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Idea 05 of 06Borrowed from dense-woven natural-fibre weatherproof textiles

A thin sheet that seals its own pores when wetted

Borrowing the swelling cotton fabric that keeps aircrew dry, we build a film-free swell-to-seal web whose fibres close its pores on wetting, meant to hold liquid back while staying breathable when dry.

Fig. 1A swelling cotton fabric and the proposed swell-to-seal web share one move: wetted fibres thicken, the narrowest gap between them shrinks and the liquid is held back, and the gaps reopen on drying.
Fig. 1

A thin sheet that seals its own pores when wetted

A wide painted scene. On the left, a tightly woven cotton rain smock hangs on a wooden peg on a mountain-hut porch in rain, with water beading on it. The mountain ridgeline runs on into the right, where an absorbent article lies on a table by a window, one corner cut away to show the absorbent pad over a thin outer sheet beneath a wet patch. Two circular insets along the bottom show the same thing at fibre scale: swollen terracotta fibres around a narrowed gap, with blue liquid held above it as a curved surface.

A swelling cotton fabric and the proposed swell-to-seal web share one move: wetted fibres thicken, the narrowest gap between them shrinks and the liquid is held back, and the gaps reopen on drying.

What is this idea, and what's clever about it?

Every published film-free outercover for hygiene products fixes its smallest dry pore when it is made, then pays for that fixed geometry in mass, stiffness and cost for the life of the article. Swelling cotton fabric works the other way: it stays open when dry and lets the arriving fluid make the barrier. The two share one causal chain: water is absorbed into cellulose, the fibres bounding a passage swell, the passage narrows until it resists the liquid pressure, and drying reverses it. Barrier and breathability would then come from the same event rather than competing for the same openness.

Where we’ve seen this before

Where is it inspired from?

Fig. 2A tightly woven cotton fabric stays breathable dry; when wetted its yarns thicken sideways and narrow the gaps between them, so the same weave holds water back without a coating or membrane.
Fig. 2

A thin sheet that seals its own pores when wetted

Two panels. Left: a cotton rain smock hanging on a peg in rain, with a magnifier showing its dense over-under weave of bulky yarns and small gaps. Right: two identical cross-sections of crossing yarns under the same layer of water. In the first the yarns are slim, the gap is open and water passes through; in the second the yarns are swollen, the gap is narrowed and the water stops as a curved surface at the gap.

A tightly woven cotton fabric stays breathable dry; when wetted its yarns thicken sideways and narrow the gaps between them, so the same weave holds water back without a coating or membrane.

The swelling cotton fabric is a dense cotton weave with no coating or membrane that has kept aircrew and mountaineers dry since 1943 12; modern versions add a PFAS-free water-repellent finish on the fibres 3. Long fibres allow a low-twist yarn that is still strong, and the weave holds up to 30% more yarn than conventional cloth 4. When dry, the gaps between yarns let air and water vapour through. When wet, cotton fibres grow up to 20% in diameter but only about 1% in length 5, so the yarns thicken and close the gaps; drying reopens them 16.

Bare cotton wicks water in, so a gap holds liquid back only while the finish makes its surface repel water; the pressure it then withstands rises as the gap narrows 78. The maker reports a 750 mm water column and no water through a 30-minute shower test 9. The cloth stays breathable, with an evaporative resistance of 6 m²·Pa/W 9. Sweat or oils on the fibres, or prolonged rain, make it leak 110.

How does it transfer?

A porous sheet can be left wide open when dry if the fibres bounding its passages swell sideways on contact with water. The swelling narrows the narrowest gap until the sheet holds the liquid back, and drying reverses it, so the liquid itself creates the barrier.

  • Cotton fibre swelling sideways when wetted→Wood-pulp and lyocell swelling fibres
  • Low-twist yarns→Lyocell staple as swelling and tension element, set in a non-swelling polypropylene frame
  • Gap between yarns, just above the sealing size→Narrowest gap between fibres, with an overhanging pore entrance
  • Water-repellent finish so rain beads off→Fluorine-free low-surface-energy finish at 2 wt% on-fibre
  • Rain, immersion and kneeling pressure→62 mbar liquid hold-out pressure against a menses simulant
  • Fabric reopens and breathes once dry→Pore closure on wetting reverses as the sheet dries
What does not carry over
  • The swelling cotton fabric gets its closure at 145–300 gsm, while the swell-to-seal web would weigh 24–26.5 gsm, roughly 6–11 times lighter, so the dry web sits at the most open structure the swelling can still close.
  • The woven fabric sets a small dry gap through very high yarn density; the web replaces the weave with a single sheet consolidated only by water-jet entanglement, which is open when dry and holds roughly 45 mbar against saline before it wets.
  • The fabric is specified against rain water and leaks once sweat or oils reach its fibres; the requirement here is urine, bowel movement and menses, and whether the swollen gaps still seal against those fluids is untested.

How does it work?

The swell-to-seal web is a single light fibrous sheet, about 26.5 gsm, with no film, glue or continuous coating. When dry it is open and breathable. When body fluid reaches it, its swelling fibres thicken and narrow the gaps liquid must pass through, and the gaps reopen when the sheet dries.

  1. Forming and entangling one light sheet

    Swelling fibres (wood pulp and lyocell) and a non-swelling frame of polypropylene fibres are laid from a foam in a single pass. Foam forming gives very even sheets at low weight 11. Water jets then tangle the fibres together, the same bonding used in commercial pulp/lyocell wipes 12, so no glue or heat bond stops a fibre from swelling. The projected sheet weighs about 26.5 gsm, against the field's 45–60 gsm.

  2. Dry sheet stays open by design

    Dry, the sheet is soft, quiet and open, and it holds back little liquid. Its projected liquid hold-out pressure (the pressure it withstands before liquid comes through) is about 45 mbar against saline and close to zero against a menses-like test fluid. That fluid's surface tension, 50 mN/m against urine's 72 mN/m, lets it wet fibres more easily. Both fall short of the 62 mbar target, so the barrier has to come from wetting, which is why the dry sheet can carry so little fibre.

  3. Fluid swells the fibres, narrowing gaps

    Water soaks into the cellulose of both swelling fibres, driven by how freely water is available in the fluid (its water activity), not by surface tension, so the response would start on urine, menses and stool alike. Lyocell swells about 30% across its width in water 13, and never-dried pulp keeps a water-swollen pore structure that drying destroys 14. As the fibres thicken against the non-swelling frame, the gaps narrow. The target is gaps 1.5 times narrower than dry; the design's own arithmetic gives only about 1.08 times.

  4. Narrowest gap holds liquid; drying reopens it

    The swollen fibre walls are meant to form an overhanging pore entrance at each narrowest gap, where a liquid surface catches on the edge. Overhanging textures do hold back low-surface-tension liquids 15. But fibres that swell evenly all round form a gap that tapers to a neck and widens again, with no overhang, so whether an overhang forms is unproven and unmeasured on a swollen fibre web. The projected hold-out on urine is about 48 mbar. When the sheet dries, the fibres shrink and the gaps reopen.

Fig. 3The proposed swell-to-seal web: open and breathable when dry, its cellulose fibres swell where liquid arrives, narrowing the gaps against a non-swelling frame so the liquid is meant to be held, then reopening on drying.
Fig. 3

A thin sheet that seals its own pores when wetted

Four numbered cross-sections of a thin fibrous sheet under an absorbent pad, liquid side on top and outside air below. 1: dry, slim terracotta fibres tangled with grey frame fibres, open gaps, air passing. 2: blue liquid reaches the top face and the fibres start taking it up. 3: the terracotta fibres are fatter, the narrowest gap is smaller with walls widening below it, and the liquid stops at the gap while the spaces stay air-filled. 4: dry again, fibres slim, gaps open.

The proposed swell-to-seal web: open and breathable when dry, its cellulose fibres swell where liquid arrives, narrowing the gaps against a non-swelling frame so the liquid is meant to be held, then reopening on drying.

Why do we think it will work?

The parts of this idea that already work somewhere, and how each carries over here.

Part of the ideaWhere it already worksHere
Weatherproof clothing textiles · Uncoated, densely woven swelling cotton fabric

Stotz & Co's specification for its uncoated swelling cotton fabric gives a liquid hold-out pressure of about 73.5 mbar on the standard grades and no water penetration in a 30-minute shower test, with no coating or membrane. 92

What is the evidence it will work?

Pore closure on wetting in swelling cotton

Where it works
Weatherproof clothing textiles · Uncoated, densely woven swelling cotton fabric
What it does there
Stotz & Co's specification for its uncoated swelling cotton fabric gives a liquid hold-out pressure of about 73.5 mbar on the standard grades and no water penetration in a 30-minute shower test, with no coating or membrane.
Here
Carries over if: A single thin fibrous sheet of swelling fibres closes its narrowest gaps as far on wetting as a heavy, dense cotton weave does.
The evidence

Carries over ifA single thin fibrous sheet of swelling fibres closes its narrowest gaps as far on wetting as a heavy, dense cotton weave does.

Cellulose fibre science · Lyocell fabrics and never-dried wood pulp

Lyocell fibres "swell predominately laterally in water by about 30% over the dry diameter"; in never-dried bleached pulp, removing lignin raises the water held per unit of fibre mass from about 115 % to 160–250 %, and drying reduces swelling. 1314

What is the evidence it will work?

Swelling fibres grow mainly in thickness

Where it works
Cellulose fibre science · Lyocell fabrics and never-dried wood pulp
What it does there
Lyocell fibres "swell predominately laterally in water by about 30% over the dry diameter"; in never-dried bleached pulp, removing lignin raises the water held per unit of fibre mass from about 115 % to 160–250 %, and drying reduces swelling.
Here
Carries over if: Thirty percent fibre thickening narrows the narrowest gap of this sheet enough to hold 62 mbar, although the design's own geometry gives only a 1.08-fold narrowing against the 1.56-fold it needs.
The evidence

Carries over ifThirty percent fibre thickening narrows the narrowest gap of this sheet enough to hold 62 mbar, although the design's own geometry gives only a 1.08-fold narrowing against the 1.56-fold it needs.Tested in What we’d test →

Absorbent hygiene materials · Expired patent US 5,447,788

The patent describes a web of at least about 50 % liquid-swellable fibres in which "the fibers swell to an extent sufficient to substantially block the passage of liquid", with pore-size distributions plotted before and after wetting. 16

What is the evidence it will work?

Liquid-swellable fibre sheet that blocks liquid

Where it works
Absorbent hygiene materials · Expired patent US 5,447,788
What it does there
The patent describes a web of at least about 50 % liquid-swellable fibres in which "the fibers swell to an extent sufficient to substantially block the passage of liquid", with pore-size distributions plotted before and after wetting.
Here
Carries over if: Commodity wood-pulp and lyocell fibres at this sheet weight reproduce the blocking the patent describes for its swellable polymer fibres.
The evidence
  • Porous, nonwoven liquid-activated barrier ↗Patent · US 5,447,788 · 1994 · Google Patents
    “at least about 50 percent by weight of the fibers ... are prepared from a liquid-swellable polymer which is not significantly soluble in the liquid ... In the presence of liquid, the fibers swell to an extent sufficient to substantially block the passage of liquid through the fibrous nonwoven web ... FIG. 1 is a plot of the pore size distribution ... before and after exposing the barrier to liquid”

Carries over ifCommodity wood-pulp and lyocell fibres at this sheet weight reproduce the blocking the patent describes for its swellable polymer fibres.Tested in What we’d test →

Wet-laid hygiene wipes · Wood-pulp/lyocell water-jet entangled wipes

A wood-pulp/lyocell moist wipe made by wet-laying and water-jet entangling is "composed of the entanglements and cohesions of wood pulp/Lyocell fibres", with its dry and wet tensile curves documented. 1217

What is the evidence it will work?

Bond-free consolidation of pulp and lyocell

Where it works
Wet-laid hygiene wipes · Wood-pulp/lyocell water-jet entangled wipes
What it does there
A wood-pulp/lyocell moist wipe made by wet-laying and water-jet entangling is "composed of the entanglements and cohesions of wood pulp/Lyocell fibres", with its dry and wet tensile curves documented.
Here
Carries over if: An entangled-only sheet at 24–26.5 g/m² (grams per square metre) with longer lyocell staple keeps enough strength while leaving the fibres free to move.
The evidence

Carries over ifAn entangled-only sheet at 24–26.5 g/m² (grams per square metre) with longer lyocell staple keeps enough strength while leaving the fibres free to move.

Cellulosic web manufacturing · Foam-laid sheets and multilayer air filters

Foam-laid materials have "extremely good formation leading to very homogeneous materials even with low grammage products", lower drying needs, and, in stratified pilot trials, good layer purity with long staple fibres. 111819

What is the evidence it will work?

Foam forming for uniform low-weight sheets

Where it works
Cellulosic web manufacturing · Foam-laid sheets and multilayer air filters
What it does there
Foam-laid materials have "extremely good formation leading to very homogeneous materials even with low grammage products", lower drying needs, and, in stratified pilot trials, good layer purity with long staple fibres.
Here
Carries over if: Foam forming can make this sheet at 24–26.5 g/m² without a carrier, with a tightly controlled largest open gap and a fine-fibre face that survives water-jet entangling.
The evidence

Carries over ifFoam forming can make this sheet at 24–26.5 g/m² without a carrier, with a tightly controlled largest open gap and a fine-fibre face that survives water-jet entangling.

Liquid-repellent surface engineering · Machined overhanging metal textures; fibrous fuel-cell paper

On overhanging textures, the edge "pins the contact line and stabilizes a convex meniscus", so the liquid surface stops there and bulges outward instead of entering, even below a 90° contact angle; in fibrous paper, pore geometry sets capillary pressure. 152021

What is the evidence it will work?

Overhanging pore entrance holds wetting liquids

Where it works
Liquid-repellent surface engineering · Machined overhanging metal textures; fibrous fuel-cell paper
What it does there
On overhanging textures, the edge "pins the contact line and stabilizes a convex meniscus", so the liquid surface stops there and bulges outward instead of entering, even below a 90° contact angle; in fibrous paper, pore geometry sets capillary pressure.
Here
Carries over if: Swollen cellulose fibres form an overhanging entrance at the narrowed gap, though uniform swelling of round fibres widens the solid evenly on both sides of the narrowest point.
The evidence
  • Client Challenge ↗Paper · nature.com
    “the re-entrant edge in RES pins the contact line and stabilizes a convex meniscus, maintaining a ΔP > 0 steady state even when θ0 < 90° ... The lowest surface tension supporting a superhydrophobic state is 47.5 mN m−1 on 70-RES”
  • Re‐Entrant Microstructures for Robust Liquid Repellent Surfaces ↗Paper · Vu et al. · 2023 · doi.org
    “A re-entrant structure has an oversized top and a smaller bottom ... A more extreme case of a re-entrant design is doubly re-entrant microstructure, which further improves the resistance of the Cassie–Baxter state and liquid repellency even for liquids with low surface tension such as perfluorohexane.”
  • Capillary Hysteresis in Neutrally Wettable Fibrous Media: A Pore Network Study of a Fuel Cell Electrode ↗Paper · Tranter et al. · 2017 · doi.org
    “The classic Washburn relation was shown to produce erroneous results, and its use is not recommended when modelling fibrous media. The toroidal model predicts that the meniscus will advance past the throat apex before reaching the critical or breakthrough pressure, increasing curvature due to the locally diverging geometry.”
  • Capillary Hysteresis in Neutrally Wettable Fibrous Media: A Pore Network Study of a Fuel Cell Electrode ↗Paper · Tranter et al. · 2017 · doi.org
    “The classic Washburn relation was shown to produce erroneous results, and its use is not recommended when modelling fibrous media. The toroidal model predicts that the meniscus will advance past the throat apex before reaching the critical or breakthrough pressure, increasing curvature due to the locally diverging geometry.”

Carries over ifSwollen cellulose fibres form an overhanging entrance at the narrowed gap, though uniform swelling of round fibres widens the solid evenly on both sides of the narrowest point.Tested in What we’d test →

Hygiene barrier fabrics · Film-free coated barrier sheets

A film-free sheet with a non-fluorinated coating held an average 81.2 mbar while passing about 21 cubic feet of air per square foot per minute; silicone finishes, with a low critical surface tension (above it, liquids bead rather than spread), give very good water repellency. 222324

What is the evidence it will work?

Fluorine-free low-surface-energy finish

Where it works
Hygiene barrier fabrics · Film-free coated barrier sheets
What it does there
A film-free sheet with a non-fluorinated coating held an average 81.2 mbar while passing about 21 cubic feet of air per square foot per minute; silicone finishes, with a low critical surface tension (above it, liquids bead rather than spread), give very good water repellency.
Here
Carries over if: A thin finish stays intact and low in surface energy on fibres that grow 30 % in diameter over repeated wet–dry cycles.
The evidence
  • Barrier Fabrics with Desirable Air Permeability ↗Patent application · US 2024/0316898 A1 · 2024 · Google Patents
    “Each of the nonwoven layers being treated with a non-fluorinated barrier coating (NFBC) ... 45 gsm SMMMMS + NFBC at 81.2 mbar average hydrohead and 20.99 cfm, pore size 6–8 µm; outermost spunbond fibres with an average diameter from about 10 to about 25 microns, 18–22.”
  • Fabrics including a non-fluorinated barrier coating ↗Patent application · US 2024/0183104 A1 · 2023 · Google Patents
    “The fabrics may provide the same or improved barrier properties as fabrics treated with fluoro-chemicals despite being devoid of fluorine atoms.”
  • Critical Surface Tension - an overview ↗Web page · sciencedirect.com
    “repellent finishes that contain either a hydrocarbon base with a γC value of about 30 mN/m or polysiloxane (silicone) finishes with a γC value of around 24 mN/m can provide very good water repellency”

Carries over ifA thin finish stays intact and low in surface energy on fibres that grow 30 % in diameter over repeated wet–dry cycles.

Seal and membrane testing · Caprock seal tests; membrane liquid-entry tests

Caprock seals are tested by raising pressure in held steps to equilibrium; for membranes, "relatively fast rates of pressure increase can lead to excessive" entry pressure, and a 5-minute step is recommended. 252627

What is the evidence it will work?

Stepped, held pressure test for threshold

Where it works
Seal and membrane testing · Caprock seal tests; membrane liquid-entry tests
What it does there
Caprock seals are tested by raising pressure in held steps to equilibrium; for membranes, "relatively fast rates of pressure increase can lead to excessive" entry pressure, and a 5-minute step is recommended.
Here
Carries over if: Step size and hold time re-derived for a sheet that equilibrates in under a second give a threshold that two laboratories reproduce.
The evidence

Carries over ifStep size and hold time re-derived for a sheet that equilibrates in under a second give a threshold that two laboratories reproduce.

Coatings and pigments · Hollow polymer pigments; expanded thermoplastic microspheres

Hollow polymer beads scatter light at the air–shell boundary, with best hiding at particle diameters of about 150–500 nm (preferably 200–350 nm); expanded gas-filled microspheres are sold for their high reflectance in cool-roof coatings. 282930

What is the evidence it will work?

Sealed gas voids as white scatterers

Where it works
Coatings and pigments · Hollow polymer pigments; expanded thermoplastic microspheres
What it does there
Hollow polymer beads scatter light at the air–shell boundary, with best hiding at particle diameters of about 150–500 nm (preferably 200–350 nm); expanded gas-filled microspheres are sold for their high reflectance in cool-roof coatings.
Here
Carries over if: Microspheres 5–38 µm across, far above the best scattering size, still hide stains in the wetted sheet at a 0.78 g/m² add-on.
The evidence
  • Opaque Polymer Pigments: Advanced Encapsulation Technologies And High-Performance Coating Applications ↗Web page · eureka.patsnap.com
    “Particles with average diameters from 150 nm to 500 nm, preferably 200–350 nm, provide the highest hiding power per unit volume ... this air-polymer interface generates a refractive index mismatch (typically Δn ≈ 0.5–0.6 between polymer matrix at n ≈ 1.5 and air at n = 1.0), which is the primary driver of opacity”
  • ROPAQUE™ ULTRA Opaque Polymer ↗Web page · dow.com
    “A hollow-sphere polymeric pigment ... reduce the raw material cost ... most efficient dry hiding in interior and exterior coatings.”
  • Expancel® thermoplastic microspheres ↗Web page · nouryon.com
    “Microspheres are small spheres encapsulating a gas ... up to 60 times ... original volume. Expanded grades provide superior reflectance in cool-roof coatings; the FG grade is described as having no moisture absorption.”

Carries over ifMicrospheres 5–38 µm across, far above the best scattering size, still hide stains in the wetted sheet at a 0.78 g/m² add-on.Tested in What we’d test →

What's different?

The fluid-swelling, pore-closing barrier is already patented; what changes is its build: commodity cellulose swelling against a non-swelling polypropylene frame, water-jet entangled only, at 24–26.5 gsm instead of the field's 45–60 gsm.

How it’s done todayThis idea
Barrier mechanismSmall dry pores and low-energy finish, fixed at manufactureFibres swell on wetting and close pores; drying reopens them
MaterialsSpunbond skins, one or more meltblown fine-fibre layers, fluorochemical or non-fluorinated coatingWood pulp, lyocell, polypropylene frame, microspheres, 2 wt% fluorine-free finish
Mass per areaAbout 45–60 gsm to reach the barrier classAbout 24–26.5 gsm, since dry pores need not be small
Bonding and softnessCalendar or thermal bonding; softness is whatever bonding leavesWater-jet entangling only, leaving fibres free to swell and bend
Stain maskingBasis weight, TiO2 or carbon-black pigment, or separate masking layerSealed gas cavities in microspheres and fibre lumens, no pigment
Key limitationMass, stiffness and add-on are paid permanently, even dryDry sheet holds about 45 mbar saline; closure carries everything
Closest existing work · 4
  • US 5,447,788, expired liquid-activated fibrous barrier16Uses a dedicated swellable polymer fibre at ≥50 wt%; here commodity cellulose swells against a non-swelling polypropylene frame, adding stain masking and per-fluid hold-out targets.Google Patents ↗
  • P&G US 6,436,508, swellable-coated breathable layerSwellable PVA is coated onto an apertured film or fibrous layer; here the sheet's own fibres swell, with no applied swellable layer.
  • SCA US 9,402,772, phase-switching permeable layerPermeability switches through a bulk polymer phase transition; here a change in fibre-network geometry narrows the gaps, within weight, opacity and cost limits.
  • Swelling cotton fabric, dense uncoated woven cotton1Shows the same swelling-closure chain at 200–300 gsm; here it moves to a 24–26.5 gsm sheet, so swelling has less material to close gaps with.en.wikipedia.org ↗

What would we test?

The riskiest open question

Wetting the 26.5 gsm swell-to-seal web narrows its narrowest gap at least 1.5-fold, though the design's own geometry gives only about 1.08-fold.

Why it matters
Every barrier figure rests on this change: at a 1.08-fold narrowing the sheet holds about 48 mbar of urine, short of the 62 mbar target.
First test
Measure the narrowest gap on the same 26.5 gsm specimens dry and water-saturated, by NMR cryoporometry and water permeametry, beside a cross-linked, non-swelling matched lot. 3839
Go if
Gap narrows at least 1.5-fold, both methods agree within 15 %, non-swelling lot narrows no more than 1.1-fold.
No-go if
Narrowing below 1.2-fold on both formation variants, or the non-swelling lot narrows as much.
Effort
$18KUSD$18Kas statedEUR€16.1KJPY¥2.85MECB reference rates, 2026-10-12 · 7 weeks
The other open questions · riskiest first

  1. Swollen fibres form an overhanging pore entrance that holds back a 50 mN/m fluid on a fluorine-free finish that alone would let it wick in.

    Why it matters
    On that finish the fluid's own contact angle sits near 85°, so without an overhang a body fluid wicks through at any gap size.
    First test
    Step-and-hold entry pressure on pre-hydrated sheets across fluids from 22 to 72 mN/m, with flat-surface contact angles, half-finish sheets and freeze-hydrated imaging of gaps. 2615
    Go if
    At least 50 mbar at 50 mN/m, unchanged within 15 % at half finish, overhangs seen only when wet.
    No-go if
    No hold above 10 mbar at or below 60 mN/m, hold lost at half finish, or no overhangs.
    Effort
    $22KUSD$22Kas statedEUR€19.7KJPY¥3.49MECB reference rates, 2026-10-12 · 8 weeks

  2. The wetted sheet holds 62 mbar for 30 minutes against saline, menses and faecal simulants, and loses that hold when fibre swelling is disabled.

    Why it matters
    This is the barrier requirement on real body fluids, and the non-swelling control shows whether swelling or a fixed pore does the work.
    First test
    Stepped, held pressure at 37 °C on pre-hydrated sheets, a non-swelling matched lot, a matched fixed-pore membrane and a 44 gsm spunbond–meltblown control. 2627
    Go if
    Onset at least 62 mbar on all three fluids, held 30 minutes; non-swelling lot falls back to dry-state values.
    No-go if
    Onset below 40 mbar at 50 mN/m, flow within one minute, or equal hold on the non-swelling lot.
    Effort
    $26KUSD$26Kas statedEUR€23.3KJPY¥4.12MECB reference rates, 2026-10-12 · 11 weeks

  3. The pigment-free 26.5 gsm sheet reaches at least 0.80 dry opacity and hides stains once wetted.

    Why it matters
    Stain masking in the barrier sheet itself avoids a second masking layer that the weight and cost budgets cannot carry.
    First test
    Contrast-ratio opacity on production-calibrated handsheets at three weights, then 10 mL stained-sheet readings at 5 and 30 minutes, supplied microspheres against 200–500 nm voids. 4849
    Go if
    Dry opacity at least 0.80 with size-matched voids and no stain-through at 5 or 30 minutes.
    No-go if
    Dry opacity below 0.70, or stain-through visible at either time.
    Effort
    $11KUSD$11Kas statedEUR€9,840JPY¥1.74MECB reference rates, 2026-10-12 · 4 weeks

  4. The fine-fibre sheet stays above 5 cfm air permeability dry and after soaking, with its narrowed gaps still gas-filled.

    Why it matters
    Barrier and breathability from one wetting event is the mechanism's advantage, yet counting the fine fibrils puts dry air permeability near 2 cfm.
    First test
    ASTM D737 air permeability on handsheets dry and after soaking, with fibre surface area taken from the measured fibre-size distribution.
    Go if
    Dry air permeability above 5 cfm with surface area counted from measured fibre sizes.
    No-go if
    Dry air permeability below 5 cfm, as the fibril-based calculation predicts.
    Effort
    $6,000USD$6,000as statedEUR€5,370JPY¥952KECB reference rates, 2026-10-12 · 3 weeks
Also to check before scale-up
  • Whether the barrier forms on first contact with dry sheet under immediate 62 mbar, not only after pre-hydration.
  • Water-vapour transmission above 2000 g/m²/24h in the wetted region, with gas connectivity measured.
  • Carrier-free foam forming at 24–26.5 gsm with a fine-fibre face that survives water-jet entangling.
  • Dry strip tensile in both directions and machine-direction stretch on the barrier-qualified lot.
  • Cup crush below 50 g; noise stays unscorable until a rig or paired panel is agreed.
  • Written ruling that the on-fibre finish meets the no-film boundary, plus ingredient declarations and PFAS screening.
  • Whether the thin finish cracks on fibres that grow about 30 % in diameter over wet–dry cycles.
  • Two-laboratory reproducibility of the stepped, held pressure protocol within ±10 %.
  • Which of the two stated cost ceilings governs, on what basis and volume.
  • Supplier quotes for microspheres and converting at 24, 25 and 26.5 gsm; microsphere price swings the total.

Who could help make this happen?

First contacts

4

References

102 sources54 cited in this idea, 48 background reading

Where it comes from11

Where it comes from

11

The work in the source field that the idea borrows its principle from.

  1. 1Web page: Ventile - Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org
    Although weatherproof, it is not coated or laminated; the combination of a dense weave and the swelling of the fibres when wet provide excellent weatherproofing ... etaProof fabrics (200g to 270g standard versions) achieve measurements no less than 750mm.
    Why it’s hereThe swelling cotton fabric: uncoated, dense weave plus fibre swelling, at least 750 mm water column.
    Cited in
    Where it comes fromNew to your field
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  2. 2Web page: Ventile — fabric technology (dense weave, swelling fibres, no coating or membrane), ventile.co.uk
    rely on natural fibres to deliver weatherproof performance, without the need for membranes or coatings ... All Ventile® fabrics are produced entirely without the use of PFAS.
    Why it’s hereSwelling cotton fabric is weatherproof without membranes or coatings, and made without PFAS.
    Cited in
    Where it comes fromWhy we believe it
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  3. 3Web page: In the Quest for PFAS-Free Rain Gear, Cotton Is Making a Comeback, nytimes.com
    Contemporary Ventile fabric now contains a PFAS-free water-repellent finish to slow the absorption of water into the individual fibers and prevent the garment from feeling overly heavy and wet
    Why it’s hereCurrent swelling cotton fabric carries a PFAS-free repellent finish to slow water uptake.
    Cited in
    Where it comes from
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  4. 4Web page: EtaProof - Natural (Stotz & Co AG product document), stotzfabrics.ch
    Fibres are then carefully spun with a low twist specification to provide an even, uniform yarn where individual fibres fall neatly into line ... accommodates up to thirty percent more yarn than conventional fabrics.
    Why it’s hereLow-twist yarns and about thirty percent more yarn than conventional fabrics in the swelling cotton fabric.
    Cited in
    Where it comes fromWho could help
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  5. 5Paper: SOME NEW TECHNIQUES TO PREDICT THE DIMENSIONAL STABILITY OF PRE-SHRUNK COTTON FABRICS, Radhakrishnaiah
    P. Radhakrishnaiah
    Fiber diameter increases by as much as 20 % and fiber length by about 1 % when cotton fibers are fully immersed in water ... In a densely woven 100% cotton fabric such as a denim, the increased diameter of the filling yarn due to absorption...
    Why it’s hereCotton fibre diameter grows up to 20% when immersed, while length grows about 1%.
    Cited in
    Where it comes from
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  6. 6Web page: Swelling Of Textile Fibres, textiletuts.com
    cotton exhibits 40% transverse area swelling ... In tightly woven fabrics, complete fiber swelling can block inter-yarn spaces, rendering the fabric impermeable to water—a property exploited in manufacturing waterproof textiles.
    Why it’s hereCotton swells 40% in cross-section; in tight weaves this blocks inter-yarn gaps against water.
    Cited in
    Where it comes from
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  7. 7Web page: Young–Laplace equation - Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org
    The pressure jump across this surface is related to the radius and the surface tension γ by Δp = 2γ/R.
    Why it’s hereYoung–Laplace relation linking pressure across a liquid surface to its radius and surface tension.
    Cited in
    Where it comes from
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  8. 8Paper: An improved procedure for calculating the pore size distribution of filter cloths in capillary flow porometry, Ängeslevä et al.2023
    M. Ängeslevä, R. Salmimies and A. HäkkinenTextile research journal
    r₀ is the meniscus radius; r is the pore radius; P₁ is the Laplace pressure; P₂ is the hydrostatic pressure.
    Why it’s hereCalculates filter-cloth pore size from the balance of capillary and hydrostatic pressure.
    Cited in
    Where it comes from
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  9. 9Web page: Stotz & Co AG — EtaProof fabric specifications (hydrostatic head DIN EN 20811 750/900/600 mm; Bundesmann 30 min 0 mL penetration, ≤10 % absorption; ISO 11092 Ret 6), stotzfabrics.ch
    Hydrostatic head din en 20811, mm of water column: 750 ... max. No. of globules after 5 min: 3. Water penetration Maximum ml: 0. water vapour permeability iso 11092 Ret m2xPa/w: 6.
    Why it’s hereSwelling cotton fabric specifications: 750 mm hydrostatic head, zero penetration in shower test.
    Cited in
    Where it comes fromWhy we believe it
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  10. 10Web page: UKH Articles - Waterproof Breathable Fabric - Explained, ukhillwalking.com
    When it gets wet the cotton swells, further reducing the size of the pores to about 3 microns ... because water can slowly work its way through the pores, these garments can leak in prolonged wet weather and take a long time to dry.
    Why it’s hereWet cotton swells pores to about 3 µm, yet garments can leak in prolonged rain.
    Cited in
    Where it comes from
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  11. 41Paper: The effect of fibre swelling on fluid flow in cotton fabrics: An experimental study, Salokhe et al.2023
    S. Salokhe, M. Rahmati, R. Masoodi and 1 moreCapillarity
    Upon water absorption, the fibre diameter increased by 10%, porosity decreased by 11%, and permeability decreased by 60% under fully swollen conditions.
    Why it’s hereMeasured in cotton fabric: wetting swells fibres 10% and cuts permeability 60%.
    Cited in
    What we'd testWho could help
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
Evidence it works14

Evidence it works

14

Each shows a part of the idea already working somewhere.

  1. 11Paper: Sustainable Nonwoven Materials by Foam Forming Using Cellulosic Fibres and Recycled Materials, Heikkilä et al.2013
    P. Heikkilä, P. Jetsu, K. Kinnunen and 3 more
    Foam laid materials has extremely good formation leading to very homogeneous materials even with low grammage products. Foam also improves dewatering in forming section leading to lowered drying needs and, thus, energy saving.
    Why it’s hereFoam forming gives very even low-weight sheets and lowers drying energy.
    Cited in
    How it worksWhy we believe it
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  2. 12Paper: A Study on Wet and Dry Tensile Properties of Wood pulp/Lyocell Wetlace Nonwovens, Zhang et al.2017
    Y. Zhang, C. Deng, B. Qu and 2 more
    The fabricated wetlace materials are composed of the entanglements and cohesions of wood pulp/Lyocell fibres. The modulus and tensile strength of the materials were obviously decreased in wet state.
    Why it’s hereWood-pulp/lyocell sheets consolidated by water jets alone, losing strength when wet.
    Cited in
    How it worksWhy we believe it
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  3. 13Paper: Effect of Fiber Swelling on the Structure of Lyocell Fabrics, Ibbett & Hsieh2001
    R. Ibbett and Y. Hsieh
    Lyocell fibers swell predominately laterally in water by about 30% over the dry diameter. Fiber lateral swelling in NaOH solutions is greater than in water, with diameters increasing by over 200% at optimum concentrations.
    Why it’s hereLyocell fibres swell mainly sideways in water, by about 30% of dry diameter.
    Cited in
    How it worksWhy we believe itWho could help
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  4. 14Web page: Swelling of cellulosic fibers in aqueous systems: A Review of chemical and mechanistic factors, bioresources.cnr.ncsu.edu
    Delignification resulted in development of about 1.1 to 1.2 mL/g of new pore volume for water-swollen never-dried bleached and unbleached kraft pulps ... the WRV ... increased from an initial value near to 115% ... up to the range 160 to about 250%.
    Why it’s hereReview: never-dried kraft pulp holds water-swollen pore volume; water retention rises to 160–250%.
    Cited in
    How it worksWhy we believe it
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  5. 15Paper: Client Challenge
    the re-entrant edge in RES pins the contact line and stabilizes a convex meniscus, maintaining a ΔP > 0 steady state even when θ0 < 90° ... The lowest surface tension supporting a superhydrophobic state is 47.5 mN m−1 on 70-RES
    Why it’s hereOverhanging pore entrance pins a convex liquid surface, repelling liquids down to 47.5 mN/m.
    Cited in
    How it worksWhy we believe itWhat we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  6. 17Web page: Weston Manufacturing — 100% lyocell spunlace wipe (commodity hydroentangled cellulosic substrate), westonmanufacturing.com
    Why it’s hereCommodity all-lyocell hydroentangled wipe, showing bond-free cellulose sheets are made at scale.
    Cited in
    Why we believe it
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  7. 18Web page: Multi-layered foam forming – a future way of producing superior air filters without fossil materials, vttresearch.com
    Good layer purity and the possibility of applying long staple fibres – still maintaining good sheet formation
    Why it’s hereMulti-layer foam forming keeps layer purity and good formation with long staple fibres.
    Cited in
    Why we believe it
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  8. 19Paper: Foam forming of fiber products: a review, Hjelt et al.2021
    T. Hjelt, J. Ketoja, H. Kiiskinen and 2 moreJournal of Dispersion Science and Technology
    Homogeneous fiber materials can be formed from versatile raw materials ... the wet foam characteristics provide an additional tool to tailor the performance of the dried material
    Why it’s hereReview: foam forming makes homogeneous sheets and wet-foam properties tune the dried material.
    Cited in
    Why we believe itWho could help
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  9. 20Paper: Re‐Entrant Microstructures for Robust Liquid Repellent Surfaces, Vu et al.2023
    H. H. Vu, N. Nguyen and N. KashaninejadAdvanced Materials & Technologies
    A re-entrant structure has an oversized top and a smaller bottom ... A more extreme case of a re-entrant design is doubly re-entrant microstructure, which further improves the resistance of the Cassie–Baxter state and liquid repellency even for liquids with low surface tension such as perfluorohexane.
    Why it’s hereOverhanging and doubly overhanging structures repel even very low-surface-tension liquids.
    Cited in
    Why we believe it
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  10. 21Paper: Capillary Hysteresis in Neutrally Wettable Fibrous Media: A Pore Network Study of a Fuel Cell Electrode, Tranter et al.2017
    T. Tranter, J. Gostick, A. Burns and 1 moreTransport in Porous Media
    The classic Washburn relation was shown to produce erroneous results, and its use is not recommended when modelling fibrous media. The toroidal model predicts that the meniscus will advance past the throat apex before reaching the critical or breakthrough pressure, increasing curvature due to the locally diverging geometry.
    Why it’s hereIn fibrous media, pore geometry rather than contact angle sets liquid entry pressure.
    Cited in
    Why we believe it
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  11. 24Web page: Critical Surface Tension - an overview, sciencedirect.com
    repellent finishes that contain either a hydrocarbon base with a γC value of about 30 mN/m or polysiloxane (silicone) finishes with a γC value of around 24 mN/m can provide very good water repellency
    Why it’s hereHydrocarbon and silicone finishes have critical surface tensions of about 30 and 24 mN/m.
    Cited in
    Why we believe it
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  12. 28Web page: Opaque Polymer Pigments: Advanced Encapsulation Technologies And High-Performance Coating Applications, eureka.patsnap.com
    Particles with average diameters from 150 nm to 500 nm, preferably 200–350 nm, provide the highest hiding power per unit volume ... this air-polymer interface generates a refractive index mismatch (typically Δn ≈ 0.5–0.6 between polymer matrix at n ≈ 1.5 and air at n = 1.0), which is the primary driver of opacity
    Why it’s hereHollow polymer particles of 200–350 nm give highest hiding through air-polymer index mismatch.
    Cited in
    Why we believe it
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  13. 29Web page: ROPAQUE™ ULTRA Opaque Polymer, dow.com
    A hollow-sphere polymeric pigment ... reduce the raw material cost ... most efficient dry hiding in interior and exterior coatings.
    Why it’s hereCommercial hollow-sphere polymer pigment giving dry hiding at reduced raw-material cost.
    Cited in
    Why we believe it
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  14. 30Web page: Expancel® thermoplastic microspheres, nouryon.com
    Microspheres are small spheres encapsulating a gas ... up to 60 times ... original volume. Expanded grades provide superior reflectance in cool-roof coatings; the FG grade is described as having no moisture absorption.
    Why it’s hereGas-filled thermoplastic microspheres expand up to 60× and give reflectance in coatings.
    Cited in
    Why we believe itWho could help
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
Today's approaches and closest prior art3

Today's approaches and closest prior art

3

How the field handles the problem now, and the nearest existing work.

  1. 16Patent: Porous, nonwoven liquid-activated barrier, US 5,447,7881994
    Kimberly Clark CorpInventors: H. Rhim, E. G. Varona and L. Woon
    at least about 50 percent by weight of the fibers ... are prepared from a liquid-swellable polymer which is not significantly soluble in the liquid ... In the presence of liquid, the fibers swell to an extent sufficient to substantially block the passage of liquid through the fibrous nonwoven web ... FIG. 1 is a plot of the pore size distribution ... before and after exposing the barrier to liquid
    Why it’s hereNearest prior work: expired patent on a nonwoven whose swelling fibres block liquid, with before/after pore sizes.
    Cited in
    Why we believe itNew to your field
    Google Patents (opens in a new tab)PDFEspacenet
  2. 22Patent application: Barrier Fabrics with Desirable Air Permeability, US 2024/0316898 A12024
    Berry Global IncInventors: L. Wang, N. Bishop, T. ZHANG and 2 more
    Each of the nonwoven layers being treated with a non-fluorinated barrier coating (NFBC) ... 45 gsm SMMMMS + NFBC at 81.2 mbar average hydrohead and 20.99 cfm, pore size 6–8 µm; outermost spunbond fibres with an average diameter from about 10 to about 25 microns, 18–22.
    Why it’s hereFilm-free fluorine-free barrier nonwoven: 81.2 mbar hydrohead with 6–8 µm pores at 45 gsm.
    Cited in
    Why we believe itWho could help
    Google Patents (opens in a new tab)PDFEspacenet
  3. 23Patent application: Fabrics including a non-fluorinated barrier coating, US 2024/0183104 A12023
    Berry Global IncInventors: L. Wang and N. Bishop
    The fabrics may provide the same or improved barrier properties as fabrics treated with fluoro-chemicals despite being devoid of fluorine atoms.
    Why it’s hereFluorine-free barrier coating claimed to match fluorochemical-treated fabrics' barrier properties.
    Cited in
    Why we believe it
    Google Patents (opens in a new tab)PDFEspacenet
Methods for the tests17

Methods for the tests

17

The rigs, protocols and measures the first tests borrow.

  1. 25Paper: Laboratory‐Scale Assessment of CO2 Sealing Potential of Heterogeneous Caprock, Kim et al.2025
    H. Kim, V. Vilarrasa and R. MakhnenkoWater Resources Research
    This approach involves incrementally increasing the upstream CO2 pressure in steps while maintaining a constant downstream water pressure ... Achieving pressure equilibrium within specimens is a prerequisite for proceeding with subsequent steps. Time intervals of approximately 2-3 days
    Why it’s hereCaprock seal test: stepped pressure increases held to equilibrium before each next step.
    Cited in
    Why we believe it
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  2. 26Paper: A study on the measurement conditions for determining liquid entry pressure values of hydrophobic membranes, Pyo et al.2024
    M. Pyo, D. Kim, H. Kim and 2 moreChemical Engineering Research and Design
    Relatively fast rates of pressure increase can lead to excessive LEP values and their variation. 5-min interval is recommended for the efficiency and reproducibility of LEP measurement.
    Why it’s hereShows pressure ramp rate shifts membrane liquid entry pressure; recommends 5-minute held steps.
    Cited in
    Why we believe itWhat we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  3. 27Web page: Standard Test Method for Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing to Penetration by Synthetic Blood, astm.org
    Continuous liquid contact ... visual detection of synthetic blood penetration ... surface tension range for blood and body fluids ... approximately 42 to 60 dyn/cm. This test method is based on Test Method F903.
    Why it’s hereSynthetic-blood penetration standard, the closest body-fluid pressure rig; fluids span about 42–60 mN/m.
    Cited in
    Why we believe itWhat we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  4. 38Paper: Melting of aqueous NaCl solutions in porous materials: shifted phase transition distribution (SIDI) approach for determining NMR cryoporometry pore size distributions., Mailhiot et al.2024
    S. Mailhiot, K. Tolkkinen, H. Henschel and 4 morePhysical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP
    Nuclear magnetic resonance cryoporometry (NMRC) and differential scanning calorimetry thermoporometry (DSC-TPM) are powerful methods for measuring mesopore size distributions. The methods are based on the fact that, according to the Gibbs-Thomson equation, the melting point depression of a liquid confined to a pore is inversely proportional to the pore size.
    Why it’s hereFreezing-point pore sizing of water-filled pores, for measuring the narrowest gap in the swollen state.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  5. 39Paper: Comparison of NMR Cryoporometry, Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry, and DSC Thermoporosimetry in Characterizing Pore Size Distributions of Compressed Finely Ground Calcium Carbonate Structures, Gane et al.2004
    P. Gane, C. Ridgway, E. Lehtinen and 5 more
    NMR cryoporometry determines the pores size distribution by detecting the lowered solid-liquid phased transition temperature of a substance confined to pores.
    Why it’s hereCompares freezing-point pore sizing with mercury intrusion, informing the dry-versus-wet narrowest-gap measurement.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  6. 40Paper: Swelling of individual cellulose nanofibrils in water, role of crystallinity: an AFM study, Ottesen & Syverud2020
    V. Ottesen and K. Syverud
    A technique was developed to study swelling of individual cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) using AFM. As a case study, CNFs with different degrees of crystallinity (DoC) were examined for swellability going from dry to wet (submerged in de-ionized water).
    Why it’s hereMicroscope technique for measuring swelling of single cellulose fibrils from dry to submerged.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  7. 42Paper: A novel approach to determining the contribution of the fiber and fines fraction to the water retention value (WRV) of chemical and mechanical pulps, Mayr et al.2017
    M. Mayr, R. Eckhart, H. Winter and 1 moreCellulose
    The swelling behavior of pulp fibers has a significant influence on process and product properties ... In the case of the fines fraction of pulps, this structure is broken to some extent and the fines are able to swell two to three times more compared to fibers.
    Why it’s hereWater-retention method separating swelling of pulp fines from fibres; fines swell two to three times more.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  8. 43Patent application: Cross-linked cellulose fibers, US 4,204,055 A1978
    Beghin Say SAInventors: C. H. Lesas and M. Pierre
    an untreated pulp sheet absorbs between 3 and 5 g/g ... the formaldehyde cross-linked cellulose fibers according to this invention have the predominant, i.e., greater than 50%, cross-linking at the surface
    Why it’s hereSurface cross-linked cellulose fibres, a route to a swelling-disabled control lot.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
    Google Patents (opens in a new tab)PDFEspacenet
  9. 44Paper: Tailoring re-entrant geometry in inverse colloidal monolayers to control surface wettability, Utech et al.2016
    S. Utech, K. Bley, J. Aizenberg and 1 more
    the control of the wetting of a low-surface-tension liquid is substantially more difficult compared to water and requires surface structures with overhanging features, known as re-entrant geometries ... omniphobic surface coatings that support Cassie-Baxter wetting states for liquids with low surface tensions, including octane (gamma = 21.7 mN/m)
    Why it’s hereOverhanging geometry needed to hold back low-surface-tension liquids such as octane.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  10. 45Paper: Determination of critical surface tension of wetting of textured water-repellent surfaces, Myronyuk2023
    O. MyronyukTechnology audit and production reserves
    In this work, the Zisman method is considered as a tool for comparing the effectiveness of modifiers for femtosecond laser-textured surfaces ... Paraffin has been shown to be a less effective modifier with an implicit wetting plateau and a transition in the range of 30 to 40 mN/m.
    Why it’s hereZisman critical-surface-tension method applied to textured water-repellent surfaces.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  11. 46Web page: NWSP 80.6 Water Resistance (Hydrostatic Pressure) » SGS-IPS Testing, ipstesting.com
    The rate of increase of the water pressure must be 10 ± 0.5 cm or 60 ± 3 cm H2O/min. Using these two different rates may give different end results. It is important to list in the test results which rate was used.
    Why it’s hereNonwoven hydrohead standard: its two permitted ramp rates give different results.
    Cited in
    What we'd testWho could help
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  12. 47Patent: Menstrual fluid simulant, US 8,920,847 B22010
    Procter and Gamble CoInventors: W. H. Hood, M. J. Spears and W. J. Worley
    Real menstrual fluid viscosity may range from several centipoises (cP) to several hundred cP ... The surface tension of real menstrual fluid tends to be
    Why it’s hereMenstrual fluid simulant; real menses viscosity spans several to several hundred centipoise.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
    Google Patents (opens in a new tab)PDFEspacenet
  13. 48Paper: Theoretical studies of light scattering power : Efficiency profiles of white pigments, microvoids and opacifiers dispersed in polymer films, Debnath & Kotkar1998
    N. Debnath and D. Kotkar
    Efficiency profiles of white pigments, microvoids and opacifiers dispersed in polymer films
    Why it’s hereTheory of scattering efficiency for pigments and microvoids, for sizing the wet-state scatterer.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  14. 49Paper: Light-scattering of coatings formed from polystyrene pigment particles, Alince & Lepoutre1980
    B. Alince and P. Lepoutre
    Light-scattering of coatings formed from polystyrene pigment particles
    Why it’s hereLight scattering of coatings formed from polystyrene pigment particles.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  15. 50Web page: Optical properties of paper and the Kubelka-Munk theory (opacity per TAPPI T425 / ISO 2471), bioresources.cnr.ncsu.edu
    opacity is the reflectance ratio of the sheet over black backing to a pad of the same paper; measurement per TAPPI T425 / ISO 2471 ... scattering peaks when the scattering feature is about 400-450 nm (Mie)
    Why it’s herePaper opacity by contrast ratio and Kubelka-Munk theory; scattering peaks near 400–450 nm features.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  16. 51Web page: T205 Forming Handsheets Physical Tests Pulp, hubbepaperchem.cnr.ncsu.edu
    Test results on handsheets made with this procedure are often used to describe properties of market pulps. The results are also used to determine properties of mixtures of hardwood/softwood or of fiber species to obtain desired properties in machine made papers.
    Why it’s hereStandard handsheet forming procedure for testing pulp properties and fibre blends.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  17. 52Web page: INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry - Cary, NC - Test Method Approach, inda.org
    It is important to emphasize that there is no standard 'synthetic urine,' because th...
    Why it’s hereIndustry note that no standard synthetic urine exists, constraining test-fluid choice.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
People and organizations9

People and organizations

9

The researchers, labs, companies and suppliers who could help make the idea happen.

  1. 53Paper: Melting of aqueous NaCl solutions in porous materials: shifted phase transition distribution (SIDI) approach for determining NMR cryoporometry pore size distributions - Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (RSC Publishing)
    ## Melting of aqueous NaCl solutions in porous materials: shifted phase transition distribution (SIDI) approach for determining NMR cryoporometry pore size distributions † Check for updates [Sarah E. Mailhiot](https://pubs.rsc.org/en/results?searchtext=Author%3ASarah%20E.%20Mailhiot) , [ORCID logo](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7303-0751 "Select to open ORCID record for Sarah E. Mailhiot (orcid.org/0000-0001-7303-0751) in a new window") \* _a_ [Katja Tolkkinen](https://pubs.rsc.org/en/results?searchtext=Author%3AKatja%20Tolkkinen) , [ORCID logo](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5269-9923 "Select to open ORCID record for Katja Tolkkinen (orcid.org/0000-0001-5269-9923) in a new window") _a_ [Henning Henschel](https://pubs.rsc.org/en/results?searchtext=Author%3AHenning%20Henschel) , [ORCID logo](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7196-661X "Select to open ORCID record for Henning Henschel (orcid.org/0000-0001-7196-661X) in a new window") _b_ [Jiří ... a NMR Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland b Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden c Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland d Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland e Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland ### Abstract Nuclear magnetic resonance cryoporometry (NMRC) and differential scanning calorimetry thermoporometry (DSC-TPM) are powerful methods for measuring mesopore size distributions. The methods are based on the fact that, according to the Gibbs–Thomson equation, the melting point depression of a liquid confined to a pore is inversely proportional to the pore size. ... We show that this so-called shifted phase transition distribution (SIDI) approach removes the artefacts arising from the traditional Gibbs–Thomson analysis and gives correct pore size distributions for saline saturated mesoporous silica gel and controlled pore materials analyzed by NMR cryoporometry. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the method can be used for determining pore sizes in collagen–chondroitin sulphate hydrogels resembling the composition of the extracellular matrix of articular cartilage. It is straightforward to apply the SIDI analysis for DSC-TMP data as well. Graphical abstract: Melting of aqueous NaCl solutions in porous materials: shifted phase transition distribution (SIDI) approach for determining NMR cryoporometry pore size distributions About Cited by Related Download options Please wait... ## Supplementary files * [Supplementary information XLSX (2984K)](https://www.rsc.org/suppdata/d3/cp/d3cp04029a/d3cp04029a1.xlsx) ... BibTex EndNote MEDLINE ProCite ReferenceManager RefWorks RIS ### Permissions Request permissions ### Melting of aqueous NaCl solutions in porous materials: shifted phase transition distribution (SIDI) approach for determining NMR cryoporometry pore size distributions S. E. Mailhiot, K. Tolkkinen, H. Henschel, J. Mareš, M. Hanni, M. T. Nieminen and V. Telkki, _Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys._ , 2024, **26** , 3441 **DOI:** 10\.1039/D3CP04029A This article is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) . **You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions** from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given. Read more about [how to correctly acknowledge RSC content](https://www.rsc.org/journals-books-databases/journal-authors-reviewers/licences-copyright-permissions/) . ### Social activity [Tweet](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet/? text=Melting+of+aqueous+NaCl+solutions+in+porous+materials%3a+shifted+phase+transition+distribution+\(SIDI\)+approach+for+determining+NMR+cryoporometry+pore+size+distributions+-+now+published+in+Physical+Chemistry+Chemical+Physics&url=https%3a%2f%2fpubs.rsc.org%2fen%2fcontent%2farticlelanding%2f2024%2fcp%2fd3cp04029a) [Share](https://pubs.rsc.org/en/Image/GetQrCode?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpubs.rsc.org%2Fen%2Fcontent%2Farticlelanding%2F2024%2Fcp%2Fd3cp04029a) ## Search articles by author Sarah E. Mailhiot Katja Tolkkinen Henning Henschel Jiří Mareš Matti Hanni Miika T. Nieminen Ville-Veikko Telkki Fetching data from CrossRef. This may take some time to load. Loading related content ### Spotlight ### Advertisements * [rsc.org](https://www.rsc.org) * [Journals, books & databases](https://www.rsc.org/journals-books-databases/) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/RoyalSocietyofChemistry) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/RoySocChem)
    Why it’s hereCo-authored a way of analysing NMR cryoporometry, which sizes pores from how far the melting of frozen liquid inside them is lowered, that gives correct pore-size distributions for materials saturated with saline.
    Cited in
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  2. 54Web page: Jeffrey Gostick | Computational Multiphysics Research Group | University of Waterloo, uwaterloo.ca
    # Jeffrey Gostick Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering **Contact information** Office: E6 5012 Website: [http://pmeal.com](http://pmeal.com/) * * * Expand all Collapse all ## Research Summary The Porous Materials Engineering & Analysis Lab (PMEAL) focuses on the study of atypical porous media, such as engineered materials including electrodes, membranes, filters, papers, and catalyst supports. These materials are a challenge to study using the classic tools and theories developed for the traditional geoscience applications such as rock, sand, and soil. Research in our lab focuses on three main aspects: measuring transport and structural properties by developing novel characterization tools, modelling transport processes and device performance using pore-scale simulations, and making customized materials targeted for specific applications based on the findings and results of the other two steps. We are also highly interested in visualization of porous materials using x-ray tomography, and extracting previously unimaginable information via quantitative analysis on the resultant volumetric images. This aspect of our work actually bridges all three of the main themes. ## COMPHYS Research * Applications + Quantitative analysis of volumetric images of fibrous electrodes + Pore network modelling of multiphysics in electrochemical devices * Foundations + Porous media * Data + Image processing ## Education * PhD, University of Waterloo * MASc, University of Waterloo * BASc, Ryerson University ## Research Software * [http://openpnm.org](http://openpnm.org/) + OpenPNM is an open source project aiming to provide porous media researchers with a ready-made framework for performing a wide range of pore network simulations. * [http://porespy.org](http://porespy.org/) + PoreSpy is a collection of image analysis tool u sed to extract information from 3D images of porous materials (typically obtained from X-ray tomography). ## Selected Publications [Google Scholar](https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=ikQG1IkAAAAJ&hl=en) * [Faculty](https://uwaterloo.ca/computational-multiphysics/profiles?type\[56\]=56) ## Information about Computational Multiphysics Research Group [Computational Multiphysics Research Group](https://uwaterloo.ca/computational-multiphysics/) [Engineering Website Help](https://uwaterloo.at…
    Why it’s hereLeads the Porous Materials Engineering & Analysis Lab, which studies engineered porous materials including papers and filters, and co-authored a pore-network study finding that local pore geometry, more than contact angle, sets the capillary pressure of fibrous media.
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  3. 55Web page: Menstrual fluid simulant Patent Grant Hood , et al. December 30, 2 [Hood; William Hollis], uspto.report
    ## Menstrual fluid simulant ### Hood , et al. December 30, 2 1. [uspto.report](https://uspto.report/) ›2. [patents](https://uspto.report/patent) ›3. [Hood; William Hollis](https://uspto.report/company/Hood-William-Hollis "Hood William Hollis Cincinnati OH US") ›4. [Patent 12/651,602](https://uspto.report/patent/grant/8920847) 5. Applicant 1. [uspto.report](https://uspto.report/) ›2. [patents](https://uspto.report/patent) ›3. [Spears; Marsha Jean](https://uspto.report/company/Spears-Marsha-Jean "Spears Marsha Jean Fort Thomas KY US") ›4. [Patent 12/651,602](https://uspto.report/patent/grant/8920847) 5. Applicant 1. [uspto.report](https://uspto.report/) ›2. [patents](https://uspto.report/patent) ›3. [Worley; William Joseph](https://uspto.report/company/Worley-William-Joseph "Worley William Joseph Mason OH US") ›4. [Patent 12/651,602](https://uspto.report/patent/grant/8920847) 5. Applicant 1. [uspto.report](https://uspto.report/) ›2. [patents](https://uspto.report/patent) ›3. [The Procter & Gamble Company](https://uspto.report/company/Procter-Gamble-Co "Procter Gamble Co Cincinnati OH ") ›4. [Patent 12/651,602](https://uspto.report/patent/grant/8920847) 5. Assignee 1. [uspto.report](https://uspto.report/) ›2. [patents](https://uspto.report/patent) ›3. [Hood; William Hollis](https://uspto.report/company/Hood-William-Hollis "Hood William Hollis Cincinnati OH ") ›4. [Patent 12/651,602](https://uspto.report/patent/grant/8920847) 5. Inventors 1. [uspto.report](https://uspto.report/) ›2. [patents](https://uspto.report/patent) ›3. [Spears; Marsha Jean](https://uspto.report/company/Spears-Marsha-Jean "Spears Marsha Jean Fort Thomas KY ") ›4. [Patent 12/651,602](https://uspto.report/patent/grant/8920847) 5. Inventors 1. [uspto.report](https://uspto.report/) ›2. [patents](https://uspto.report/patent) ›3. [Worley; William Joseph](https://uspto.report/company/Worley-William-Joseph "Worley William Joseph Mason OH ") ›4. [Patent 12/651,602](https://uspto.report/patent/grant/8920847) 5. Inventors Patent Grant 8920847 U.S. patent number 8,920,847 [Application Number 12/651,602] was granted by the patent office on 2014-12-30 for _menstrual fluid simulant_ . This patent grant is currently assigned to The Procter & Gamble Company. The grantee listed for this patent is William Hollis Hood, Marsha Jean Spears, William Joseph Worley. Invention is credited to William Hollis Hood, Marsha Jean Spears, William Joseph Worley. Patent Diagrams and Documents * * * #### XML * * * uspto.report is an independent third-party trademark research tool that is not affiliated, endorsed, or sponsored by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) or any other governmental organization. The information provided by uspto.report is based on publicly available data at the time of writing and is intended for informational purposes only.
    Why it’s hereHolds US patent 8,920,847 on a menstrual fluid simulant, the kind of test fluid the per-fluid hold-out test needs.
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  4. 56Patent application: Fluorine-free hydrophobic and oleophobic nonwoven, US 2025/0263886 A12023
    Fibertex Nonwovens ASInventors: P. BOBET and J. KJELDSEN
    PDMS finishes typically [have] a surface energy about 22–24 mN/m ... The surface free energy of the coated fiber surfaces ... is preferably lower than 24 mN/m.
    Why it’s hereFluorine-free repellent nonwoven with coated fibre surface energy below 24 mN/m.
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  5. 57Web page: Harri Niemelä Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search, patents.justia.com
    [Justia](https://www.justia.com) Patents Harri Niemelä Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications Patents by Inventor Harri Niemelä Harri Niemelä has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). * ###### Filter Sheet Media and Method for Manufacturing a Filter Sheet Media **Publication number:** 20260192222 **Abstract:** A filter sheet media (1) for air/gas filtering applications fulfilling the criteria of standard EN779:2012 class M6 filter media, the filter sheet media (1) comprises: a first group of glass fibers (20) having a fiber diameter in a range of greater or equal to 6 ?m up to 20 ?m; a second group of glass fibers (30) having a fiber diameter in a range of 0.2 ?m to less than 6 ?m; a binder (40); the second group of glass fibers (30) have a fiber distribution gradient over the thickness (13) of the filter sheet media (1) so that the second group of glass fibers (30) are distributed through the thickness (13) of the filter sheet media (1), the filter sheet media (1) having more second group of glass fibers (30) near the first surface (11) than the second surface (12). Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing. **Type:** Application **Filed:** March 2, 2026 **Publication date:** July 9, 2026 **Inventors:** Harri Niemelä, Hanna Rahiala, Rami Haakana, Juha Sorvari, Andrea Corradi, Andrea Grosso, Andrea Frillici, Francesco Stopponi * ###### Filter sheet media and method for manufacturing a filter sheet media **Patent number:** 12589342 **Abstract:** A filter sheet media (1) for air/gas filtering applications fulfilling the criteria of standard EN779:2012 class M6 filter media, the filter sheet media (1) comprises: a first group of glass fibers (20) having a fiber diameter in a range of greater or equal to 6 ?m up to 20 ?m; a second group of glass fibers (30) having a fiber diameter in a range of 0.2 ?m to less than 6 ?m; a binder (40); the second group of glass fibers (30) have a fiber distribution gradient over the thickness (13) of the filter sheet media (1) so that the second group of glass fibers (30) are distributed through the thickness (13) of the filter sheet media (1), the filter sheet media (1) having more second group of glass fibers (30) near the first surface (11) than the second surface (12). Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** October 7, 2021 **Date of Patent:** March 31, 2026 **Assignee:** AHLSTROM OYJ **Inventors:** Harri Niemelä, Hanna Rahiala, Rami Haakana, Juha Sorvari, Andrea Corradi, Andrea Grosso, Andrea Frillici, Francesco Stopponi * ###### Filter Sheet Media and Method for Manufacturing a Filter Sheet Media **Publication number:** 20230381698 **Abstract:** A filter sheet media (1) for air/gas filtering applications fulfilling the criteria of standard EN779:2012 class M6 filter media, the filter sheet media (1) comprises: a first group of glass fibers (20) having a fiber diameter in a range of greater or equal to 6 ?m up to 20 ?m; a second group of glass fibers (30) having a fiber diameter in a range of 0.2 ?m to less than 6 ?m; a binder (40); the second group of glass fibers (30) have a fiber distribution gradient over the thickness (13) of the filter sheet media (1) so that the second group of glass fibers (30) are distributed through the thickness (13) of the filter sheet media (1), the filter sheet media (1) having more second group of glass fibers (30) near the first surface (11) than the second surface (12). Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing. **Type:** Application **Filed:** October 7, 2021 **Publication date:** November 30, 2023 **Inventors:** Harri Niemelä, Hanna Rahiala, Rami Haakana, Juha Sorvari, Andrea Corradi, Andrea Grosso, Andrea Frillici, Francesco Stopponi [Ask a Lawyer Get Free Answers](https://answers.justia.com/) Have a legal question? Get free answers from experienced lawyers! Ask Question **[Free Webinars for All](https://connect.justia.com/webinars)** * * * * * * * * * Find a Lawyer **[Lawyers - Get Listed
    Why it’s hereHolds a US patent on filter sheet media in which a group of finer fibres is distributed in a gradient through the sheet's thickness.
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  6. 58Web page: Cross-linked cellulose fibers Patent Grant Lesas , et al. May 20, 1 [S. A. Beghin-Say], uspto.report
    ## Cross-linked cellulose fibers ### Lesas , et al. May 20, 1 1. [uspto.report](https://uspto.report/) ›2. [patents](https://uspto.report/patent) ›3. [S. A. Beghin-Say](https://uspto.report/company/S-A-Beghin-Say "S A Beghin Say Thumeries FR") ›4. [Patent 05/940,189](https://uspto.report/patent/grant/4204055) 5. Assignee 1. [uspto.report](https://uspto.report/) ›2. [patents](https://uspto.report/patent) ›3. [Lesas; Claude H.](https://uspto.report/company/Lesas-Claude-H "Lesas Claude H Colmar FR") ›4. [Patent 05/940,189](https://uspto.report/patent/grant/4204055) 5. Inventors 1. [uspto.report](https://uspto.report/) ›2. [patents](https://uspto.report/patent) ›3. [Pierre; Michel](https://uspto.report/company/Pierre-Michel "Pierre Michel Mulhouse FR") ›4. [Patent 05/940,189](https://uspto.report/patent/grant/4204055) 5. Inventors Patent Grant 4204055 U.S. patent number 4,204,055 [Application Number 05/940,189] was granted by the patent office on 1980-05-20 for _cross-linked cellulose fibers_ . This patent grant is currently assigned to S. A. Beghin-Say. Invention is credited to Claude H. Lesas, Michel Pierre. * * * |**United States Patent** |** 4,204,055** | | --- | --- | |**Lesas , et al.** |**May 20, 1980** | * * * Cross-linked cellulose fibers **Abstract** The invention is directed to cross-linked cellulose fibers wherein cellulose pulp is fluffed, aerated, and exposed to a reaction mixture comprising formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid and formic acid as finely divided droplets or vapors. The thus treated fibers are cured by subjecting the fibers to a hot air stream at a temperature of from about 180.degree.-200.degree. C. for a duration of a few seconds, followed by separation of the fibers from the gaseous effluents. The procedure which lasts less than about one minute provides cellulose fibers cross-linked with formaldehyde wherein the predominant amount of cross-linking occurs at the surface of the fibers rather than at the core of the fibers. The fibers have improved characteristics including flexibility, touch and feel, rendering the fibers highly useful in paper products. * * * |Inventors: |**Lesas; Claude H.** (Colmar, **FR** ) **, Pierre; Michel** (Mulhouse, **FR** ) | | --- | --- | |Assignee: |**S. A. Beghin-Say** (Thumeries, **FR** ) | |Family ID: |**27250537** | |Appl. No.: |**05/940,189** | |Filed: |**September 7, 1978** | * * * **Related U.S. Patent Documents** * * * | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | |**Application Number** |**Filing Date** |**Patent Number** |**Issue Date** | | | |731895 |Oct 13, 1976 |4113936 |Sep 12, 1978 | | | | * * * **Foreign Application Priority Data** * * * | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |Oct 20, 1975 [FR] | | |75 31965 | | | |**Current U.S.
    Why it’s hereHolds a patent on cross-linked cellulose fibres, the class of chemistry proposed for a matched sheet whose fibres cannot swell.
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  7. 59Web page: LENZING™ Lyocell Fibers – Where Performance Meets Quality, lenzing.com
    Skip navigation [Lenzing Logo](https://www.lenzing.com/) * #### Products * #### Applications * #### Technology & Production * #### People & Planet * #### Investors * #### About Us * #### Newsroom [Contact](https://www.lenzing.com/contact/) en Nonwoven fibers # LENZING™ Lyocell fibers – where performance meets quality [discover all nonwoven fibers](https://www.lenzing.com/products/nonwoven-fibers/) 1. [Home](https://www.lenzing.com/) / 2. [Products](https://www.lenzing.com/products/) / 3. [Nonwoven fibers](https://www.lenzing.com/products/nonwoven-fibers/) / 4. LENZING™ Lyocell ABOUT LENZING™ LYOCELL LENZING™ Lyocell nonwoven fibers from Lenzing are engineered for performance and sustainability. With unique physical properties, they deliver continuous high quality and versatility. Their high tenacity profile, fiber strength, and suitability for food contact¹ make them ideal for industrial applications such as tea bags, coffee pods, filter media, and electrical separators. ... ##### Chemical resistance LENZING™ Lyocell fibers are resistant to chemical degradation by fuels and oils, commonly used and found in the automotive industry. ##### Blending partner LENZING™ Lyocell fibers are versatile and can be combined with wood pulp and a wide range of fibers such as cotton, polyester, polyamide, and glass with regard to their performance and functionality. ##### Suitable for food contact LENZING™ Lyocell nonwoven fibers are tested³ to be compliant for food contact¹, as confirmed by ISEGA certification and tests done at SQTS (Swiss Quality Testing Service). Manufacturing process LENZING™ Lyocell fibers have gained a commendable reputation for their environmentally responsible, closed loop production process, which transforms wood pulp into cellulosic fibers using a highly resource-efficient process with low ecological impact. Within this solvent-spinning process, the process water is recycled, and the solvent is recovered at a rate of more than 99 percent.
    Why it’s hereLyocell staple fibres for nonwovens
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  8. 60Web page: Porometer, porometer.com
    on developing and ... izing instruments to measure pore size distribution, gas and liquid permeability. Our porometers are very much appreciated by both R&D and quality control labs to characterize the pore size and the pore size distribution for media used in filtration and separation processes, such as polymeric and ceramic membranes – including flat sheet and hollow fibre membranes – , non-wovens, paper, porous rocks, etc. The gas-liquid porometers measure through pores in the range of 500 μm to 15 nm, while the liquid-liquid porometers can measure through pores down to 2 nm. Our porometers are built in Germany with some unique designed components to guarantee the most accurate measurement of pressure and flow. Typical applications include dialysis, desalination, battery separators, carbon nanofibers, personal care. Next to porometers, we also develop & manufacture instruments used for membrane synthesis and characterization, such as an automatic membrane/film casting machine (MEMCAST™), or liquid permeability tester. Porometer also offers contract testing. ... capillary flow porometers, electronics, filter & membrane testing equipment, filter characterisation, gas liquid porometry, industrial, liquid liquid porometry, liquid permeability, manufacturing, manufacturing-industrial, measurement instruments, membrane characterisation, membrane synthesis, nonwovens characterisation, pore size, porous materials, products, sample analysis servcie, test and measurement ... 7 · 6 reactions] 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙡𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙨? More than you might think. The wetting liquid is a fundamental part of every capillary flow porometry measurement.... # Porometer Porometer is a Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing company. Porometer is a leading manufacturer of instruments for measuring pore size and liquid permeability of porous materials. They offer a wide range of products and services for various applications and industries. Porometer employs 8 people. Headquartered in Berlin, Berlin, Germany, with presence in Belgium, United States, China, and Poland. Its workforce is distributed across Belgium, Poland, China, and Finland. ## About Porometer focuses on developing and commercializing instruments to measure pore size distribution, gas and liquid permeability. Our porometers are very much appreciated by both R&D and quality control labs to characterize the pore size and the pore size distribution for media used in filtration and separation processes, such as polymeric and ceramic membranes – including flat sheet and hollow fibre membranes – , non-wovens, paper, porous rocks, etc. The gas-liquid porometers measure through pores in the range of 500 μm to 15 nm, while the liquid-liquid porometers can measure through pores down to 2 nm. Our porometers are built in Germany with some unique designed components to guarantee the most accurate measurement of pressure and flow. Typical applicati…
    Why it’s hereCapillary flow porometers and contract pore-size testing
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  9. 61Web page: Lab-Tools Ltd. (nano-science), labtoolsnanoscience.co.uk
    Lab-Tools Ltd. (nano-science) Computer Hardware Manufacturing Lab-Tools is a spin-off company speciallising in nano-science and nano-metrology. Nano-science : Nano-scale properties of liquids in pores and at interfaces. Nano-metrology : Bulk nano-scale to micro-scale characterisation; NMR Cryoporometry and neutron scattering techniques. NMR Cryoporometry is a recent technique that we have developed for measuring and studying porous materials on the nano- to micro-scale. It can also analyse densely packed particles. Applications : Advanced Materials / High Value Manufacturing : Nano- to Micro-scale metrology of clay, cement, concrete, wood and medical materials, leading to higher performance and more cost-effective manufacturing and longer in-service lifetime. Energy: Measuring nano-pore distributions in solid electrolytes for higher performance batteries. Measuring nano- to micro-pore distributions in sandstone, carbonate and shale rock systems. Understanding wetabillity in porous rock systems. Understanding entrapment in oil/water systems in porous rocks. Healthcare: Measuring nano-pore to micro-pore distributions in Nanotechnology for drug delivery. Materials studied to date : Sol
    Why it’s hereNMR cryoporometry pore-size measurement
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48

Read while building the idea; not cited in the text.

  1. 31Web page: Joseph K. Baker Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search, patents.justia.com
    **Abstract:** A wet laid and hydraulically entangled nonwoven material made from cellulosic fibers and synthetic staple fibers is disclosed. The cellulosic fibers are mixed with the synthetic fibers and formed into a web using a wet lay process. The web is then subjected to multiple hydroentangling processes. In one embodiment, the web is subjected to a first hydroentangling process while being conveyed in a horizontal position. The web is then fed over subsequent hydroentangling drums. Each side of the web is subjected to at least one more hydroentangling process. **Type:** Application **Filed:** March 27, 2026 **Publication date:** August 6, 2026 **Inventors:** Joseph K. Baker, Timothy W. Reader * ###### Foam-Based Manufacturing System and Process **Publication number:** 20260210038 ... **Abstract:** A system comprising a pulper configured to (i) accept surfactant, a liquid and fiber stock and (ii) generate a foam that suspends the fiber stock, wherein the foam has a half-life; a headbox configured to receive the foam-suspended fiber stock from the pulper and displace the foam-suspended fiber stock onto a forming wire, wherein a time it takes the foam-suspended fiber stock to move from the pulper to the headbox is less than the half-life; and a foam return device that removes at least some of the foam from the forming wire and returns the at least some of the foam to the pulper. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** February 5, 2024 **Date of Patent:** April 14, 2026 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. **Inventors:** Marvin E. Swails, Vicky S. Polashock, Michael Payne, Joseph K. Baker, Charles W. Colman * ###### Wiping product and method for making same **Patent number:** 12588788 **Abstract:** A wet laid and hydraulically entangled nonwoven material made from cellulosic fibers and synthetic staple fibers is disclosed. The cellulosic fibers are mixed with the synthetic fibers and formed into a web using a wet lay process. The web is then subjected to multiple hydroentangling processes. In one embodiment, the web is subjected to a first hydroentangling process while being conveyed in a horizontal position. The web is then fed over subsequent hydroentangling drums. Each side of the web is subjected to at least one more hydroentangling process. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** October 30, 2015 **Date of Patent:** March 31, 2026 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. **Inventors:** Joseph K. Baker, Timothy W. Reader * ###### Process and System for Reorienting Fibers in a Foam Forming Process **Publication number:** 20250270767 **Abstract:** A process for foam forming webs is disclosed. ... **Abstract:** A process for foam forming webs is described herein. A foamed suspension of fibers is fed into a mixing chamber and then directed through a narrow constriction where the velocity of the foamed suspension of fibers is increased. From the narrow constriction, the foamed suspension of fibers enters a forming chamber which causes the foamed suspension of fibers to rapidly decrease in velocity. In one embodiment, for example, the foamed suspension of fibers undergoes a hydraulic jump resulting in significant fiber reorientation. Through the process, fiber orientation can be controlled. For example, webs can be produced that have comparable fiber orientation in the machine direction in comparison to the cross-machine direction. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** June 27, 2022 **Date of Patent:** May 13, 2025 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. **Inventors:** Peter Wallace, Joseph K. Baker, Charles W. Colman ... **Inventors:** Peter Wallace, Joseph K. Baker, Charles W. Colman * ###### Method of manufacturing a foam and fiber composite **Patent number:** 11998432 **Abstract:** The foam and fiber composite can provide an absorbent article with improved dryness and an improved liquid distribution capability. The foam and fiber composite can be formed from at least two materials. The first material is an open cell foam material and the second material is a fibrous material. A plurality of the fibers forming the fibrous material can be fluid inserted into the open cell foam material thereby forming the foam and fiber composite. In various embodiments, the foam and fiber composite can be incorporated into an absorbent article as a component of an absorbent system located between a topsheet layer and a backsheet layer of the absorbent article. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** September 9, 2016 **Date of Patent:** June 4, 2024 **Assignee:** KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC. ... * ###### Foam-based manufacturing system and process **Patent number:** 11932988 **Abstract:** A system comprising a pulper configured to (i) accept surfactant, a liquid and fiber stock and (ii) generate a foam that suspends the fiber stock, wherein the foam has a half-life; a headbox configured to receive the foam-suspended fiber stock from the pulper and displace the foam-suspended fiber stock onto a forming wire, wherein a time it takes the foam-suspended fiber stock to move from the pulper to the headbox is less than the half-life; and a foam return device that removes at least some of the foam from the forming wire and returns the at least some of
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  2. 32Web page: Wiping Products Made from Foam Formed Webs - Kimberly-Clark ..., freepatentsonline.com
    A process for foam forming webs is disclosed. The foam formed webs can be used as wiping products, such as industrial wipers, food service wipers, and the like. The web contains a mixture of cellulosic fibers and longer, strength building fibers. The web is foam formed and then subjected to one or more hydroentangling steps.
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  3. 33Web page: Containing Layers Having Differing Absorption Characteristics (e.g., Flow Control, Wicking, Etc.) Patents and Patent Applications (Class 604/378) - Justia Patents Search, patents.justia.com
    A ?E value calculated using the Color Contrast Test between the secondary first fastening components uncovered by the ears and the outer cover being greater than 20. Type: Grant Filed: July 19, 2022 Date of Patent: July 22, 2025 Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Inventors: Janet E. Collins, David Biggs, Eric D. Johnson, Alanna Haessler * direction. Type: Grant Filed: May 31, 2017 Date of Patent: April 1, 2025 Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Inventors: Charles W. Colman, Francis P. Abuto, Jenny L. Day, Sridhar Ranganathan * Patent number: 12201503 Abstract: A nonwoven web for an absorbent article is provided. The absorbent article comprises the nonwoven web as a core wrap. A method for producing the absorbent article is also provided. The nonwoven web comprises a first nonwoven layer comprising filament fibers, a second nonwoven layer comprising filaments fibers, a third nonwoven layer comprising staple fibers disposed between the first and second nonwoven layers. A total basis weight of the first and second nonwoven layers is not less than about 10 gsm. Type: Grant Filed: July 20, 2018 Date of Patent: March 19, 2024 Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Inventors: Yuriy Galabura, Austin N. Pickett, WanDuk Lee, Vasily A. Topolkaraev, Palani Raj R. Wallajapet, Cynthia S. Krueger, Mark M. Mleziva, Richmond R. Cohen * Patent number: 11813149 Abstract: A feminine hygiene pad having a topsheet including a fibrous nonwoven web material having hydrophilic fibers, and an absorbent layer including an open-celled foam formed through polymerization of a high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) is disclosed. The top layer is constituted by a cellulosic fibrous web, the fibres in the cellulosic fibrous web being constituted by a mixture of cellulose fibres, the mixture including regenerated cellulose fibres or natural cellulose staple fibres and cellulose pulp fibres, the cellulosic fibrous web being a foam-formed, hydroentangled cellulosic fibrous web. Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC. Inventors: Suzanne Marie Schmoker, Heidi Bauerlein Hopkins, Alyssa Kimberly DeYoung, Ellen E. Pelky, Kimberly M. Downs, Andrew Thomas Hammond, Kyle Mark Barriger, Michael Donald Sperl, Russell J. Brumm 1 2 3 4 5 … next Ask a Lawyer Get Free Answers Have a legal question?
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  4. 34Patent: U.S. Patent Application for SUBSTRATES COMPRISING FROTHED BENEFIT AGENTS AND THE METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Patent Application (Application #20120164200 issued June 28, 2012) - Justia Patents Search, US 2012/0164200
    According to the present invention, when the frothable composition of the present invention is heated on the dryer's surface, it will not form a solid foam structure. Instead, when applied to a heated surface, the frothable composition turns into a substantially continuous film with air bubbles inside the film. “Hydroentangled web” according to the present invention refers to a web that has been subjected to columnar jets of a fluid causing the web fibers to entangle. Hydroentangling a web typically increases the strength of the web. In one aspect, pulp fibers can be hydroentangled into a continuous filament material, such as a “spunbond web.” The hydroentangled web resulting in a nonwoven composite may contain pulp fibers in an amount from about 50% to about 80% by weight, such as in an amount of about 70% by weight. Hydroentangled composite webs as described above are commercially available from the Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the name HYDROKNIT®. ... When the enhancement components are introduced into the frothed additive composition, a suitable device, which ensures a uniform mixing of the enhancement components and the frothed additive composition, is needed. **Substrates** Suitable substrate materials include but are not limited to facial tissue; uncreped through air-dried tissue (UCTAD); paper toweling; HYDROKNIT® nonwoven material from Kimberly Clark Corporation, Neenah, Wis., U.S.A.; spunbond; coform; bonded carded web (“BCW”); airlaid, film/laminate sheet, and all types of paper, tissue and other nonwoven products. In the non-limiting examples discussed herein, the frothed chemistry may be applied to a nonwoven such as a tissue. As used herein, nonwovens are meant to include facial tissue, bath tissue, paper towels, spunbond, diaper or feminine care liners and outer covers, napkins and the like. ... In this example, three dry substrates were used: 54 gsm hydroentangled material (85% cellulose and 15% spunbond), obtainable from Kimberly-Clark Professional®, WYPALL X®-50 hydroentangled wipers, 42 gsm UCTAD bath tissue and 17 gsm facial tissue. (The facial tissue base sheets were not run up to 1000 fpm.) The dry substrates were treated in an offline creping process. A commercial HYPOD 8510® dispersion was diluted to a solid level by mill water that was pre-treated by the addition of Na ₂ CO ₃ at a level of 2 g per 10 kg water, and then frothed by a Gaston CFS 10 inch Foam Generator. In some aspects, a foaming agent was used. One foaming agent is hydroxypropyl cellulose which serves to enhance froth stability. This material may be available from Ashland, Inc., Wilmington, Del., U.S.A, and is sold under the KLUCEL® brand. The stable froth was applied onto a hot Yankee dryer surface and then directly bonded with the dry substrate by a pressure roll. ... Yankee Machine Temp. Speed Code (° F.) (ft/min) 1 250 50 2 280 50 3 300 50 4 250 50 5 250 50 6 300 50 7 250 50 8 250 50 9 300 50 **Example 5** In this example, coating chemistries were frothed and applied onto the drum of a Yankee dryer in an inline fashion. The dryer had a diameter of 24 inches. Using a pressure roll, the film resulting from applying the frothed add-on to the dryer was then contacted with the wet cellulose pulp sheet having a consistency of around 40% solids by weight. There were four different pulps used in this example. Two pulps were the same as that used to make a Kimberly-Clark standard facial tissue: Eucalyptus and Pictou fiber (Northern soft wood kraft), while other two pulps were of lower comparative cost and quality: Southern Alabama Pine (SAP) and SFK recycled fiber available from SFK Pulp Recycling U.S. Inc. In general, facial tissue produced from the lower cost pulp tends to have less softness. It is desirable to use a HYPOD 8510® surface coating to make a low cost pulp tissue product that has parity or even improved softness as a standard facial tissue made with conventional creping chemistry. The wet sheet with different combinations of the different pulps was dried on the hot Yankee surface together with the additive chemistry and then scraped off the drum surface. Samples 1 to 3 are not surface coated with the frothed chemicals. Sample 1 was a control facial tissue produced in the same way as a Kimberly-Clark® standard facial tissue product. Samples 2 and 3 were control samples for low cost pulp facial tissues which were produced in the same way as a Kimberly-Clark® standard facial tissue. All of the control samples were produced by spraying unfrothed creping chemistries onto the dryer drum. The creping chemistry was prepared by mixing 2500 ml of 6% polyvinyl alcohol, 100 ml of 12.5% KYMENE®, and 15 ml of 7.5% REZOSOL® in 25 gallons of mill water.
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  5. 35Patent: U.S. Patent for Flame inhibitor composition and method of application Patent (Patent # 6,153,544 issued November 28, 2000) - Justia Patents Search, US 6,153,544
    Halides such as bromide/chloride salts typically form a part of this group. Some salts overlap various Groups in their mode of flame inhibiting mechanism. Chemical formulations having active ingredients of chemicals from all three Groups generally give the best overall flame retardant characteristic with the least add-on rate and fabric damage to cellulosic substrates. HYDROKNIT.RTM. web, is a high pulp content nonwoven web manufactured by Kimberly-Clark Corporation, which is formed from approximately 80% wood fiber cellulose and 20% polypropylene continuous fiber. (The terms "HYDROKNIT.RTM. web" and high pulp content web are used interchangeably herein.) The HYDROKNIT.sup.a web is highly flammable without a flame retardant treatment. To make HYDROKNIT.sup.a web flame retardant is a difficult task since it is similar to a "candle with a wick". Pyrolysis of cellulose and polypropylene differs and different flame inhibitors often are needed to address each.
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  6. 36Web page: Patents Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Corporation - Justia Patents Search, patents.justia.com
    The sheath intercepts body fluid in the vagina and directs it to the external pad. A conducting layer conducts fluid so intercepted by the sheath to an absorbing surface on the interior of the external pad, the interior absorbing surface being displaced from the user's body by a primary mass of an absorbent layer. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** October 20, 1993 **Date of Patent:** February 14, 1995 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Corporation **Inventors:** John P. Vukos, Billie D. Matelski * ###### [Process for making a high pulp content nonwoven composite fabric](https://patents.justia.com/patent/5389202) **Patent number:** 5389202 **Abstract:** A high pulp content nonwoven composite fabric is disclosed. The composite fabric contains more than about 70 percent, by weight, pulp fibers which are hydraulically entangled into a continuous filament substrate. This high pulp content composite nonwoven fabric may be used as a heavy duty wiper or as a fluid distribution material, cover material, and/or absorbent material in an absorbent personal care product. Also disclosed is a method of making the high pulp content nonwoven composite fabric. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** June 9, 1993 **Date of Patent:** February 14, 1995 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Corporation **Inventors:** Cherie H. Everhart, Daniel O. Fischer, Fred R. Radwanski, Henry Skoog * ###### [High surface area iron-magnesium smoke suppressive compositions](https://patents.justia.com/patent/5386838) **Patent number:** 5386838 **Abstract:** A high surface area oxidative catalyst smoke suppressive composition, smoke suppressive articles, and method of making such compositions and articles are disclosed. ... **Abstract:** The application is directed toward a process for forming an electret filter medium. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** September 23, 1992 **Date of Patent:** December 6, 1994 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Corporation **Inventors:** Lee K. Jameson, Bernard Cohen * ###### [Repellent-treated, barrier-coated nonwoven web](https://patents.justia.com/patent/5370132) **Patent number:** 5370132 **Abstract:** Disclosed herein is a repellent-treated, barrier coated nonwoven web. Nonwoven webs with small fiber and pore sizes can often be surface coated with a barrier coating such as latex to form a nonwoven which will act as a barrier to liquids. Surface coating of nonwovens having larger pores and fibers is more difficult as the coating often sinks into the thickness of the nonwoven web. The material of the present invention is a larger fiber/pore nonwoven web which will permit surface coating to form a material which has a good hand and cloth-like feel while also acting as a barrier to liquids. Such a material has a wide variety of applications including, but not limited to, personal care products, surgical drapes and gowns and other applications requiring barrier properties. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** November 20, 1990 **Date of Patent:** December 6, 1994 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Corporation **Inventors:** Robert E. Weber, Steven W. Fitting, Patricia A. Jegier * ###### [Garment of durable nonwoven fabric](https://patents.justia.com/patent/5366786) **Patent number:** 5366786 **Abstract:** There is disclosed a thermally bonded spunbond web of thermoplastic filaments and a nonwoven fabric laminate comprising an internal layer of meltblown thermoplastic microfibers sandwiched between two layers of spunbond thermoplastic filaments. ... **Abstract:** A structure for selectively absorbing an oily contaminant from an aqueous environment comprising a plurality of sheets of nonwoven oleophilic fibers arranged in superposition to form a generally rectangular parallelpiped shape, the configuration may be maintained in shape and has a major surface formed by sheet edges so that when contacting an oily containment, the contaminant is selectively absorbed into the structure through wicking action. These structures may be combined to form booms or the like and stacked in a particular configuration for easy storage, transportation and deployment. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** April 6, 1993 **Date of Patent:** November 15, 1994 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Corporation **Inventor:** James D. Cotton * ###### [Absorbent structure having improved fluid surge management and product incorporating same](https://patents.justia.com/patent/5364382) **Patent number:** 5364382 ... Due to the materials and nature of construction, the stockinette of the present invention provides a form-fitting design which is easy to don and remove. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** June 30, 1993 **Date of Patent:** November 8, 1994 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Corporation **Inventors:** Stacey G. McCarver, David C. Strack, Marsha L. Porter, Peter Mathis [prev](https://patents.justia.com/assignee/kimberly-clark-corporation?page=18) … [15](https://patents.justia.com/assignee/kimberly-clark-corporation?page=15) [16](https://patents.justia.com/assignee/kimberly-clark-corporation?page=16) [17](https://patents.justia.com/assignee/kimberly-clark-corporation?page=17) [18](https://patents.justia.com/assignee/kimberly-clark-corporation?page=18) 19
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  7. 37Web page: Patents Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Justia Patents Search, patents.justia.com
    [Justia](https://www.justia.com/) [Patents](https://patents.justia.com/) Patents Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Patents Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. * ###### [Dispersible adhesively bonded tissue laminate](https://patents.justia.com/patent/12415336) **Patent number:** 12415336 **Abstract:** Disclosed is a dispersible adhesively bonded wet tissue laminate and more particularly a dispersible wet wipe comprising two or more adhesively bonded tissue plies. Generally, the wipe comprises first, and second tissue plies adhesively bonded to one another by an adhesive, particularly a triggerable binder, disposed at the interface of the plies. The first and second tissue plies preferably comprise fibrous tissue plies and more preferably wet-laid tissue plies consisting essentially of conventional papermaking fibers. The adhesively bonded laminates are generally strong enough to withstand use, such as having a geometric mean wet tensile strength (GMWT) greater than about 250 g/in, but disperse quickly in water, such as having a Slosh Time less than about 60 minutes. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** January 4, 2024 **Date of Patent:** September 16, 2025 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. **Inventors:** Robert S. Monson, Nicholas S. Wolter, Daniel M. Piette * ###### [Dispenser for dispensing sheet materials](https://patents.justia.com/patent/12414657) **Patent number:** 12414657 **Abstract:** A dispenser is disclosed for holding and dispensing a package containing a wiping product, such as flushable premoistened wipes. The dispenser can be made from a single piece blank. ... **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. **Inventors:** JuHyung Lee, KueYoung You, SungSu Kim, SeoYeon Son, HakJae Kim * ###### [Fine hollow fibers having a high void fraction](https://patents.justia.com/patent/12377001) **Patent number:** 12377001 **Abstract:** A hollow fiber that extending along at least a portion of the fiber along a longitudinal axis thereof and is defined by an interior wall is provided. Through selective control over the manner in which it is formed, the present inventors have discovered that the hollow fiber can exhibit a unique combination of a high void fraction and small fiber size that makes it particularly suitable for use in certain applications, such as in nonwoven webs for absorbent articles. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** December 14, 2021 **Date of Patent:** August 5, 2025 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. **Inventors:** Eric E. Lennon, John H. Conrad, Douglas J. Hulslander, David W. Hall * ###### [CD extensible nonwoven composite](https://patents.justia.com/patent/12371828) **Patent number:** 12371828 **Abstract:** A nonwoven composite that has a dimension in a machine direction and a cross-machine direction is provided. The composite comprises a nonwoven facing positioned adjacent to an elastic film. The nonwoven facing contains a spunbond web that is formed by necking a base spunbond web. The base spunbond web includes a plurality of fibers generally oriented in the machine direction and exhibiting a machine direction tensile strength and cross-machine direction tensile strength. The ratio of the machine direction tensile strength to the cross-machine direction tensile strength is about 4:1 or more. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** December 22, 2023 **Date of Patent:** July 29, 2025 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. **Inventors:** John H. Conrad, James R. Fitts, Jr. ... **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. **Inventors:** Janet E. Collins, David Biggs, Eric D. Johnson, Alanna Haessler * ###### [Three-dimensional papermaking belt](https://patents.justia.com/patent/12366034) **Patent number:** 12366034 **Abstract:** The present invention relates to belts useful in the manufacture of paper products, such as tissue paper. Particularly this invention relates to a belt used in a through-air drying process for making tissue products, and more particularly to an additively manufactured belt having a particular pattern thereon which imparts properties to tissue products manufactured therewith. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** February 28, 2023 **Date of Patent:** July 22, 2025 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. **Inventors:** Mark Alan Burazin, Lynda Ellen Collins, Geoffrey Fenn Carlow * ###### [Zoned elastic film and laminates comprising the same](https://patents.justia.com/patent/12358272) ... **Abstract:** Superabsorbent particles having less than 1000 ppm non-solvent, a median size of from about 50 to about 2,000 micrometers, and containing nanopores having an average cross-sectional dimension of from about 10 to about 500 nanometers are provided. The superabsorbent particles exhibit a Vortex Time of about 80 seconds or less. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** October 30, 2020 **Date of Patent:** June 24, 2025 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. **Inventors:** Neil T. Scholl, Jian Qin, James Dudek, Priyadarshini Gadgil, Feng Chen, Joy Lynn Holgerson * ###### [Foam-formed fibrous sheets with crimped staple fibers](https://patents.justia.com/patent/12331465) **Patent number:** 12331465 ... **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. **Inventors:** Frederick J. Lang, Kevin J. Vogt, Matthew R. Wilson, Christopher L. Satori, Jessica C. Heiting * ###### [Undergarment](https://patents.justia.com/patent/D1085410) **Patent number:** D1085410 **Type:** Grant **Filed:** April 8, 2022 **Date of Patent:** July 22, 2025 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. **Inventors:** Vladimír Dvorácek, Marta Embid, Ilona Herzigová, Alexander Schmidt-Foerst * ###### [Absorbent paper product dispenser](https://patents.justia.com/patent/D1087513) **Patent number:** D1087513 **Type:** Grant **Filed:** March 3, 2022 **Date of Patent:** August 5, 2025 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. **Inventors:** Jonathan Green, Joseph Oberdorf [prev](https://patents.justia.com/assignee/kimberly-clark-worldwide-inc?page=4) [1](https://patents.justia.com/assignee/kimberly-clark-worldwide-inc) [2](https://patents.justia.com/assignee/kimberly-clark-worldwide-inc?page=2) [3](https://patents.justia.com/assignee/kimberly-clark-worldwide-inc?page=3) [4](https://patents.justia.com/assignee/kimberly-clark-worldwide-inc?page=4) 5 [6](https://patents.justia.com/assignee/kimberly-clark-worldwide-inc?page=6) [7](https://patents.justia.com/assignee/kimberly-clark-worldwide-inc?page=7) [8](https://patents.justia.com/assignee/kimberly-clark-worldwide-inc?page=8) [9](https://patents.justia.com/assignee/kimberly-clark-worldwide-inc?page=9) … [next](https://patents.justia.com/assignee/kimberly-clark-worldwide-inc?page=6) [Ask a Lawyer Get Free Answers](https://answers.justia.com/) Have a legal question? 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  8. 62Web page: Ventile Sustainable Spec Sheet (Stotz/Ventile), ventile.co.uk
    Ventile L24 100% COTTON 200 80/2 x 60/2 Oxford 600 ... Hydrostatic Head DIN EN 20811 1100 ... Water repellency Bundesmann 4
    Why it’s hereSpecification sheet for a swelling cotton fabric grade: 1100 mm hydrostatic head.
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  9. 63Web page: Ventile Brochure, ventile.co.uk
    Shower test. Water is poured over fabric at controlled rate and pressure for a period of 30 minutes, equivalent to 1 hour of heavy rain ... Hydrostatic Head Test: Water forced under pressure ... against the fabric to see at what point moisture penetrates.
    Why it’s hereDescribes the shower and hydrostatic-head tests used to rate the swelling cotton fabric.
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  10. 64Web page: Swelling of cotton fibres in water (figure, fibre-swelling study), researchgate.net
    the current averaged diameter of the fibres is D₀ = 0.000272 m; the error bars show the confidence interval of 95%
    Why it’s hereFigure data quantifying the diameter of cotton fibres as they swell in water.
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  11. 65Web page: Cover Factor of Woven Fabric: Theory, Calculation and Example, textilelearner.net
    the cover factor is the ratio of the number of threads per inch to the square root of the cotton yarn count ... close set (with cover factors 22–35)
    Why it’s hereDefines cover factor, the measure of how closely set a woven fabric's threads are.
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  12. 66Paper: Waterproof breathable fabrics - ScienceDirect
    If the maximum pore size at the outer surfaces of the barrier layer is about 2–3 μm or less, the waterproof properties of the fabric are usually adequate.
    Why it’s hereWaterproofing is usually adequate when the largest surface pore is about 2–3 µm or less.
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  13. 67Web page: Ventile — Grokipedia, grokipedia.com
    The cotton is spun into high-twist, two-ply yarns for both warp and weft, typically around 1000-1200 twists per meter (secondary compilation; conflicts with manufacturer's 'low twist' account)
    Why it’s hereSecondary account claiming high-twist yarns, conflicting with the manufacturer's low-twist description.
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  14. 68Paper: Tetrapodal textured Janus textiles for accessible menstrual health, Sanders et al.2023
    S. L. Sanders, L. D. Douglas, T. E. Sill and 5 moreiScience
    Wetback was ~8× higher with menses simulant (217 ± 87 mg) than saline (27 ± 7 mg), attributed to the lower surface tension 'decreas[ing] the capillary resistance'.
    Why it’s hereMenses simulant gave about 8× more wetback than saline, attributed to lower surface tension.
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  15. 69Web page: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - ECHA, echa.europa.eu
    ECHA supports PFAS restriction with targeted derogations (26 March 2026); textiles, leather and apparel among the major industry sectors using PFAS.
    Why it’s hereEU PFAS restriction is advancing, with textiles among the major sectors using PFAS.
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  16. 70Web page: Why Hydrostatic head tests don't apply to Double Ventile® and Cotton Analogy®, hilltrek.co.uk
    The article discusses dynamic swelling and the layered behaviour of Double Ventile and Cotton Analogy, which do not translate into a neat pressure figure.
    Why it’s hereArgues hydrostatic-head tests do not give a neat figure for dynamically swelling cotton fabrics.
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  17. 71Paper: Water Responsive Fabrics with Artificial Leaf Stomata, Lao et al.2023
    L. Lao, H. Bai and J. FanAdvanced Fiber Materials
    Due to fiber swelling, textile fabrics containing hygroscopic fibers tend to decrease pore size under wet or increasing humidity and moisture conditions, the reverse being true... Such a behavior is, however, contrary to that of the conventional fabric which generally have reduced pore size under wet conditions due to fiber swelling and increased pore size under dry conditions.
    Why it’s hereConfirms hygroscopic fabrics shrink pores when wet; builds the reverse, opening when wet.
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  18. 72Paper: Pore Size and Air Permeability of Four Nonwoven Fabrics, Epps & Leonas2000
    H. Epps and K. Leonas
    Minimum, maximum and mean flow pore sizes were determined using liquid porosimetry... For the spunlaced fabrics, air permeability was most highly correlated with mean flow pore size, while there was a significant correlation between air permeability and maximum pore size for the SMS fabrics.
    Why it’s hereMeasured pore sizes and air permeability of hydroentangled and multilayer nonwovens.
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  19. 73Web page: Elixrr | Blend, elixrrnonwovens.com
    Elixrr's Lyocell + Pulp nonwoven spunlace combines plant-derived fibres to deliver a soft, smooth, highly absorbent, and 100% plastic-free substrate for modern personal care and hygiene applications.
    Why it’s hereCommercial lyocell and pulp hydroentangled sheet already sold as a plastic-free hygiene substrate.
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  20. 74Patent: Filter Sheet Media and Method for Manufacturing a Filter Sheet Media, US 2026/01922222026
    Ahlstrom CorpInventors: H. Niemelä, H. Rahiala, R. Haakana and 5 more
    the second group of glass fibers (30) have a fiber distribution gradient over the thickness (13) of the filter sheet media (1) ... having more second group of glass fibers (30) near the first surface (11) than the second surface (12)
    Why it’s hereFilter sheet with a fibre gradient through thickness, a precedent for a layered fine face.
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  21. 75Paper: Asymmetric Re-Entrant Texture for Water Droplet Sliding Using Laser-Fabricated Molds for Film-Based Imprinting, Yamaguchi & Goto2026
    M. Yamaguchi and R. GotoLasers in Manufacturing and Materials Processing
    For low-surface-tension liquids, it is difficult to maintain a spherical droplet shape, and the reduced capillary pressure facilitates liquid penetration into surface structures, leading to the collapse of the air layer that supports the Cassie state.
    Why it’s hereLow-surface-tension liquids penetrate textures more easily as capillary pressure falls.
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  22. 76Web page: Ventile — history and mechanism, wikiland.org
    Extra-long-staple (Gossypium barbadense) cotton fibres are used to form a low-twist yarn, which is then woven into a tight high-density textile ... In wet weather the softly spun yarns - within the tight weave - dynamically expand to form an effective barrier against the elements.
    Why it’s hereLow-twist long-staple cotton yarns in a tight weave expand when wet to form a barrier.
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  23. 77Web page: Technical Data Sheet Expancel DU Microspheres, nouryon.com
    Particle size D(0.5) (µm): 031 DU 40 = 10–16; 044 DU 20 = 6–9; 093 DU 120 = 28–38
    Why it’s hereData sheet giving expandable microsphere sizes of roughly 6–38 µm.
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  24. 78Paper: Reflective properties of hollow microspheres in cool roof coatings, Sandin et al.2017
    O. Sandin, J. Nordin and M. JonssonJournal of Coatings Technology and Research
    For the most effective light scattering, the pigment diameter should be slightly less than one-half the wavelength of the light to be scattered ... hollow thermoplastic microspheres [Expancel 461 WE ... average particle size of approx. 10 ... 20, 40, and 80 µm]
    Why it’s hereBest scattering needs particles under half a wavelength; hollow microspheres are 10–80 µm.
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  25. 79Paper: Retrieving structural information from scattering and attenuation data of transparent wood and (Nano)paper, Nishiyama2021
    Y. NishiyamaJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts
    Paper becomes translucent when wet because the light is scattered less.
    Why it’s herePaper turns translucent when wet because it scatters less light.
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  26. 80Paper: New fluorine-free low surface energy surfactants and surfaces., Sagisaka et al.2025
    M. Sagisaka, T. Darmanin, F. Guittard and 1 moreJournal of Colloid and Interface Science
    critical surface tensions γc in mN m⁻¹ are 6 for –CF₃, 17 for –CF₂–, 22–24 for –CH₃, and 31 mN m⁻¹ for –CH₂–
    Why it’s hereTabulates critical surface tensions of fluorinated and hydrocarbon surface groups.
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  27. 81Web page: Hydrophobicity Hydrophilicity And Silane Surface Modification, gelest.com
    Liquids with a surface tension below the critical surface tension (γc) of a substrate will wet the surface, i.e., show a contact angle of 0
    Why it’s hereLiquids below a surface's critical surface tension wet it fully.
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  28. 82Paper: Investigation on gas migration in saturated bentonite using the residual capillary pressure technique with consideration of temperature, Cui et al.2019
    L. Cui, W. Ye, Q. Wang and 3 moreChemical engineering research & design
    gas breakthrough pressures measured on the initially water-saturated bentonite specimens vary from 2.74 to 4.08 MPa, while the residual capillary pressure differences, also denoted as snap-off pressures (Psnap-off), range from 0.2 to 0.38 MPa
    Why it’s hereBreakthrough and snap-off capillary pressures measured on saturated clay, with temperature considered.
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  29. 83Web page: Pulp Price Index 2026: Trends & Market Outlook, accio.com
    Bleached Hardwood Kraft Pulp for Diaper and Napkin — $0.8 - $1.1
    Why it’s hereMarket price of hygiene-grade kraft pulp, anchoring the input-cost estimate.
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  30. 84Web page: polypropylene staple fiber Price - Buy Cheap polypropylene staple fiber At Low Price On Made-in-China.com, made-in-china.com
    US$1,400.00-1,450.00 / Ton
    Why it’s hereMarket price of polypropylene staple fibre, the non-swelling frame's input cost.
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  31. 85Web page: Expancel Microspheres Price 2026: Market Trends & Pricing, accio.com
    Obtain bulk quotes for MOQs over 1,000kg to move from the $7–$12/kg range toward the more competitive $2–$5/kg range
    Why it’s herePrice range for thermoplastic microspheres, falling with bulk orders.
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  32. 86Paper: Factors affecting the hygroexpansion of paper, Lindner2017
    M. LindnerJournal of Materials Science
    The expansion of paper sheets is higher in the cross direction (CD) than in the machine direction (MD).
    Why it’s herePaper expands more with moisture across the machine direction than along it.
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  33. 87Paper: Wettability and capillary behavior of fibrous gas diffusion media for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, Gostick et al.2009
    J. Gostick, M. Ioannidis, M. Fowler and 1 more
    Positive displacement pressure is required to force both water and air into GDMs ... Water is ... the preferentially wetting phase in untreated GDMs.
    Why it’s hereIn untreated fibrous fuel-cell media, water wets preferentially; displacement needs positive pressure.
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  34. 88Web page: SCATMECH: Reflectance, pages.nist.gov
    Kubelka_Munk_Reflectance ... specific scattering and absorption coefficients and thickness and substrate reflectance.
    Why it’s hereKubelka-Munk reflectance model from scattering, absorption, thickness and backing reflectance.
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  35. 89Web page: ISO 9416:2009 - Paper — Determination of light scattering and absorption coefficients (using Kubelka-Munk theory), iso.org
    The use of the method is restricted to white and near-white uncoated papers with an opacity less than about 95 %.
    Why it’s hereStandard for paper scattering and absorption coefficients, limited to opacity below about 95%.
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  36. 90Web page: Technical Data Sheet Expancel FG (DU) Microspheres, salessupportportal.nouryon.com
    DU = Dry powder of unexpanded Expancel microspheres; particle sizes include 16–24 µm and 28–38 µm.
    Why it’s hereUnexpanded microsphere powders come in 16–38 µm sizes, far above the optimum scatterer size.
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  37. 91Web page: Technical Data Sheet Expancel WE Microspheres, salessupportportal.nouryon.com
    WE = Wet, expanded Expancel microspheres. Grade 044 WE 20 d36 has particle size 20 µm and true density 32–40 kg/m³.
    Why it’s hereExpanded wet microsphere grade of about 20 µm and very low density.
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  38. 92Web page: Tyvek® 1443R Datasheet, dupont.com
    Basis weight 43 g/m²; tensile strength MD 49 N/2.54 cm, CD 48 N/2.54 cm; elongation MD 11%.
    Why it’s hereFlashspun sheet tensile data, the specific-strength comparator for the strength requirement.
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  39. 93Paper: Measurement of the flexibility of wet cellulose fibres using atomic force microscopy, Pettersson et al.2017
    T. Pettersson, J. Hellwig, P. Gustafsson and 1 more
    For never-dried wet fibres immersed in water, bleached softwood kraft modulus of elasticity ranges from 1 to 12 MPa; these data are comparable to a soft rubber band.
    Why it’s hereNever-dried wet softwood kraft fibres are as soft as a rubber band, 1–12 MPa.
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  40. 94Web page: Ventile Fabric Outdoor Clothing — Keela Outdoors, keelaoutdoors.com
    Ventile is not coated or laminated yet the combination of the dense weave and the swelling properties of the fibres when wet provide excellent weatherproofing. Ventile fabrics for RAF clothing went into mass production in 1943.
    Why it’s hereUncoated dense weave plus fibre swelling gives weatherproofing; mass-produced since 1943.
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  41. 95Web page: Ventile — Hilltrek, hilltrek.co.uk
    After gentle spinning and doubling, the yarn is woven into a very dense weave. The combination of fibres, yarns and weave causes expansion in a uniform manner. This allows the interstices within the fabric to close up.
    Why it’s hereGentle spinning and dense weaving let gaps in the swelling cotton fabric close uniformly.
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  42. 96Web page: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - ECHA, echa.europa.eu
    ECHA supports PFAS restriction with targeted derogations, 26 March 2026; updated restriction proposal published 20 August 2025; risk assessment committee opinion adopted 3 March 2026; textiles among the sectors evaluated.
    Why it’s hereDated timeline of the EU universal PFAS restriction, with textiles evaluated.
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  43. 97Paper: The surface softness and mechanical properties of wood pulp–lyocell wet-laid nonwoven fabric, Melani & Kim2020
    L. Melani and H. Kim
    The SwBKP–Lyocell mixing ratios with the minimum ratio of 30/70 were found to offer sufficient tensile strength with improved softness.
    Why it’s hereSoftwood pulp/lyocell wet-laid sheets reach sufficient strength from a 30/70 ratio.
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  44. 98Paper: Direct-micro-fabrication of Hydrophobic Surface with Re-entrant Texture on Metal Produced by Femtosecond-pulsed Laser, Yamaguchi & Kato2022
    M. Yamaguchi and S. KatoLasers in Manufacturing and Materials Processing
    A critical parameter of re-entrant texture is the angle formed between the sidewalls of the indent and the horizontal line ... the reverse-taper angle.
    Why it’s hereLaser-made overhanging texture whose reverse-taper angle governs repellency.
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  45. 99Web page: NWSP 402.0 Cup Crush » SGS-IPS Testing, ipstesting.com
    The material must have sufficient structural integrity to be formed into the cup shape and then be able to maintain that shape until it is tested. ... A 225-mm square specimen ... A 44.5 mm diameter hemispherical-shaped plunger
    Why it’s hereCup crush softness test method and specimen geometry.
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  46. 100Web page: Standard Test Methods for Gravimetric Determination of Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Materials, astm.org
    A WVTR result obtained in one method under one set of test conditions cannot be used to predict the result … with a different set of conditions, or using the other method.
    Why it’s hereVapour transmission results from one method or condition cannot predict another.
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  47. 101Web page: A Brief Introduction to Hydrostatic Head / Pressure Test, fyitester.com
    the hydrostatic pressure increasing at a constant rate is applied from below the test specimen, whilst firmly clamped in the test head of 100cm² area, until penetration water-drop occurs in three places.
    Why it’s hereHydrostatic-head method families using a 100 cm² clamped head and rising pressure.
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  48. 102Web page: ECHA — 'ECHA announces timeline for PFAS restriction evaluation' (27 August 2025), echa.europa.eu
    This follows the publication of the updated restriction proposal, which took place on 20 August 2025.
    Why it’s hereECHA announced the PFAS restriction evaluation timeline after the August 2025 proposal.
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