Particulates in nanofiber webs
The present invention is directed to a method of forming nonwoven webs comprising particulates. The method of forming the nonwoven web generally comprising the steps of forming fibers from a melt fibrillation process, forming at least one fluid stream containing particulates, mixing said fibers with said particulates to form a fiber-particulate mix, and depositing the mix on a surface to form a web. The nonwoven web will have the particulates entrapped in the web. The nonwoven web may comprise a layer having a significant number of nanofibers with diameters less than one micron.
1. A method of forming a nonwoven web comprising the steps of:
a. forming fibers from a melt film fibrillation process including a central fluid stream,
b. introducing particulates into the central fluid stream,
c. mixing said fibers with said particulates to form a fiber-particulate mix, and
d. depositing the mix on a surface to form a web.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the fibers have a diameter of less than about 1 micron.
3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the nonwoven web comprises a layer having a significant number of nanofibers with diameters less than one micron.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the particulate is selected from the group consisting of preformed fibers, granules, pulverulents, powders, spheres, and combinations thereof.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the particulate has a diameter of from about 0.1 micron to about 5 millimeter.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the particulate is a preformed fiber comprising pulp.
7. The method according to claim 4 wherein the particulate is an absorbent gelling material.
8. The method according to claim 3 wherein the layer comprises two or more pluralities of fiber diameter distributions.