiber-forming material may comprise a polymer selected from the group consisting of polymers derived from acrylic monomers, such as ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic monomers and ethylenically unsaturated monomers, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, copolymers of acrylic acid and methyl acrylate, polyvinylpyrrolidones, polyalkylene oxides, starch and starch derivatives, pullulan, gelatin, hydroxypropylmethylcell vines, methyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose.

In yet another example, the fiber-forming material may comprise a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol derivatives, starch, starch derivatives, cellulose derivatives, hemicellulose, hemicellulose derivatives, proteins, sodium alginate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, chitosan derivatives of chitosan, polyethylene glycol, tetramethylene ether glycol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose and mixtures thereof.

In another example, the fiber forming material comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of pullulan, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate, xanthan gum, gum tragacanth gum, tragacanth gum, gum, gum, acid, methyl methacrylate copolymer, carboxyvinyl polymer, dextrin, pectin, chitin, levan, elsinan, collagen, gelatin, zein, gluten, soy protein, casein, polyvinyl alcohol, starch, starch derivatives, hemicellulose, hemicellulose derivatives, proteins, chitosan, chitosan derivatives, polyethylene glycol, tetramethylene ether glycol, hydroxymethyl cellulose and mixtures thereof.

Solvent Soluble Materials

Non-limiting examples of materials soluble in a polar solvent include polymers soluble in a polar solvent. Polymers soluble in a polar solvent may be of artificial or natural origin and may be chemically and / or physically modified. In one example, the weight average molecular weight of the polymers soluble in the polar solvent is at least 10,000 g / mol and / or at least 20,000 g / mol and / or at least 40,000 g / mol and / or at least 80,000 g / mol and / or at least 100,000 g / mol and / or at least 1,000,000 g / mol and / or at least 3,000,000 g / mol and / or at least 10,000,000 g / mol; and / or at least 20,000,000 g / mol, and / or up to about 40,000,000 g / mol, and / or up to about 30,000,000 g / mol.

In one example, polymers soluble in a polar solvent are selected from the group consisting of alcohol-soluble polymers, water-soluble polymers, and mixtures thereof. Non-limiting examples of water-soluble polymers include water-soluble hydroxyl polymers, water-soluble thermoplastic polymers, water-soluble biodegradable polymers, water-soluble non-biodegradable polymers and mixtures thereof. In one example, the water soluble polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol. In another example, the water-soluble polymer contains starch. In yet another example, the water-soluble polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol and starch.

but. Water soluble hydroxyl polymers. Non-limiting examples of water-soluble hydroxyl polymers in accordance with the present invention include polyhydric alcohols such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol derivatives, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, starch, starch derivatives, starch copolymers, chitosan, chitosan derivatives, chitosan derivatives, chitosan derivatives, copolymers such as derivatives of cellulose ethers and esters, cellulose copolymers, hemicellulose, hemicellulose derivatives, hemicellus copolymers oses, gums, arabinans, galactans, proteins and various other polysaccharides and mixtures thereof.

In one example, the water soluble hydroxyl polymer of the present invention contains a polysaccharide.

The term "polysaccharides" in the context of the present invention means natural polysaccharides and derivatives of polysaccharides and / or modified polysaccharides. Suitable water soluble polysaccharides include, but are not limited to, starches, starch derivatives, chitosan, chitosan derivatives, cellulose derivatives, hemicellulose, hemicellulose derivatives, gums, arabinans, galactans and mixtures thereof. The weight average molecular weight of the water-soluble polysaccharide may be from about 10,000 to about 40,000,000 g / mol and / or more than 100,000 g / mol and / or more than 1,000,000 g / mol and / or more than 3,000,000 g / mol and / or more than 3,000,000 and up to about 40,000,000 g / mol.

Water-soluble polysaccharides may contain water-soluble polysaccharides consisting of non-cellulose and / or derivatives of non-cellulose and / or a non-cellulose copolymer. Such non-cellulosic water-soluble polysaccharides can be selected from the group consisting of starches, starch derivatives, chitosan, chitosan derivatives, hemicellulose, hemicellulose derivatives, gums, arabinans, galactans and mixtures thereof.

In another example, the water-soluble hydroxyl polymer of the present invention contains a non-thermoplastic polymer.

The weight average molecular weight of the water-soluble hydroxyl polymer may be from about 10,000 g / mol to about 40,000,000 g / mol and / or more than 100,000 g / mol and / or more than 1,000,000 g / mol and / or more than 3,000,000 g / mol and / or more than 3,000,000 g / mol and up to about 40,000,000 g / mol. Higher or lower molecular weight water soluble hydroxyl polymers can be used in combination with hydroxyl polymers having a specific desired weight average molecular weight.

Well-known modifications of water-soluble hydroxyl polymers, such as natural starches, include chemical modifications and / or enzymatic modifications. For example, natural starch may be dilute acid, hydroxyethylated, hydroxypropylated and / or oxidized. In addition, the water-soluble hydroxyl polymer may contain starch of dentiform maize.

Natural starch is essentially a mixture of linear amylose and branched amylopectin polymers consisting of D-glucose units. Amylose is essentially a polymer consisting of D-glucose units linked by (1,4) -α-D bonds. Amylopectin is a highly branched polymer consisting of D-glucose units linked by (1,4) -α-D bonds and (1,6) -α-D bonds at branch points. Typically, naturally occurring starch contains relatively high concentrations of amylopectin, for example, corn starch (64-80% amylopectin), waxy corn (93-100% amylopectin), rice (83-84% amylopectin), potato (about 78% amylopectin) and wheat ( 73-83% amylopectin). Although all starches can potentially be used in the present invention, the most often used in the present invention are amylopectin natural starches obtained from agricultural sources, which have the advantages of being in excess, easy renewal and low cost.

In the context of this document, the term "starch" includes unmodified starches of natural origin, modified starches, synthetic starches and mixtures thereof, as well as mixtures of amylose and amylopectin fractions; wherein the starch can be modified using physical, chemical or biological methods, or combinations thereof. The choice of unmodified or modified starch of the present invention may depend on the desired end product. In one embodiment of the present invention, the amylopectin content in the starch or starch mixture used in the present invention is from about 20% to about 100%, more often from about 40% to about 90%, more often from about 60% to about 85%, the mass of starch or mixtures thereof.

Acceptable starches of natural origin may include, but are not limited to, corn starch, potato starch, sweet potato starch, wheat starch, sago palm starch, tapioca starch, rice starch, soy starch, amaranth root starch, starch, starch, starch lotus starch, waxy maize starch and high amylose corn starch. Naturally occurring starches, in particular corn starch and wheat starch, are preferred starch polymers due to their low cost and affordability.

Other monomers may be grafted onto the polyvinyl alcohols of the present invention to modify their properties. Many different monomers have been successfully grafted onto polyvinyl alcohol. Non-limiting examples of such monomers include vinyl acetate, styrene, acrylamide, acrylic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile, 1,3-butadiene, methyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid, sodium vinyl sulfonate, sodium allyl sulfonate, sodium allyl sulfonate , sodium phenylallyl ether sulfonate, sodium phenyl metal alkyl ether sulfonate, 2-acrylamidomethyl propanesulfonic acid (AMP), vinylidene chloride, vinyl chloride, vinylamine and many acrylate esters.

In one example, the water-soluble hydroxyl polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, hydroxymethyl celluloses, hydroxyethyl celluloses, hydroxypropyl methyl celluloses, and mixtures thereof. A non-limiting example of acceptable polyvinyl alcohol includes commercially available products from Sekisui Specialty Chemicals America, LLC (Dallas, Texas) under the trademark CELVOL®. A non-limiting example of acceptable hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose includes commercially available preparations from the Dow Chemical Company (Midland, MI) under the trademark METHOCEL®, including combinations with the aforementioned hydroxypropyl methyl celluloses.

b. Water-soluble thermoplastic polymers. Non-limiting examples of suitable thermoplastic polymers include thermoplastic starch and / or starch derivatives, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polycaprolactone, polyetheramides, and some polyesters and mixtures thereof.

The water soluble thermoplastic polymers of the present invention may be hydrophilic or hydrophobic. Water-soluble thermoplastic polymers can be surface treated and / or internally processed to alter the internal hydrophilic or hydrophobic properties of the thermoplastic polymer.

Water-soluble thermoplastic polymers may contain biodegradable polymers.

Any suitable weight average molecular weight can be used for thermoplastic polymers. For example, the weight average molecular weight of the thermoplastic polymer in accordance with the present invention is more than about 10,000 g / mol and / or more than about 40,000 g / mol and / or more than about 50,000 g / mol and / or less than about 500,000 g / mol and / or less than about 400,000 g / mol, and / or less than about 200,000 g / mol.

Non-polar solvent soluble materials

Non-limiting examples of materials soluble in a non-polar solvent include polymers soluble in a non-polar solvent. Non-limiting examples of acceptable materials soluble in a non-polar solvent include cellulose, chitin, chitin derivatives, polyolefins, polyesters, their copolymers and mixtures thereof. Non-limiting examples of polyolefins include polypropylene, polyethylene, and mixtures thereof. A non-limiting example of a polyester includes polyethylene terephthalate.

Soluble non-polar solvent materials may contain a non-biodegradable polymer such as polypropylene, polyethylene and some polyesters.

Any suitable weight average molecular weight can be used for thermoplastic polymers. For example, the weight average molecular weight of the thermoplastic polymer in accordance with the present invention is more than about 10,000 g / mol and / or more than about 40,000 g / mol and / or more than about 50,000 g / mol and / or less than about 500,000 g / mol and / or less than about 400,000 g / mol, and / or less than about 200,000 g / mol.

Active agents

Active agents are a class of additional components that are intended to exert any beneficial effect different from that exerted by the fibrous element itself and / or the particle and / or soluble fibrous structure, for example, to exert a beneficial effect on the environment external to the fibrous element, and / or particle, and / or soluble fibrous structure. Active agents can be any additional component that creates the desired effect under the conditions of the intended use of the fibrous element. For example, the active agent may be selected from the group consisting of personal care and / or conditioning agents, such as hair care agents, such as shampoo agents and / or hair coloring agents, hair conditioning agents, hair care agents skin, sun protection agents and skin conditioning agents; fabric care and / or conditioning agents, such as fabric care agents, fabric conditioning agents, fabric softening agents, anti-creasing agents, fabric antistatic agents, fabric stain removing agents, dirt-repellent, dispersing agents soap suds suppressants, soap suds suppressants, anti-foaming agents, and fabric refreshing agents; liquid and / or powder dishwashing agents (for washing dishes and / or washing dishes in a dishwasher), hard surface care agents, and / or conditioning agents, and / or polishing agents; other cleaning and / or conditioning agents, such as antimicrobial agents, antibacterial agents, antifungal agents, tissue dyeing agents, flavoring agents, whitening agents (such as oxygen-based bleaching agents, hydrogen peroxide, percarbonate bleaching agents, perborate bleaching agents, whitening agents based on chlorine), bleaching activating agents, chelating agents, modifiers, lotions, brightening agents, air fresheners, carpet care agents, inhibiting agents dye transporting agents, clay mud removal agents, anti-resorption agents, polymer mud removing agents, polymer dispersing agents, alkoxylated polyamine polymers, alkoxylated polycarboxylate polymers, amphiphilic grafted copolymers, dissolution aids, buffering systems, water softening agents, increasing water hardness, pH adjusting agents, enzymes, flocculating agents, effervescent agents, preservatives, cosmetic agents, makeup remover agents, ne oobrazuyuschie promoting agents precipitation agents forming coacervate agents, clays, thickeners, latex, silicas, drying agents, deodorizing agents, antiperspirants, coolants, heating agents, absorbent gelling agents, antiinflammatory agents, dyes, pigments, acids and bases; active agents for liquid purification; agricultural active agents; industrial active agents; active agents for oral administration, such as drugs, tooth whitening agents, dental care agents, mouthwash agents, periodontal and gum care agents, food agents, dietary agents, vitamins, minerals; agents for water purification, such as agents for clarifying and / or disinfecting water and mixtures thereof.

Non-limiting examples of acceptable cosmetic agents, skin care agents, skin conditioning agents, hair care agents and hair conditioning agents are described in CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Handbook, Second Edition, The Cosmetic, Toiletries, and Fragrance Association, Inc . 1988, 1992.

One or more classes of chemicals may be used for one or more of the active agents listed above. For example, surfactants can be used for any number of active agents described above. Similarly, whitening agents can be used to care for tissue, clean hard surfaces, wash dishes, and even whiten teeth. Thus, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the active agents are selected depending on the desired application of the fiber element and / or particle and / or the soluble fibrous structure obtained from them.

For example, if the fibrous element and / or particle and / or the soluble fibrous structure obtained from them will be used for hair care and / or conditioning of the hair, then one or more suitable surfactants, such as a foaming surfactant, can be selected to provide the desired benefits to the consumer when exposed to the conditions for the intended use of the fiber element and / or particle and / or soluble fiber structure including the fiber element m and / or particle.

In one example, if the fibrous element and / or particle and / or soluble fibrous structure obtained from them are intended or will be used for washing clothes, then one or more suitable surfactants and / or enzymes and / or modifiers, and / or flavors and / or suppressors of the formation of soap suds and / or whitening agents can be selected to provide the desired benefits to the consumer when exposed to the conditions of the intended use of the fibrous element, and / or particles, and / or soluble oh fibrous structure comprising a fibrous element and / or particle. In another example, if the fibrous element and / or particle and / or soluble fibrous structure obtained from them are intended for washing clothes and / or washing dishes, the fibrous element and / or particle and / or soluble fibrous structure may contain a composition detergents for washing or the composition of detergents for dishes, or active agents used in such compositions. In another example, if the fibrous element and / or particle and / or soluble fibrous structure obtained from them are intended for cleaning and / or disinfecting the toilet bowl, then the fibrous element and / or particle and / or soluble fibrous structure obtained from them may contain a toilet cleaning composition and / or an effervescent composition, and / or active agents used in such compositions.

In one example, the active agent is selected from the group consisting of surfactants, whitening agents, enzymes, soap formation suppressants, soap formation enhancing agents, tissue softening agents, toothbrushing agents, hair washing agents, agents for hair care agents, personal care agents, coloring agents and mixtures thereof.

In one example, at least one of the active agents is selected from the group consisting of skin care agents, drugs, lotions, tissue care agents, dishwashing agents, carpet care agents, surface care agents, hair care agents, air fresheners and mixtures thereof.

Active Agent Release

One or more active agents may be released from the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure by exposing the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fiber structure of the initiating condition. In one example, one or more active agents may be released from the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure or part thereof when the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure or part of its identity is lost, by others in words, with the loss of its physical structure. For example, a fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure lose their physical structure when the material forming the fibrous element dissolves, melts or undergoes some other transformation leading to a loss of structure. In one example, one or more active agents are released from the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure upon a change in the morphology of the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure.

In another example, one or more active agents may be released from the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure or part thereof by changing the identity of the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure or part thereof, in other words , with a change in its physical structure, and not with its loss. For example, the physical structure of the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure changes when the material forming the fibrous element swells, contracts, lengthens and / or shortens, but retains the ability to form the fibrous element.

In another example, one or more active agents can be released from the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure without changing its morphology (without loss or change in physical structure).

In one example, the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure can release an active agent when the fibrous element is exposed and / or the particle and / or fibrous structure of an initiating condition that results in the release of the active agent, for example, a condition causing loss or alteration of the identity of the fiber element and / or particle and / or fiber structure, as discussed above. Non-limiting examples of initiating conditions include exposing the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure to a solvent, such as a polar solvent such as alcohol and / or water, and / or a non-polar solvent (the effect may be sequential ), depending on whether the material forming the fibrous element contains a material soluble in a polar solvent and / or a material soluble in a non-polar solvent; exposing the fibrous element and / or particle and / or soluble fibrous structure to heat, for example, at a temperature of more than 23 ° C (75 ° F), and / or more than 37 ° C (100 ° F), and / or more than 65 ° C (150 ° F) and / or more than 93 ° C (200 ° F) and / or more than 100 ° C (212 ° F); exposing the fibrous element and / or particle and / or soluble fibrous structure to cold, for example, at a temperature of less than 4 ° C (40 ° F), and / or less than 0 ° C (32 ° F), and / or less than 17.2 ° C (0 ° F); exposing the fibrous element and / or particle and / or soluble fibrous structure to a force, for example, a tensile force exerted by a consumer using the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure; and / or exposure to the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure by a chemical reaction; exposing the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure to a condition that causes a phase change; exposing the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure to a change in pH and / or a change in pressure and / or a change in temperature; exposing the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure to one or more chemicals that cause the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure to release one or more of its active agents; exposure to the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure by ultrasound; exposing the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure to a certain length of light and / or wave; exposing the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure to a change in ionic strength; and / or exposing the fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure to an active agent released from another fibrous element and / or particle and / or fibrous structure.

In one example, one or more active agents can be released from the fibrous elements and / or particles of the present invention when the fibrous structure containing the fibrous elements and / or particles undergoes an initiation step that is selected from the group consisting of: pretreatment of stains on an article of fibrous tissue; the formation of a washing liquid by contacting the fibrous structure with water; rotation of the soluble fibrous structure in the dryer; heating the fibrous structure in the dryer; and their combinations.

The composition forming the fibrous element

The fibrous elements of the present invention are obtained from the composition forming the fibrous element. The composition forming the fibrous element is a composition based on a polar solvent. In one example, the composition forming the fibrous element is an aqueous composition comprising one or more materials forming the fibrous element and one or more active agents.

Although the fibrous element and / or the fibrous structure of the present invention are in solid form, the composition forming the fibrous element used to obtain the fibrous elements of the present invention may be in liquid form.

The composition forming the fibrous element can be processed at a temperature of from about 20 ° C to about 100 ° C, and / or from about 30 ° C to about 90 ° C, and / or from about 35 ° C to about 70 ° C, and / or from about 40 ° C to about 60 ° C. upon receipt of the fibrous elements from the composition forming the fibrous element.

In one example, the composition forming the fibrous element may contain at least 20%, and / or at least 30%, and / or at least 40%, and / or at least 45%, and / or at least 50% to about 90% and / or up to about 85% and / or up to about 80% and / or up to about 75% by weight of one or more materials forming the fibrous element, one or more active agents and mixtures thereof. The composition forming the fibrous element may contain from about 10% to about 80% by weight of a polar solvent, such as water.

In one example, the non-volatile components of the composition forming the fiber element may comprise from about 20% and / or 30% and / or 40% and / or 45% and / or 50% to about 75% and / or 80% and / or 85% and / or 90% by weight, calculated on the total weight of the composition forming the fibrous element. Non-volatile components may consist of materials forming the fiber element, such as scaffold polymers, active agents, and combinations thereof. The volatile components of the composition forming the fibrous element make up the remaining percentage and vary from 10% to 80% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition forming the fibrous element.

To implement the method of forming a fibrous element, the fibrous elements need to have initial stability when removed from the molding matrix. The capillarity number is used to evaluate this initial stability. Under matrix conditions, the capillarity number may be at least 1 and / or at least 3, and / or at least 4, and / or at least 5.

In one example, the composition forming the fiber element has a capillarity number of at least about 1 to about 50, and / or from at least about 3 to about 50, and / or from at least about 5 to about 30, resulting whereby the composition forming the fibrous element can be effectively polymerised to form the fibrous element.

The term "polymer processing" in the context of this document means any molding operation and / or molding method by which from the composition forming the fibrous element, the fibrous element is formed containing the processed material forming the fibrous element. The operation and / or method of spinning may include spinning, melt blown, electrospinning, rotor spinning, operations / methods for creating a continuous thread and / or tow. The term “recycled fiber-forming material” as used herein means any fiber-forming material that has undergone fusion processing and subsequent polymer processing to form a fiber element.

The capillarity number is a dimensionless number used to estimate the probability of destruction of a given drop. A larger capillarity indicates a greater stability of the fluid when exiting the matrix. The capillarity number is determined as follows:

V represents the velocity of the fluid at the exit of the matrix (units: length / time),

η is the viscosity of the fluid in a matrix (units: mass / length * time),

σ represents the surface tension of the fluid (units: mass / time ² ). If the speed, viscosity and surface tension are expressed in units that are consistent with each other, then the resulting capillarity number will not have its own unit of measurement, since individual units of measurement will be mutually excluded.

The capillarity number determines the conditions at the exit from the matrix. The fluid velocity is the average velocity of the fluid passing through the hole of the matrix. The average speed is determined as follows:

Vol '= volumetric flow velocity (units: length ³ / time),

Area = cross-sectional area of the matrix outlet (units: length ² ).

If the hole of the matrix is round, then the speed of the fluid can be determined as follows:

R represents the radius of the circular hole (units: length).

The viscosity of the fluid will depend on temperature and may depend on shear rate. The definition of viscosity reducing fluid depends on shear rate. The surface tension will depend on the composition of the fluid and the temperature of the fluid.

In one example, the composition forming the fibrous element may contain one or more release agents and / or lubricants. Non-limiting examples of suitable release agents and / or lubricants include fatty acids, fatty acid salts, fatty alcohols, fatty acid esters, sulfonated fatty acid esters, fatty amine acetates and fatty amides, silicones, amino silicones, fluoropolymers and mixtures thereof.

In one example, the composition forming the fibrous element may contain one or more anti-caking agents and / or anti-tacking agents. Non-limiting examples of suitable anti-caking agents and / or tackifiers include starches, modified starches, cross-linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone, cross-linked cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, silicon dioxide, metal oxides, calcium carbonate, talc and mica.

The active agents of the present invention can be added to the composition forming the fiber element, before and / or during the formation of the fiber element and / or can be added to the fiber element after the formation of the fiber element. For example, a flavoring active agent may be added to the fibrous element and / or the fibrous structure containing the fibrous element, after the formation of the fibrous element and / or soluble fibrous structure in accordance with the present invention. In another example, an enzymatic active agent may be added to the fibrous element and / or the fibrous structure containing the fibrous element, after the formation of the fibrous element and / or soluble fibrous structure in accordance with the present invention. In yet another example, one or more particles that cannot be used in the molding method to obtain the fibrous element can be added to the fibrous element and / or the fibrous structure containing the fibrous element, after the formation of the fibrous element and / or soluble fibrous structure in accordance with the present invention.

In one example, the viscosity of the composition forming the fibrous element of the present invention is less than about 100 Pa * s, and / or less than about 80 Pa * s, and / or less than about 60 Pa * s, and / or less than about 40 Pa * s, and / or less than about 20 Pa * s, and / or less than about 10 Pa * s, and / or less than about 5 Pa * s, and / or less than about 2 Pa * s, and / or less than about 1 Pa * s, and / or more than 0 Pa * s when measured in accordance with the method for checking the viscosity described in this document.

Means of increasing the longitudinal viscosity

In one example, the fibrous element comprises a means for increasing longitudinal viscosity. Non-limiting examples of means for increasing the longitudinal viscosity may include polymers, other means for increasing the longitudinal viscosity, and combinations thereof.

In one example, the weight average molecular weight of the means for increasing the longitudinal viscosity is at least about 50,000 Da. In another example, the weight average molecular weight of the means for increasing the longitudinal viscosity is from about 50,000 to about 25000000, and / or from about 100000 to about 25000000, and / or from about 250,000 to about 25000000, and / or from about 500000 to about 25000000, in another an example from about 800,000 to about 22,000,000, in another example from about 1,000,000 to about 20,000,000, and in another example from about 2,000,000 to about 1,500,000. Means for increasing the longitudinal viscosity with high molecular weight are particularly suitable for some examples of the present invention in connection with the ability to increase longitudinal melt viscosity and reduce melt fracture.

A means for increasing the longitudinal viscosity when used in the blown melting process is added to the composition of the present invention in an amount that provides a visible reduction in melt fracture and capillary breakage of the fibers during the spinning process, whereby substantially continuous fibers having a relatively constant diameter can be formed from the melt . Regardless of the method used to create the fibrous elements and / or particles, the content of the means for increasing the longitudinal viscosity (if used) can be in one example from about 0.001% to about 10% by weight, based on the dry fiber element, and / or in terms of dry particle, and / or in terms of dry soluble fibrous structure, in another example, from about 0.005 to about 5% by weight in terms of dry fibrous element, and / or in terms of dry particle, and / or in terms of dry soluble fibrous st uktur, in another example, from about 0.01 to about 1% by weight, calculated on the dry fibrous element, and / or in terms of the dry particle, and / or in terms of the dry soluble fibrous structure, and in another example, from about 0.05% to about 0.5% by weight, calculated on the dry fibrous element, and / or in terms of the dry particle, and / or in terms of the dry soluble fibrous structure.

Non-limiting examples of polymers that can be used as a means of increasing longitudinal viscosity may include alginates, carrageenins, pectin, chitin, guar gum, xanthan gum, agar, gum arabic, tragacanth gum, locust bean gum, alkyl cellulose , hydroxyalkyl cellulose, carboxyalkyl cellulose and mixtures thereof.

Non-limiting examples of other means for increasing longitudinal viscosity may include modified and unmodified polyacrylamide, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene vinyl acetate, polyethyleneimine, polyamides, polyalkylene oxides, polyethylene oxide and polypropyl.

Dissolution aids

The fibrous elements of the present invention may include dissolution aids to accelerate dissolution when the fibrous element contains more than 40% surfactant, in order to reduce the formation of insoluble or poorly soluble surfactant aggregates that can sometimes form, or in the case of using surfactant compositions in cold water. Non-limiting examples of dissolution aids include sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate.

Buffer system

The fibrous elements of the present invention can be formulated so that during use for water cleaning, for example during washing clothes or washing dishes and / or washing the hair, the washing water will have a pH of from about 5.0 to about 12 and / or about 7.0 to 10.5. In the case of washing dishes, the pH of the washing water is usually from about 6.8 to about 9.0. In the case of washing clothes, the pH of the wash water, as a rule, is 7-11. Methods for maintaining pH in the recommended ranges of application include the use of buffers, alkalis, acids, etc. and are well known to those skilled in the art. Such methods include the use of sodium carbonate, citric acid or sodium citrate, monoethanolamine or other amines, boric acid or borates and other compounds to adjust the pH level, well known in this field.

The fibrous elements and / or soluble fibrous structures used as “low pH” detergent compositions are included in the present invention, and are particularly suitable for the surfactant systems of the present invention, and can provide pH values during use of less than 8.5, and / or less than 8.0, and / or less than 7.0, and / or less than 7.0, and / or less than 5.5, and / or up to about 5.0.

Fibrous elements with a dynamic pH profile during washing are included in the present invention. In such fibrous elements, wax coated particles of citric acid can be used in conjunction with other pH adjusting agents such that (i) 3 minutes after contact with water, the pH of the washing liquid is more than 10; (ii) 10 minutes after contact with water, the pH of the washing liquid is less than 9.5; (iii) 20 minutes after contact with water, the pH of the washing liquid is less than 9.0; and (iv) optionally wherein the equilibrium pH of the washing liquid is in the range of from more than 7.0 to 8.5.

Retention agent

One or more fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures of the present invention further comprise one or more restraining agents; namely, an agent that prevents ingestion and / or consumption, for example by means of a bitter taste and / or burning taste and / or pungent odor of the fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures and / or products of the present invention containing them and / or which induces vomiting in humans and / or animals, for example, emetic agents. Non-limiting examples of acceptable restraining agents for use inside and / or on the surface and / or within the fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures and / or products made therefrom, such as pillows, of the present invention include bitter agents, burning agents, emetics, and mixtures thereof.

In one example, the total content of inhibiting agents associated with the fibrous elements, fibrous structures and / or products of the present invention, for example inside and / or on them, may be at least such that it induces the desired inhibitory effect and may depend on the characteristics of the specific inhibitory agents, for example, the amount of bitterness, but not one that can cause an unwanted transfer of restraining agents to a person and / or animal, for example, transfer to hands, eyes, skin or other parts of the body human and / or animal. In another example, the effective amount of a restraining agent within the fibrous element and / or the fibrous structure and / or product and / or on them may depend on the activity of a particular restraining agent and is selected so that more than 50% of people experience a restraining effect under the influence of restraining agent.

but. Bitter agents

Non-limiting examples of acceptable bitter agents include denatonium salts and derivatives thereof. In one example, the bitter agent is a denatonium salt that is selected from the group consisting of denatonium chloride, denatonium citrate, denatonium saccharide, denatonium carbonate, denatonium acetate, denatonium benzoate, and mixtures thereof. The bitter agent may be located inside and / or on one or more fibrous elements and / or fibrous structures of the present invention.

In one example, the bitter agent is denatonium benzoate, also known as phenylmethyl- [2 - [(2,6-dimethylphenyl) amino] -2-oxoethyl] diethylammonium benzoate, CAS No. 3734-33-6. Denatonium benzoate is marketed under the brand name BITREX® and manufactured by Macfarlan Smith, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.

The bitter agent may be a natural bitter substance. A bitter agent, for example a natural bitter substance, can have a bitterness value of more than 1000, and / or more than 5000, and / or more than 10000, and / or more than 20,000, and / or less than 200,000, and / or less than 150,000, and / or less than 100,000 , and / or from about 1000 to about 200000, and / or from about 5000 to about 200000, and / or from about 10000 to about 200000. The natural bitter substance can be selected from the group consisting of glycosides, isoprenoids, alkaloids, amino acids and their mixtures. For example, acceptable bitter agents also include quercetin (3,3 ', 4', 5,7-pentahydroxyflavone); naringin (4 ', 5,7-trihydroxyflavanone-7-ramnoglucoside); aucubin; amarogentin; dihydrofoliamentin; gentiopicroside; gentiopicrin; svirtiamarin; Sveroside gentioflavoside; centauroside; methiafoline; harpagoside; centapicrine; salicin; condurangin; absintin; artabsin; kniscin; lactucin; lactucopycrine; salonitenolide; α thujone; β-thujone; deoxylimonene; limonin; Ichangin; isobacunonic acid; oracle obacunonic acid; nomilin; Ichangin; nomilinic acid; marrubine; pramarrubine; carnosol; carnosic acid; quassin; brucin; quinine hydrochloride; quinine sulfate; quinine dihydrochloride; Colombia caffeine; threonine; methionine; phenylalanine; tryptophan; arginine; histidine; valine; aspartic acid; sucrose octaacetate; and mixtures thereof. Other suitable bitter agents include quinine bisulfate and hop extract (e.g., humulon).

The fibrous element and / or fibrous structure and / or the product containing them may contain a sufficient amount of bitter agent to impart a bitter taste, for example from about 0.00001% to about 1%, and / or from about 0.0001% to about 0 , 5%, and / or from about 0.001% to about 0.25%, and / or from about 0.01% to about 0.1% by weight of the fiber element and / or fiber structure and / or product, respectively, bitter agent.

The bitter agent or parts thereof associated with the fibrous element and / or the fibrous structure and / or the product containing them may be on the surface of the fibrous element and / or fibrous structure and / or the product containing them. The bitter agent can move from the inside of the fibrous element and / or the fibrous structure and / or the product containing them to its outer surface so that a person or animal feels a bitter taste when the fibrous element and / or fibrous contact and / or product with mouth. In addition or in an alternative embodiment, the bitter agent may be applied to the surface of the fibrous element and / or fibrous structure and / or product containing them after the formation of the fibrous element and / or fibrous structure and / or product containing them, for example, as compositions for coating a shell containing a bitter agent, for example by spraying and / or printing and / or spraying and / or spraying and / or powdering and / or coating and / or coloring and / or applying another from particular bitter agent and / or a composition comprising a bitter agent directly onto the surface of the fibrous member and / or fibrous structure and / or the product. In one example, the content of the bitter agent inside and / or on the surface of the fibrous element and / or the fibrous structure and / or the product containing them is at least 10 parts per billion, and / or at least 50 parts per billion, and / or from about 10 parts per billion to about 10,000 parts per million, and / or from about 50 parts per billion to about 5,000 parts per million, and / or from about 50 parts per billion to about 1000 parts per million, and / or from about 100 ppm to about 500 ppm, and / or from about 10 ppm to approx lo 250 ppm after storage in determining fiber element and / or fibrous structure and / or the product within one month at a temperature of 25 ° C and 60% relative humidity.

When spraying and / or printing and / or spraying and / or otherwise applying a bitter agent to the surface of the fibrous element and / or fibrous structure and / or product, the bitter agent and / or composition containing the bitter agent may be anhydrous that is, contain less than 20% and / or less than 15%, and / or less than 10%, and / or less than 5%, and / or less than 3%, and / or less than 1%, and / or about 0%, and / or 0% by weight of water. The composition containing the bitter agent may contain 100% and / or 80% and / or 60% and / or 40% and / or 35% and / or 30% and / or more than 0% and up to about 100%, and / or from about 0.001% to about 80,%, and / or from about 0.001% to about 60%, and / or from about 0.001% to about 40%, and / or from about 0.1% to about 35%, and / or from about 5% to about 30% by weight of the bitter agent.

Non-limiting examples of bitter agents that can be used in the present invention are described in the BitterDB source (http://bitterdb.agri.huji.ac.il/dbbitter.php), which is a searchable database of bitter agents , which includes more than 680 bitter agents taken from the literature and the Merck index, and their associated 25 human bitter taste receptors (hT2Rs), and the related article by Ayana Wiener; Marina Shudler; Anat Levit; Masha Y. Niv. BitterDB: a database of bitter compounds. Nucleic Acids Res 2012, 40 (Database issue): D413-419.

In addition to the foregoing, the content of one or more bitter agents inside and / or on the surface of the fibrous elements and / or fibrous structure and / or products of the present invention may be from about 0.01 ppm to about 10%, and / or from about 0.01 ppm to about 8%, and / or from about 0.01 ppm to about 5%, and / or from 0.01 ppm to about 4% by weight of the fibrous element, and / or fibrous structure and / or product.

b. Burning agents

Non-limiting examples of acceptable burning agents are selected from the group consisting of: capsaicinoids (including capsaicin); vanilla ethyl ether; vanillipropyl ether; vanilla butyl ether; vanillin propylene; acetal glycol; ethyl vanillinpropylene glycol acetal; capsaicin; gingerol; 4- (1-methoxymethyl) -2- (3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-dioxolane; pepper oil; pepper oleoresin; ginger oleoresin; nonylic acid vanillamide; oleoresin jambu; pepper extract of Japanese pepper; sanshola; sanshoamide; black pepper extract; shavitsin; piperine; spilanthol; and mixtures thereof. Other suitable burning agents include polygodilal, Tasmanian pepper extract, capsicum extracts, or mixtures thereof. In one example, the burning agent is a capsaicinoid, for example, capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin, homodihydrocapsaicin, homocapsaicin and / or nonivamide. In one example, the burning agent is capsaicin.

Acceptable burning agents on the market include ORTANEAT (Symise Flavors), NOTAST (Lipo Chemicals) and HEATENOL (Sensient Flavors).

The fibrous element and / or fibrous structure and / or the product containing them may contain a sufficient amount of a burning agent to impart a burning taste and / or pungent odor, for example, to deliver a controlled level of hotness to the user (sufficient to prevent ingestion, but not sufficient for human development and / or animal physical illness or the accidental transfer of large quantities into the hands of the user). In one example, the fibrous element and / or fibrous structure and / or the product containing them may contain more than 0.0001% and / or more than 0.001% and / or more than 0.01% and / or more than 0.1% and / or less than 20% and / or less than 15% and / or less than 10% and / or less than 5% and / or less than 2% and / or less than 1% and / or less than 0.5 %, and / or from about 0.0001% to about 10%, or from about 0.001% to about 2%, or from about 0.01% to about 1%, or from about 0.1% to about 0.5 % by weight of a burning agent.

The burning agent or parts thereof associated with the fibrous element and / or the fibrous structure and / or the product containing them may be on the surface of the fibrous element and / or fibrous structure and / or the product containing them. The burning agent can move from the inside of the fibrous element and / or the fibrous structure and / or the product containing them to its outer surface so that a person or animal feels a burning taste and / or pungent odor as the fibrous element approaches and / or the fibrous structure, and / or product to the mouth or actual contact with the mouth. In addition or in an alternative embodiment, the burning agent may be applied to the surface of the fibrous element and / or fibrous structure and / or product containing them after the formation of the fibrous element and / or fibrous structure and / or product containing them, for example, as a composition for coating a shell containing a burning agent, for example, by spraying and / or printing and / or spraying and / or spraying and / or sprinkling with powder and / or coating and / or coloring, and / or overlay by other joint venture sobom burning agent and / or a composition comprising a burning agent directly onto the surface of the fibrous member and / or fibrous structure and / or the product. In one example, the content of the burning agent on the surface of the fibrous element and / or the fibrous structure and / or the product containing them is at least 10 parts per billion, and / or at least 50 parts per billion, and / or from about 10 parts per billion to about 10,000 parts per million, and / or from about 50 parts per billion to about 5,000 parts per million, and / or from about 50 parts per billion to about 1000 parts per million, and / or from about 100 parts per million up to about 500 parts per million, and / or from about 10 parts per billion to about 250 parts per million and a million when determined after storage of the fibrous element and / or fibrous structure and / or product for one month at a temperature of 25 ° C and a relative humidity of 60%.

When spraying, and / or printing, and / or spraying, and / or spraying, and / or coating, and / or coloring, and / or otherwise applying a burning agent to the surface of the fibrous element and / or fibrous structure, and / or product, a burning agent and / or a composition containing a burning agent may be anhydrous, that is, contain less than 20%, and / or less than 15%, and / or less than 10%, and / or less than 5%, and / or less than 3% and / or less than 1% and / or about 0% and / or 0% by weight of water. A composition containing a burning agent may contain 100% and / or 80% and / or 60% and / or 40% and / or 35% and / or 30% and / or more than 0% and up to about 100%, and / or from about 0.001% to about 80%, and / or from about 0.001% to about 60%, and / or from about 0.001% to about 40%, and / or from about 0.1% to about 35%, and / or from about 5% to about 30% by weight of the burning agent.

The stickiness of the burning agent can be determined according to the well-known Scoville scale and can be expressed in units of the Scoville scale (SHU). The burning agent may be selected from burning agents with a degree of stiffness of at least about 1,000,000 SHU, and / or at least about 5,000,000 SHU, and / or at least about 10,000,000 SHU, and / or at least about 1,500,000 SHU. In comparison, capsaicin has a hotness of about 1,600,000 SHU. Toughness can also be measured by high performance liquid chromatography and expressed in units of toughness by the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA). The definition of one capsaicin particle per million corresponds to a value of about 15 units on the Scovilla scale, that is, to report the result in units on the Scovilla scale, ASTA stiffness units must be multiplied by 15.

Since the ability to detect a burning agent is desirable so that the burning agent is an effective deterrent, it is essentially desirable that the burning agent is not blocked by other agents, such as cooling agents, for example menthol and the like. In one example, the fibrous element, and / or the fibrous structure, and / or the product containing them do not contain, for example, contain less than 5% and / or less than 3%, and / or less than 1%, and / or less than 0.1%, and / or less than 0.01%, and / or less than 0.001%, and / or less than 0%, and / or 0% by weight of cooling agents, for example menthol and / or eucalyptus.

For similar reasons, it is essentially desirable for the burning agent to be readily available to the user of the fiber element and / or fiber structure and / or the product containing them.

from. Emetic agents

There are two main types of vomiting agents: 1) agents that act directly on the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals, and 2) agents that act indirectly, stimulating the areas of the brain that are responsible for the vomiting reflex. Non-limiting examples of acceptable vomiting agents that directly affect the gastrointestinal tract are selected from the group consisting of Ipecac (ipecac and syrup and / or Ipecac) powder derived from Cephaelis ipecacuanha, lobelia derived from Lobelia inflata, mustard seeds, obtained from Brassica juncea, vomitoxin obtained from Fusarium graminearum, copper sulfate and mixtures thereof. An example of an emetic that acts indirectly by stimulating the areas of the brain that are responsible for the emetic reflex is apomorphine (apomorphine hydrochloride).

A non-limiting example of a method for manufacturing fibrous elements

Fibrous elements, for example yarns, of the present invention, containing one or more restraining agents located inside the fibrous elements and / or on the fibrous elements, can be made as shown in FIG. 3 and 4. As shown in FIG. 3 and 4, a method 20 for manufacturing a fiber element 10, for example a yarn, in accordance with the present invention includes the following steps:

but. obtaining a composition 22 forming a fibrous element, for example, from a reservoir 24 containing one or more materials forming a fibrous element, and one or more restraining agents, and optionally one or more active agents, and / or one or more polar solvents (such as water); and

b. molding the composition 22 forming the fiber element, for example, by means of the molding matrix 26, into one or more fiber elements 10, such as filaments containing one or more materials forming the fiber element, and optionally one or more active agents and one or more restraining agents . In one example, one or more restraining agents may be applied to the surface of one or more fibrous elements and / or to a fibrous structure containing fibrous elements. In another example, the fibrous element may or may not contain any restraining agents, in which case one or more restraining agents will need to be applied to the surface of the fibrous element during and / or after the formation of the fibrous element.

The composition forming the fibrous element can be moved through an acceptable tube 28 with or without the aid of a pump 30 between the reservoir 24 and the molding matrix 26. In one example, the pressure tank 24 suitable for serial operation is filled with an acceptable composition 22 forming the fibrous element for molding. A pump 30, such as Zenith®, type PEP II, with a capacity of 5.0 cubic centimeters per revolution (cm ³ / rev.) Manufactured by Colfax Corporation, Zenith Pumps Division, Monroe, North Carolina, USA, can be used to accelerate the movement of the composition 22 forming the fibrous element into the molding matrix 26. The flow of the composition 22 forming the fibrous element from the reservoir 24 under pressure into the molding matrix 26 can be controlled by adjusting the number of revolutions per minute (rpm) of the pump 30. Tubes 28 are used to connect the tank 2 4 under pressure of the pump 30 and the molding matrix 26 in order to move (as shown by arrows) the composition 22 forming the fiber element from the reservoir 24 to the pump 30 and into the matrix 26.

The total content of one or more materials forming the fibrous element in the fibrous element 10 in the presence of active agents in it may be less than 80%, and / or less than 70%, and / or less than 65%, and / or 50% or less by weight in terms of dry fibrous element and / or in terms of dry soluble fibrous structure, and the total content of one or more active agents, if present in the fibrous element, can be more than 20%, and / or more than 35%, and / or 50%, or more than 65%, or more and / or 80%, or more by weight based on dry fibrous element and / or in terms of dry soluble fibrous structure.

As shown in FIG. 3 and 4, the molding matrix 26 may comprise a plurality of fiber element forming openings 32 that include a melting capillary 34 enclosed by a concentric fluid opening 36 that extends through which a fluid such as air passes to facilitate drawing of the composition 22. forming the fibrous element into the fibrous element 10 when it exits from the hole 32 forming the fibrous element.

In one example, the molding die 26 shown in FIG. 4, has two or more rows of round dies (holes 32 forming a fiber element) spaced from each other at a distance P, which is about 1.524 millimeters (about 0.060 inches). The inner diameter of an individual die is about 0.305 millimeters (about 0.012 inches), and the outer diameter of an individual die is about 0.813 millimeters (about 0.032 inches). Each individual die contains a melting capillary 34, enclosed by a round and diverging hole (concentric hole 36 for facilitating drawing of the fluid), for supplying drawing air to each individual melting capillary 34. Composition 22 forming a fiber element extruded through spinnerets is surrounded and drawn by substantially cylindrical flows of humidified air supplied through openings to form fiber elements 10.

Contributing air can be obtained by heating compressed air from a source using a resistive electric heater, such as a heater manufactured by Chromalox, Division of Emerson Electric, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. The right amount of steam was added to saturate or bring to a state close to saturation, heated air under conditions of being in the supply tube with electric heating and temperature control. Condensate was removed to an electrically heated and temperature controlled separator.

Immature fibrous elements are dried using a resistive electric heater (not shown) using a drying air stream from about 149 ° C (about 300 ° F) to about 315 ° C (about 600 ° F) supplied through drying nozzles and discharged at an angle of about 90 ° with respect to the general orientation of the immature fibrous elements being molded. The dried fibrous elements can be assembled onto a collection device, such as a belt or fabric, in one example, the belt or fabric is capable of creating a pattern, for example an involuntary repeating pattern, on a soluble fibrous structure formed by the collection of fibrous elements on a belt or fabric. Adding a vacuum source directly below the formation zone can be used to facilitate the collection of fibrous elements on the collection device. The formation and collection of fibrous elements leads to the creation of a fibrous structure containing interwoven fibrous elements, such as threads.

In one example, during the forming step during formation of the fibrous element 10, any volatile solvent such as water present in the composition 22 forming the fibrous element is removed, for example, by drying. In one example, more than 30% and / or more than 40% and / or more than 50% by weight of the volatile solvent of the composition forming the fibrous element, such as water, is removed during the molding step, for example, by drying the produced fibrous element 10.

The composition forming the fibrous element may contain any acceptable total concentration of materials forming the fibrous element, and any acceptable concentration of active agents, provided that the fibrous element produced from the composition forming the fibrous element contains the total concentration of materials forming the fibrous element in the fibrous element from about 5% to 50% or less by weight, calculated on the dry fibrous element, and / or in terms of dry particle, and / or in terms of dry soluble fiber if it was revealed the structure and the total concentration of active agent in the fibrous element by 50% to about 95% by weight based on the dry fiber element and / or of the dry particle and / or on a dry soluble fibrous structure.

In one example, the composition forming the fibrous element may contain any acceptable total concentration of materials forming the fibrous element, and any acceptable concentration of active agents, provided that the fibrous element produced from the composition forming the fibrous element contains a total concentration of materials forming the fibrous element , in the fiber element and / or particle, from about 5% to 50% or less by weight based on the dry fiber element and / or in terms of the dry particle and / or in terms of e on a dry soluble fibrous structure and the total concentration of active agents in the fibrous element and / or particle from 50% to about 95% by weight, calculated on the dry fibrous element, and / or in terms of the dry particle, and / or in terms of dry a soluble fibrous structure, and the mass ratio of the material forming the fibrous element to the total concentration of active agents is 1 or less.

In one example, the composition forming the fiber element contains from about 1%, and / or from about 5%, and / or from about 10% to about 50%, and / or up to about 40%, and / or up to about 30% and / or up to about 20% of the materials forming the fiber element, relative to the weight of the composition forming the fiber element; from about 1%, and / or from about 5%, and / or from about 10% to about 50%, and / or up to about 40%, and / or up to about 30%, and / or up to about 20% of active agents in relation to the weight of the composition forming the fibrous element; and from about 20%, and / or from about 25%, and / or from about 30%, and / or from about 40%, and / or to about 80%, and / or to about 70%, and / or to about 60%, and / or up to about 50% of a volatile solvent, such as water, relative to the weight of the composition forming the fibrous element. The composition forming the fibrous element may contain small amounts of other active agents, for example less than 10%, and / or less than 5%, and / or less than 3%, and / or less than 1% of plasticizers, pH adjusting agents and other active agents according to relative to the mass of the composition forming the fibrous element.

The composition forming the fibrous element is molded into one or more fibrous elements and / or into one or more particles using any suitable molding method, such as blown melting, spinning, electrospinning and / or rotational molding. In one example, the composition forming the fiber element is formed into a plurality of fiber elements and / or particles by blowing. For example, the composition forming the fibrous element can be pumped from the reservoir to a die for blown melting. After exiting from one or more openings forming the fibrous element into the spinneret, the composition forming the fibrous element is drawn by air to form one or more fibrous elements and / or one or more particles. The fibrous elements and / or particles can then be dried to remove any remaining solvents used in the molding, such as water.

The fibrous elements and / or particles of the present invention can be assembled on a belt (not shown), such as a patterned belt, for example, intertwined with each other so that a soluble fibrous structure containing fibrous elements and / or particles is formed.

Application methods

In one example, soluble fibrous structures containing one or more active tissue care agents in accordance with the present invention can be used in a method for treating a fabric product. A method for processing a fabric product may include one or more steps that are selected from the group consisting of: (a) pre-processing the fabric product before washing the fabric product; (b) bringing the fabric article into contact with a washing liquid formed by contacting the soluble fibrous structure with water; (c) bringing the article of fabric into contact with the soluble fibrous structure in the dryer; (d) drying the fabric article in the presence of a soluble fibrous structure in the dryer; and (e) combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the method may further include the step of pre-wetting the soluble fibrous structure before bringing it into contact with the fabric article to be pretreated. For example, a soluble fibrous structure can be pre-moistened with water, and then attached to the part of the fabric containing the stain that needs to be pre-treated. In an alternative embodiment, the tissue may be moistened and the fibrous structure placed or attached to it. In some embodiments, the method may further include the step of selecting only a portion of the soluble fibrous structure for use in treating the fabric product. For example, if it is necessary to process only one article of fabric, a part of the soluble fibrous structure can be cut off and / or torn off and either placed on the fabric, or connected to the fabric or placed in water to form a relatively small amount of washing liquid, which is then used for preliminary tissue processing. In this way, the user can modify the method of processing tissue in accordance with the current task. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the soluble fibrous structure can be applied to the fabric to be treated using the device. Examples of devices include, without limitation, brushes and sponges. One or more of the above steps may be repeated to achieve the desired beneficial effect on the tissue as a result of the treatment.

In another example, a soluble fibrous structure containing one or more active hair care agents in accordance with the present invention can be used in a hair treatment method. The hair treatment method may include one or more steps selected from the group consisting of: (a) pre-treating the hair before washing the hair; (b) bringing the hair into contact with a washing liquid formed by contacting the soluble fibrous structure with water; (c) subsequent treatment of the hair after washing the hair; (b) bringing the hair into contact with a conditioning fluid formed by contacting the soluble fibrous structure with water; and (e) combinations thereof.

Non-restrictive Examples

Example 1. A fibrous element, for example a thread containing a restraining agent, is made as follows. The composition forming the fibrous element is obtained by adding 54% by weight of distilled water with stirring at 100-150 rpm to a clean vessel of the desired size. Powders of a resin of a slightly hydrolyzable copolymer of vinyl acetate and vinyl alcohol: 10% by weight of a powder of a resin of a weakly hydrolyzable copolymer of vinyl acetate and vinyl alcohol (fiber forming material) (commercially available under the brand name Poval® PVA 505 from Kuraray Co. Ltd., Houston, Texas) and 5% by weight of a resin powder of a slightly hydrolyzable copolymer of vinyl acetate and vinyl alcohol (fiber forming material) (commercially available under the brand name Poval® PVA 420H from Kuraray Co. Ltd., Houston, Texas) are weighed in the reception emy container and slowly added to water in small portions with a spatula, while continuing mixing and avoiding the formation of visible lumps. Adjust the mixing speed to minimize foaming. The mixture is then slowly heated to 75 ° C for 2 hours, after which 20% by weight of a linear alkylbenzenesulfonate surfactant (active agent is an anionic surfactant) and 10% by weight of alkyl ethoxysulfate surfactant (active agent - anionic surfactant), and then 1% by weight of the restraining agent described herein is added to the mixture. Then the mixture is heated to 75 ° C, while continuing stirring for 45 minutes, and then allowed to cool to 23 ° C with the formation of the preliminary mixture. After that, the pre-mixture can be used to form the fibrous elements, as described herein. In one example, a plurality of molded fibrous elements can be interlaced and assembled on a collection device to form a fibrous structure containing fibrous elements.

Example 2. A fibrous element, for example a thread containing a restraining agent, is made as follows. The composition forming the fibrous element is obtained by adding 54% by weight of distilled water with stirring at 100-150 rpm to a clean vessel of the desired size. 14% by weight of carboxymethyl cellulose (the material forming the fiber element) and 1% by weight of a means for increasing longitudinal viscosity (polyacrylamide) are weighed into an acceptable container and slowly added to water in small portions with a spatula, while continuing to mix and avoid the formation of visible lumps. Adjust the mixing speed to minimize foaming. The mixture is then slowly heated to 75 ° C for 2 hours, after which 20% by weight of a linear alkylbenzenesulfonate surfactant (active agent is an anionic surfactant) and 10% by weight of alkyl ethoxysulfate surfactant (active agent - anionic surfactant), and then 1% by weight of the restraining agent described herein is added to the mixture. Then the mixture is heated to 75 ° C, while continuing stirring for 45 minutes, and then allowed to cool to 23 ° C with the formation of the preliminary mixture. After that, the pre-mixture can be used to form the fibrous elements, as described herein. In one example, a plurality of molded fibrous elements can be interlaced and assembled on a collection device to form a fibrous structure containing fibrous elements.

Example 3. A fibrous element, for example a thread containing a restraining agent, is made as follows. The composition forming the fibrous element is obtained by adding 54% by weight of distilled water with stirring at 100-150 rpm to a clean vessel of the desired size. Powders of a resin of a slightly hydrolyzable copolymer of vinyl acetate and vinyl alcohol: 11% by weight of a powder of a resin of a weakly hydrolyzable copolymer of vinyl acetate and vinyl alcohol (fiber forming material) (commercially available under the brand name Poval® PVA 505 from Kuraray Co. Ltd., Houston, Texas) and 5% by weight of a resin powder of a slightly hydrolyzable copolymer of vinyl acetate and vinyl alcohol (fiber forming material) (commercially available under the brand name Poval® PVA 420H from Kuraray Co. Ltd., Houston, Texas) are weighed in the reception emy container and slowly added to water in small portions with a spatula, while continuing mixing and avoiding the formation of visible lumps. Adjust the mixing speed to minimize foaming. The mixture is then slowly heated to 75 ° C for 2 hours, after which 20% by weight of a linear alkyl benzene sulfonate surfactant (active agent is an anionic surfactant) and 10% by weight of an alkyl ethoxy sulfate surfactant are added to the mixture agent is an anionic surfactant). Then the mixture is heated to 75 ° C, while continuing stirring for 45 minutes, and then allowed to cool to 23 ° C with the formation of the preliminary mixture. After that, the pre-mixture can be used to form the fibrous elements, as described herein. The fibrous element is then brought into contact with denatonium benzoate (a restraining agent), for example, in the form of a solution and / or powder, to coat the fibrous element. In one example, a plurality of molded fibrous elements (coated and / or not coated with a restraining agent) can be twisted and assembled on a collection device to form a fibrous structure containing fibrous elements, and then at least one surface of the fibrous structure can be brought into contact with benzoate denatonium (a restraining agent), for example, in the form of a solution or powder, for coating the surface of the fibrous structure.

Example 4. A fibrous element, for example a thread containing a restraining agent, is made as follows. The composition forming the fibrous element is obtained by adding 54% by weight of distilled water with stirring at 100-150 rpm to a clean vessel of the desired size. 15% by weight of carboxymethyl cellulose (the material forming the fiber element) and 1% by weight of a means for increasing longitudinal viscosity (polyacrylamide) are weighed into an acceptable container and slowly added to water in small portions with a spatula, while continuing to mix and avoid the formation of visible lumps. Adjust the mixing speed to minimize foaming. The mixture is then slowly heated to 75 ° C for 2 hours, after which 20% by weight of a linear alkyl benzene sulfonate surfactant (active agent is an anionic surfactant) and 10% by weight of an alkyl ethoxy sulfate surfactant are added to the mixture agent is an anionic surfactant). Then the mixture is heated to 75 ° C, while continuing stirring for 45 minutes, and then allowed to cool to 23 ° C with the formation of the preliminary mixture. After that, the pre-mixture can be used to form the fibrous elements, as described herein. The fibrous component is then brought into contact with denatonium benzoate (a restraining agent), for example, in solution, to coat the fibrous element. In one example, a plurality of molded fibrous elements (coated and / or not coated with a restraining agent) can be bound and assembled on a collection device to form a fibrous structure containing fibrous elements.

The fibrous element is then brought into contact with denatonium benzoate (a restraining agent), for example, in the form of a solution and / or powder, to coat the fibrous element.

In one example, a plurality of molded fibrous elements can be interlaced and assembled on a collection device to form a fibrous structure containing fibrous elements, and then at least one surface of the fibrous structure can be contacted with denatonium benzoate (a restraining agent), for example, in the form solution or powder to cover the surface of the fibrous structure.

Verification Methods

Unless otherwise specified, all checks described in this document, including those described in the Definitions section, as well as the following verification methods, are performed on samples that were kept in an air-conditioned room at a temperature of 23 ° C ± 1 ° C and a relative humidity of 50% ± 2% for 2 hours before checking. Samples aged in an air-conditioned room, as described herein, are considered to be dry samples (eg, “dry fiber elements”) for the purposes of the present invention. In addition, all tests are performed in such an air-conditioned room.

Method for checking water content

The water content (moisture) present in the filament and / or fiber and / or soluble fibrous structure is measured using the following method for checking the water content.

The thread and / or soluble fibrous structure or part thereof ("sample") before testing is placed in an air-conditioned room at a temperature of 23 ° C ± 1 ° C and a relative humidity of 50% ± 2% for at least 24 hours. The mass of the sample is fixed when there is no change in mass for at least a 5-minute period. Fix this mass as the “equilibrium mass” of the sample. Next, place the sample in an oven for 24 hours at a temperature of 70 ° C and a relative humidity of about 4% to dry the sample. Weigh the sample immediately after drying for 24 hours. Fix this mass as the “dry mass” of the sample. The water content (moisture) in the sample is calculated as follows:

% of water (moisture) in the sample for 3 copies is averaged to obtain the declared% of water (moisture) in the sample.

The method of checking solubility

Instrument and materials (Fig. 5-7)

Laboratory glass 38 with a volume of 600 ml.

Magnetic stirrer 40 (Labline, model No. 1250 or similar).

Anchor 42 of a magnetic stirrer (5 cm).

Thermometer (1-100 ° С +/- 1 ° С).

Punching stamp: 3.8 cm × 3.2 cm stainless steel punching stamp.

Timer (0-3600 seconds or 1 hour), measurement accurate to the second. The timer used should have a sufficient total time measurement range if the dissolution time of the sample is more than 3600 seconds. However, the timer must measure to the second.

44 Polaroid 35mm transparency frame (manufactured by Polaroid Corporation or equivalent).

35mm transparency frame holder 46 (manufactured by Polaroid Corporation or equivalent).

Water, Cincinnati, or similar with the following characteristics: total hardness = 155 mg / l as CaCO ₃ ; calcium content = 33.2 mg / l; magnesium content = 17.5 mg / l; phosphorus content = 0.0462.

Verification Protocol

Balance the samples in an environment with a constant temperature and humidity of 23 ° C ± 1 ° C and 50% RH ± 2% for at least 2 hours.

Measure the square meter mass of the sample materials using the square meter mass verification method described herein.

Cut three samples to check the dissolution of the soluble fibrous structure from the sample using a die cut (3.8 cm × 3.2 cm) so that they fit into a 44 (35 mm) transparency frame, the open area of which is 24 × 36 mm.

Fix each specimen to a separate 35mm transparency frame 44.

Place the anchor 42 of the magnetic stirrer in a 38 ml beaker 38 with a volume of 600 ml.

Turn on the tap water supply tap (or similar), measure the water temperature with a thermometer and adjust the hot or cold water supply if necessary to maintain the desired temperature. The water temperature during testing should be 15 ° C ± 1 ° C. After reaching the desired temperature, fill a laboratory beaker 240 500 ml ± 5 ml of tap water with a temperature of 15 ° C ± 1 ° C.

Place the filled beaker 38 on the magnetic stirrer 40, turn on the stirrer 40 and adjust the stirring speed so that a funnel forms and its bottom is at 400 ml of the beaker 38.

Fasten the 35 mm transparency frame 44 to the crocodile clip 48 of the 35 mm transparency frame holder 46 so that the long end 50 of the transparency frame 44 is parallel to the surface of the water. The crocodile clip 48 should be located in the middle of the long end 50 of the transparency frame 44. The depth adjuster 52 of the holder 46 should be installed so that the distance between the bottom of the depth adjuster 52 and the bottom of the crocodile clip 48 is 28 ± 0.318 centimeters (11 ± 0.125 inches). Such an installation will lead to the location of the surface of the sample perpendicular to the flow of water. A slightly modified example of the arrangement of a 35 mm transparency frame and a transparency holder is shown in FIG. 1-3 of US patent No. 6,787,512.

In one motion, throw the fixed frame and clip into the water and start the timer. The sample is thrown so that the sample is in the center of the glass. When the soluble fibrous structure disintegrated, it means that the destruction has occurred. Fix this moment as the time of destruction. After release of the entire soluble fibrous structure from the transparencies, lift the frame out of the water while continuing to observe the undissolved fragments of the soluble fibrous structure in the solution. When all fragments of the soluble fibrous structure ceased to be visible, this means that dissolution has occurred. Fix this moment as the time of dissolution.

Check three copies of each sample and record the average times of destruction and dissolution. The average time of destruction and dissolution is expressed in seconds.

The average time of destruction and dissolution is normalized by mass per square meter by dividing each of the above indicators by the mass of square meter of the sample, determined by the method of checking the mass of a square meter described in this document. The time of destruction and dissolution, normalized by mass per square meter, expressed in seconds per gram per square meter of sample (s / (g / m ² )).

Diameter Check Method

The diameter of a single fiber element or fiber element within a soluble fiber structure or film is determined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) or an optical microscope and an image analysis program. A magnification factor of 200 to 10,000 times is selected so that the enlarged fibrous elements can be measured. When using SEM, a compound containing gold or palladium is sprayed onto the samples to prevent the accumulation of electric charge or vibration of the fibrous element in the electron beam. The procedure for manually determining the diameters of the fibrous element is performed according to the image (on the screen of the monitor) made using a SEM or an optical microscope. Using a mouse and cursor, the edge of an arbitrarily selected fiber element is found, and then it is measured in width (i.e., perpendicular to the direction of the fiber element at this point) to the other edge of the fiber element. A scaled and calibrated image analysis tool provides scaling to get the actual value in microns. In the case of fibrous elements within a soluble fibrous structure or film, several fibrous elements are randomly selected from a sample of the soluble fibrous structure or film using a SEM or optical microscope. At least two sections of the soluble fibrous structure or film (or fibrous structure within the product) are cut and tested in this way. In total, at least 100 such measurements are performed, and then all data is recorded for statistical analysis. The recorded data is used to calculate the average diameters of the fiber element, the standard deviation of the diameters of the fiber element and the median diameters of the fiber element.

Another applicable statistical parameter is to calculate a population of fibrous elements that is below a certain upper limit. To determine this statistical parameter, the program is set up to calculate how many measured values of the diameters of the fiber element are below the upper limit, and the resulting number (divided by the total amount of data and multiplied by 100%) is expressed as a percentage as a percentage of values below the upper limit, for example a percentage of diameters less than 1 micrometer or submicron%. We denote the measured diameter (in microns) of a single circular fiber element in the form of di.

If the fibrous elements have non-circular cross sections, the diameter of the fibrous element is determined and set equal to the hydraulic diameter, which is the cross-sectional area multiplied by four, and then divided by the perimeter of the cross section of the fibrous element (the outer perimeter in the case of hollow fiber elements) . The number average diameter (d _num ), and in an alternative embodiment, the average diameter, is calculated as follows:

Thickness Check Method

The thickness of the soluble fibrous structure or film is measured by cutting off 5 samples of the soluble fibrous structure or film sample so that the size of each cut sample is larger than the loading surface of the presser foot of the VIR Electronic Thickness Tester Model II electronic thickness measuring device, available from Thwing -Albert Instrument Company, Philadelphia, PA. Typically, the loading surface of the presser foot is round and has an area of about 20.26 cm ² (about 3.14 square inches). The sample is enclosed between a horizontal plane plane and the loading surface of the pressure leg. The loading surface of the presser foot exerts a limiting pressure on the sample equal to 15.5 g / cm ² . The thickness of each sample is the total gap between the flat surface and the loading surface of the pressure leg. Thickness is calculated as the average thickness of five samples. The result is presented in millimeters (mm).

The method of checking the mass of square meter

The mass per square meter of a sample of the fibrous structure is measured by selecting 12 (twelve) individual samples of the fibrous structure and folding two piles of six separate samples in each. If individual samples are interconnected using perforation lines, then these lines should be aligned on one side when folding individual samples into stacks. A precision cutting device is used to cut each stack into squares with an exact size of 8.9 cm × 8.9 cm (3.5 inches × 3.5 inches). Two stacks of cut squares are combined to form a cushion for measuring the mass of a square meter with a thickness of twelve squares. Then the pillow for measuring the mass of a square meter is weighed on a balance with a top load and a minimum resolution of 0.01 g. Scales with a top load should be protected from air flow and other interference using a protective casing. The masses are fixed after stabilizing the readings on a top-loading balance. The mass per square meter is calculated as follows:

If the sample of the fibrous structure is less than 8.89 cm × 8.89 cm (3.5 inches × 3.5 inches), then smaller areas of the sample can be used to determine the mass of a square meter with corresponding changes in the calculations.

The method of checking the mass-average molecular weight

The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of a material, such as a polymer, is determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) using a mixed bed column. A high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) with the following components is used: pump and system controller Millenium®, model 600E, controller software version 3.2, automatic sampler model 717 Plus and column heater SNM-009246. All of the above components are manufactured by Waters Corporation, Milford, Massachusetts, USA. The column is a PL gel 20 μm Mixed A column (gel molecular weight in the range of 1000 g / mol to 40,000,000 g / mol) having a length of 600 mm and an inner diameter of 7.5 mm, and the protective column is a PL gel 20 μm column (length 50 mm, ext. diam. 7.5 mm). The column temperature is 55 ° C, and the volume of the injected sample is 200 μl. The detector is a DAWN® EOS (Advanced Optical System) laser light scattering detector that includes the Astra® program (detector software version 4.73.04) manufactured by Wyatt Technology, Santa Barbara, California, USA, with a K5 cell and laser 690 nm. The gain on the odd-numbered detectors is set to 101. The gain on the even-numbered detectors is set to 20.9. Wyatt Technology's Optilab® Differential Refractometer is set at 50 ° C. The gain is set to 10. The mobile phase is dimethyl sulfoxide for HPLC with LiBr 0.1% (mass / volume), and the flow rate of the mobile phase is 1 ml / min (isocratic mode). The analysis cycle time is 30 minutes.

A sample is obtained by dissolving the material in the mobile phase in a nominal ratio of 3 mg of material per 1 ml of the mobile phase. The sample is closed with a lid and then stirred for about 5 minutes using a magnetic stirrer. Then the sample is placed in a convection oven at a temperature of 85 ° C for 60 minutes. The sample is then allowed to cool to room temperature. The sample is then filtered through a 5 μm nylon membrane, type Spartan-25, manufactured by Schleicher & Schuell, Keene, New Hampshire, USA, into a 5 ml (ml) bottle with an automatic dispenser using a 5 ml syringe.

For each series of measured samples (3 or more material samples), a blank solvent sample is injected onto the column. A control sample is then prepared in the same way as the samples described above. The control sample contains 2 mg / ml pullulan (Polymer Laboratories) with a weight average molecular weight of 47,300 g / mol. A control sample is analyzed before analysis of each series of samples. Tests with a blank sample, a control sample and prototypes containing material are performed in duplicate. The last analysis is performed with a blank sample. The light scattering detector and differential refractometer are operated in accordance with the Dawn EOS Light Scattering Instrument Hardware Manual and Optilab® DSP Interferometric Refractometer Hardware Manual, compiled by Wyatt Technology, Santa Barbara, California, USA, included in this document by reference.

The weight average molecular weight of the sample is calculated using the detector software. Use the value of dn / dc (differential change in refractive index with a change in concentration) equal to 0.066. The baselines of the laser radiation detectors and the refractive index detector are adjusted to remove interference from the dark current of the detector and solvent scattering. If the signal from the laser detector is saturated or exhibits excessive noise, it is not used in molecular weight calculations. Areas for molecular weight estimation are selected so that the signals of the laser scattering detector at an angle of 90 ° and the refractive index detector are more than 3 times higher than the corresponding noise levels of the baseline. Typically, the high molecular weight side of the chromatogram is limited by the refractive index signal, and the low molecular weight side of the chromatogram is limited by the laser radiation signal.

The weight average molecular weight can be calculated using a first-order Zimm plot as defined in the detector software. If the mass-average molecular weight of the sample exceeds 1,000,000 g / mol, then Zimm diagrams of the first and second order are constructed, and the result with the smallest error from fitting the regression is used to calculate the molecular weight. A fixed mass-average molecular weight is the average of two analyzes of a test sample with material.

A method for checking tensile strength. Elongation, Tensile Strength, Total Energy (TEA) and Modulus

Elongation, tensile strength, TEA, secant modulus, and tangent modulus are measured using a longitudinal tensile strength tester set to a constant data rate with a computer interface (an acceptable instrument is MTS Insight with Testworks 4.0 from MTS Systems Corp ., Eden Prairie, Minnesota) using a load cell for which the measured forces are in the range of 10% to 90% of the sensor's limit value. Both the movable (upper) and stationary (lower) pneumatic clamps are equipped with rubberized grippers 25.4 mm high and wider than the width of the prototype. An air pressure of approximately 80 psi is applied to the clamps. All tests are performed in an air-conditioned room with a temperature of about 23 ° C ± 1 and a relative humidity of about 50% ± 2%. Samples are kept under similar conditions for 2 hours prior to testing.

Eight samples of a soluble fibrous structure and / or a solvent fibrous structure are divided into two piles of four samples each. Samples in each stack are equally oriented with respect to the processing direction (BUT) and the transverse direction (PN). One of the piles is intended for testing in BUT, and the other in PN. Using a cutting device with an accuracy of one inch (Thwing Albert JDC-1-10 or equivalent), cut four BUT strips from one pile and four MON strips from another of the following sizes: width 2.54 cm ± 0.02 cm and length at least 50 mm.

Program the device to test for the tensile strength test by collecting force and tensile data at a collection frequency of 100 Hz. Initially lower the slider 6 mm at a speed of 5.08 cm / min to allow the sample to sag, then raise the slider at a speed of 5.08 cm / min until the sample breaks. Set the tensile sensitivity to 80%, i.e. the test stops when the measured force drops to 20% of the maximum peak force, after which the slider is returned to its original position.

Set the length of the measuring base to 2.54 cm. Zero the slider. Insert the sample into the upper grip, aligning it vertically with the upper and lower clamps, and close the upper grips. When the sample begins to hang from the upper grippers, zero the load cell. Insert the sample into the lower grips and close. With closed grips, the specimen must be sufficiently tensioned to eliminate sagging, but the force acting on the load cell is less than 3.0 g. Start the tensile strength tester and begin collecting data. Similarly, test all four ST samples and four BUT samples.

Program the software to calculate the following parameters from the plotted tensile (cm) versus force (g) curve.

Tensile strength is the maximum peak force (g) divided by the width of the sample (cm) and expressed in g / cm with an accuracy of 1.0 g / cm.

The adjusted measuring base is calculated as the sum of the tensile (cm) measured under the influence of a force of 3.0 g and the initial length of the measuring base (cm).

Elongation is calculated as elongation at maximum peak force (cm) divided by the adjusted measuring base (cm) and multiplied by 100 and expressed in% with an accuracy of 0.1%.

The total energy (TEA) is calculated as the area under the force curve, built from zero tension to tension at maximum peak force (g * cm), divided by the product of the adjusted measurement base (cm) and the width of the sample (cm), and recorded with an accuracy of 1 g * cm / cm ² .

Re-build the curve of the tensile (cm) versus force (g) as a curve of the strain (%) versus force (g). The deformation in the context of this document is defined as the tensile (cm) divided by the adjusted measuring base (cm) and multiplied by 100. Program the software to calculate the following parameters from the plot of the strain (%) versus force (g).

The secant modulus is calculated by linear least squares fitting of the largest angular coefficient of the stress-strain curve of the strain using a cord having a lift of at least 20% of peak force. Then the angular coefficient is divided by the width of the sample (2.54 cm) and recorded with an accuracy of 1.0 g / cm.

The tangent modulus is calculated as the angular coefficient of the line drawn between two data points on the curve of deformation (%) versus force (g). The first data point used is a point fixed at a force of 28 g, and the second data point used is a point fixed at a force of 48 g. Then the angular coefficient is divided by the width of the sample (2.54 cm) and recorded with an accuracy of 1.0 g / cm

Tensile strength (g / cm), elongation (%), total energy (g * cm / cm ² ), secant modulus (g / cm) and tangent modulus (g / cm) are calculated from four ST samples and four BUT samples. Calculate the average value for each parameter separately for the PN and NL samples.

Calculations:

The total tensile strength of dry matter (TDT) = the tensile strength of the HO (g / cm) + the tensile strength of the PN (g / cm)

Geometric average tensile = square root of [Tensile strength HO (g / cm) × tensile strength MON (g / cm)]

Coefficient of tensile strength = tensile strength HO (g / cm) / tensile strength PN (g / cm)

Geometric average peak elongation = square root of [elongation of BUT (%) × elongation of PN (%)]

Total TEA = TEA BUT (g * cm / cm ² ) + TEA PN (g * cm / cm ² )

Geometric mean TEA = square root of [TEA HO (g * cm / cm ² ) × TEA PN (g * cm / cm ² )]

Geometric mean of the tangent modulus = square root of [tangent modulus BUT (g / cm) × tangent modulus PN (g / cm)]

General tangent module = tangent module HO (g / cm) + tangent module PN (g / cm)

The geometric mean of the secant modulus = square root of [secant modulus BUT (g / cm) × secant modulus PN (g / cm)]

Common secant module = secant module BUT (g / cm) + secant module PN (g / cm)

Method for checking plane stiffness

In the context of this document, the planar stiffness test is a measure of the stiffness of a flat sample when it is deformed downward into the hole under the sample. For the test, the sample is modeled in the form of an endless sheet of thickness t, which is located on a flat surface with a center above the hole with a radius R. The central force F applied to the fabric directly above the center of the hole bends the fabric down into the hole by a distance w. For a linearly elastic material, the deflection can be approximately calculated by the formula:

where E is an effective linear elastic modulus, v is the Poisson's ratio, R is the radius of the hole, at is the thickness of the fabric, expressed in millimeters and measured in a stack of 5 pieces of fabric under a load of about 1999.48 Pa (0.29 psi). Taking the Poisson's ratio equal to 0.1 (the solution is not highly sensitive to this parameter, therefore, the error due to the accepted value is most likely to be small), the previous equation can be rewritten for w to evaluate the effective module depending on the results of the flexibility test:

Test results are obtained using an MTS Alliance RT / 1 testing instrument (MTS Systems Corp., Eden Prairie, Minnesota) with a 100N load cell. After a stack of five sheets of fabric with an area of at least 16.1 square centimeters (2.5 square inches) is centered over a hole with a radius of 15.75 mm on a support plate, a blunt probe with a radius of 3.15 mm begins to sink at a speed of 20 mm / min When the tip of the probe drops 1 mm below the plane of the base plate, the test is stopped. The maximum angular coefficient in grams of force / mm is recorded within any 0.5 mm range during the test (such a maximum decline usually occurs at the end of the stroke length). A load sensor monitors the applied force, and also tracks the position of the tip of the probe relative to the plane of the base plate. The maximum load is fixed, and E is calculated according to the above equation.

Then calculate the planar stiffness S per unit width as follows:

and express the result in Newton millimeters. Testworks uses the following formula to calculate planar stiffness:

where F / w is the maximum angular coefficient (force divided by deflection), v is the Poisson's ratio, taken equal to 0.1, and R is the radius of the ring.

The method of checking the composition of the fibrous elements

To obtain fibrous elements for evaluating the composition of fibrous elements, the fibrous elements must be treated by removing any coating compositions and / or materials located on the outer surfaces of the fibrous elements that are removable. A chemical analysis of the treated fibrous elements is then performed to determine the composition of the fibrous elements in relation to the materials forming the fibrous element and the active agents and the content of the materials forming the fibrous element and the active agents present in the fibrous elements.

The composition of the fibrous elements in relation to the material forming the fibrous element and the active agents can also be determined by performing cross-sectional analysis using TOF-SIM or SEM. In yet another method for determining the composition of fibrous elements, a fluorescent dye is used as a marker. In addition, as always, the manufacturer of the fibrous elements must know the composition of their fibrous elements.

Method for checking median particle size

This verification method must be used to determine the median particle size.

The median particle size test is performed to determine the median particle size of the granular material in accordance with ASTM D 502-89, “Standard Method for Verifying the Particle Size of Soaps and Other Detergents,” approved on May 26, 1989, with additional specifications for sieve sizes, used in the analysis. According to section 7 “Procedure using the mechanical sieving method”, a set of clean dry sieves containing sieves No. 8 (2360 μm), No. 12 (1700 μm), No. 16 (1180 μm), No. 20 (850 μm), No. 30 is required (600 μm), No. 40 (425 μm), No. 50 (300 μm), No. 70 (212 μm), No. 100 (150 μm) according to the US standard (ASTM E11). The recommended method of mechanical screening is used with the aforementioned set of screens. As a sample, granular material is used. A suitable vibratory screening machine is available from W.S. Tyler Company, Mentor, Ohio, USA.

The data are plotted on a graph in a semi-logarithmic scale, on which the hole size in microns of each sieve is plotted on the graph by the logarithmic abscissa, and the total mass percentage (Q ₃ ) is plotted on the graph by linear ordinate. An example of the presentation of the above data is given in ISO 9276-1: 1998 “Presentation of Particle Size Analysis Results - Part 1: Graphical Representation”, FIG. A.4. The median particle size of the granular material (D ₅₀ ) for the purpose of the present invention is defined as the abscissa value at the point at which the total mass percentage is 50 percent, and is calculated by linear interpolation between the data points directly above (a50) and below (b50) 50% using the following equation:

where Q _a50 and Q _b50 represent the combined weight percentages of data values directly above and below the 50 th percentile, respectively; a D _a50 and D _b50 are sieve sizes in microns corresponding to these data.

If the value of the 50th percentile is lower than the smallest sieve (150 microns) or higher than the largest sieve (2360 microns), then additional sieves must be added to the set of sieves in accordance with the geometric progression of not more than 1.5 until the median will not be between the two measured sieve sizes.

The dispersion of the distribution of granular material is a measure of the breadth of the distribution of grain size in relation to the median. It is calculated as follows:

Scatter = (D ₈₄ / D ₅₀ + D ₅₀ / D ₁₆ ) / 2,

where D ₅₀ is the median particle size, and D ₈₄ and D ₁₆ are the particle sizes at the sixteenth and eighty-fourth percentiles on a fixed graph of the total mass percentage, respectively.

If the value of D ₁₆ is below the smallest sieve size (150 μm), then the spread is calculated as follows:

Scatter = (D ₈₄ / D ₅₀ ).

If the value of D ₈₄ is higher than the largest sieve size (2360 μm), then the spread is calculated as follows:

Scatter = (D ₅₀ / D ₁₆ ).

If the D16 value is lower than the smallest sieve size (150 μm), and the D84 value is higher than the largest sieve size (2360 μm), then the distribution scatter is taken equal to the maximum value of 5.7.

The dimensions and values described herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited by the listed exact numerical values. On the contrary, unless otherwise indicated, each such size implies both the indicated value and the functionally equivalent range in which this value is included. For example, a dimension described as “40 mm” means “about 40 mm”.

Each document referenced in this document, including cross-references or a related patent or application, and any patent or patent application in which this application claims priority or advantage, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, unless otherwise expressly excluded. form or not otherwise limited. The citation of any document does not constitute recognition that it constitutes prior art with respect to any invention described or claimed herein, or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, represents, proposes or discloses any such invention . Additionally, in the event that any meaning or definition of a term in this document contradicts any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated herein by reference, priority is given to the meaning or definition assigned to this term in this document.

Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, those skilled in the art will understand that the invention is capable of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the appended claims cover all of these changes and modifications within the scope of this invention.

Claims (14)

1. A fibrous element containing one or more materials that make up the thread, one or more active agents and one or more restraining agents, and at least one of the materials that make up the fibrous element contains a material that is soluble in a polar solvent, and preferably a material soluble in a polar solvent, is a water-soluble material. 2. The fibrous element according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the active agents is capable of being released from the fibrous element when the fibrous element is exposed to the conditions of the intended use. 3. The fibrous element according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, in which at least one of the materials forming the fiber element contains a polymer, and preferably the polymer is selected from the group consisting of pullulan, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, carboxymethyl cellulose, alumina, xanthan gum, tragacanth gum, guar gum, Senegalese gum, gum arabic, polyacrylic acid, methyl methacrylate copolymer, carboxivini polymers, dextrin, pectin, chitin, levan, elsinan, collagen, gelatin, zein, gluten, soy protein, casein, polyvinyl alcohol, starch, starch derivatives, hemicellulose, hemicellulose derivatives, proteins, chitosan, chitosylene glycol, polyethylene hydroxymethyl cellulose and mixtures thereof, more preferably the polymer contains polyvinyl alcohol. 4. The fibrous element according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, further containing a means of increasing the longitudinal viscosity. 5. The fibrous element according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, in which at least one of the active agents contains a surfactant, preferably a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants and mixtures thereof. 6. The fibrous element according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, in which at least one of the active agents is selected from the group consisting of skin care agents, drugs, lotions, tissue care agents, dishwashing agents, care agents behind a carpet, surface care agents, hair care agents, air fresheners and mixtures thereof. 7. The fibrous element according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, in which at least one of the inhibiting agents contains a bitter agent, and preferably the bitter agent is selected from the group consisting of denatonium chloride, denatonium citrate, denatonium saccharide, denatonium carbonate, denatonium acetate, denatonium benzoate and mixtures thereof. 8. The fibrous element according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, in which at least one of the restraining agents contains a burning agent, and preferably the burning agent is selected from the group consisting of capsaicinoids (including capsaicin); vanilla ethyl ether; vanillipropyl ether; vanilla butyl ether; vanillin propylene; acetal glycol; ethyl vanillinpropylene glycol acetal; capsaicin; gingerol; 4- (1-methoxymethyl) -2- (3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-dioxolane; pepper oil; pepper oleoresin; ginger oleoresin; nonylic acid vanillamide; oleoresin jambu; pepper extract of Japanese pepper; sanshola; sanshoamide; black pepper extract; shavitsin; piperine; spilanthol and mixtures thereof. 9. The fibrous element according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, in which at least one of the restraining agents contains an emetic agent, and preferably the emetic agent contains ipecacuana. 10. A fibrous structure containing a plurality of fibrous elements according to any one of the preceding paragraphs. 11. The fibrous structure according to claim 10, in which at least one of the inhibiting agents contains a particle located inside the void of the fibrous structure, and preferably the fibrous structure is a fibrous structure obtained by coforming. 12. The fibrous structure according to claim 10, in which at least one of the inhibiting agents is located on the surface of the fibrous structure. 13. The fibrous structure of claim 10, wherein at least one of the inhibiting agents is located within at least one of the fibrous elements. 14. The fibrous structure according to claim 10, which contains at least one active agent that is able to be released from the fibrous structure upon exposure to the fibrous structure of the conditions of the intended use, moreover, the active agent contains a particle located inside the fibrous structure, more preferably fibrous the structure is a fibrous structure obtained by coforming.

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