Individualized seed hairs and products employing same
Individualized seed hairs, methods for individualizing seed hairs, chemical derivatives of individualized seed hairs, seed hair-containing soft fibrous structures, single- or multi-ply sanitary tissue products comprising such fibrous structures and methods for making such fibrous structures and sanitary tissue products are provided.
1. A single- or multi-ply sanitary tissue product comprising a fibrous structure comprising individualized seed hairs derived from a plant in the Typhaceae family wherein the fibrous structure further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of wet strength additives, softening additives, starch, clay, dry strength resins, wetting agents, lint resisting agents, absorbency-enhancing agents, immobilizing agents, lotion compositions, antiviral agents, antibacterial agents, polyol polyesters, antimigration agents, polyhydroxy plasticizers and mixtures thereof.
2. The single- or multi-ply sanitary tissue product according to claim 1 wherein the individualized seed hairs are fibers.
3. The single- or multi-ply sanitary tissue product according to claim 1 wherein the individualized seed hairs are derived from a plant selected from the group consisting of Typha latifolia and Typha augustfolia.
4. The single- or multi-ply sanitary tissue product according to claim 1 wherein the fibrous structure further comprises a wood pulp fiber.
5. The single- or multi-ply sanitary tissue product according to claim 1 wherein the fibrous structure further comprises a synthetic fiber.
6. The single- or multi-ply sanitary tissue product according to claim 1 wherein the individualized seed hairs comprise at least 0.1% by weight of the fibrous structure.
7. The single- or multi-ply sanitary tissue product according to claim 1 wherein the individualized seed hairs comprise less than 50% by weight of the fibrous structure.
8. A method for individualizing a non- gossypium seed hair from an epidermis of a seed, pod, or fruit case portion of a seed hair-bearing plant, the process comprising the step of contacting said seed, pod, or fruit case portion with a device such that non- gossypium seed hair is separated from said epidermis.
9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the device comprises a mill comprising a slot screen.
10. The method according to claim 8 wherein the device comprises an air classifier.
11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the device further comprises a screen.
12. A method for individualizing a non- gossypium seed hair from an epidermis of a seed, pod, or fruit case portion of a seed hair-bearing plant, the process comprising the step of contacting said seed, pod, or fruit case portion with a chemical to promote that said non- gossypium seed hair is separated from said epidermis.
13. A method for making an individualized seed hair-containing fibrous structure comprising the steps of:
a) preparing a fiber furnish by mixing an individualized seed hair with water;
b) depositing the fiber furnish on a foraminous forming surface to form an embryonic fibrous web; and
c) drying the embryonic fibrous web.