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Idea 01 of 06Borrowed from springtail skin and biomimetic surface engineering

Fine-filament lid over washed-out cavities repels fluid by shape

Borrowing the overhanging bumps that keep springtail skin dry in rain, we build a film-free fabric whose narrow mouths over hidden cavities hold back body fluids by shape.

Fig. 1Springtail skin holds rain off with overhanging bumps over an open air layer; the proposed outercover builds the same overhang from fine filaments stretched over hidden cavities, holding body fluid back by shape rather than coating.
Fig. 1

Fine-filament lid over washed-out cavities repels fluid by shape

A wide watercolour scene. On the left a small springtail sits on damp soil under rain, beads of water resting on its silvery skin. The soil surface continues as one line into a wooden tabletop on the right, where an absorbent pad product lies flat with a corner cut away, a blue fluid spot in its core above a thin outer layer. Two circular magnifiers along the bottom show the same thing at small scale: on the left, mushroom-shaped skin bumps with red downturned caps holding a drop's curved surface above grey air; on the right, thin red filaments stretched over wide grey filaments, holding blue fluid at narrow gaps above open air cavities.

Springtail skin holds rain off with overhanging bumps over an open air layer; the proposed outercover builds the same overhang from fine filaments stretched over hidden cavities, holding body fluid back by shape rather than coating.

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

Film-free fabrics usually block liquid in one of two ways: they shrink their largest openings, or they coat the fibres to repel water. Both make the web denser, stiffer and costlier. Springtail skin works differently. At an overhanging edge, an arriving liquid has to spread sideways and bend more sharply to move forward, so the barrier depends on the shape of the edge, and it would likely keep working when soap or protein in the fluid defeats a water-repelling coating. A fabric can copy that shape by stretching a fine lid over a cavity wider than its mouth, and the same open air spaces that hold the fluid back also let air and vapour pass.

Where we’ve seen this before

Where is it inspired from?

Fig. 2Springtail skin stays dry because overhanging bumps pin a raindrop's surface over an open air layer; with the same spacing and the same pressure, straight-walled bumps let the liquid sag in and flood.
Fig. 2

Fine-filament lid over washed-out cavities repels fluid by shape

Two panels. Left, titled 1 THE SOURCE: a springtail on damp soil in rain with a raindrop on its back, and a circular magnifier showing its skin covered in small mushroom-shaped bumps with red caps. Right, titled 2 HOW IT WORKS THERE: two matching cross-sections under the same downward pressure arrow. In the first, straight-sided bumps let blue liquid sag down and fill the spaces to the skin. In the second, bumps with red downturned caps hold the liquid's curved surface at their edges, with grey air open beneath.

Springtail skin stays dry because overhanging bumps pin a raindrop's surface over an open air layer; with the same spacing and the same pressure, straight-walled bumps let the liquid sag in and flood.

Springtails are small soil animals that breathe through their skin, so they must stay dry when wetted 1. Their skin carries tiny bumps shaped like mushroom caps or serif-T letters, wider at the top than at the stem, packed on larger grooves 2. Each cap gives an overhanging edge, a solid edge that leans back away from an incoming liquid. To pass it, the liquid must spread sideways under the overhang and bend more sharply, and both cost surface energy 3. The liquid therefore rests on the cap tops over an open layer of air 3.

The barrier is set by shape. The right overhanging profile makes even a fully wetting material repel liquids, and water-repelling chemistry only strengthens it 4. The air layer on springtail skin, and on polymer copies of it, held up to about 4 bar 35. Engineered membranes with overhanging pores held 36.2 bar of water 6. The threshold is finite, and it is lost if the overhangs are worn away.

How does it transfer?

A liquid trying to enter a cavity through a narrow mouth whose solid edge leans back away from it must spread sideways and bend more sharply first, and both cost surface energy. The resistance to entry is therefore set by the shape of that overhanging edge, the depth of the cavity behind it and how little solid top the liquid touches. With a doubly overhanging edge it holds even for liquids that fully wet the solid.

  • Overhanging caps on springtail skin→Fine lid filaments forming each narrow mouth
  • Open air layer under the caps→Hidden cavity, open to air through mouths
  • Stems and microgrooves holding the caps up→Coarse base filament tops where lid is fixed
  • Spacing of bumps in the skin lattice→Gaps between base filaments, 30–50 µm wide
  • Height of each bump (cavity depth)→Cavity depth of 5–8 µm, formed over a dissolvable filler
  • Small area of cap tops touching liquid→Thin 2–4 µm lid filaments over open gaps
What does not carry over
  • Springtail skin stacks nanoscale bumps of about 300–400 nm on larger grooves, and the source finds that a single level of overhang tends to trade drop repellency against pressure resistance; the design has one level of narrow mouths, 2–6 µm across, so whether one level reaches the 62 mbar requirement is untested.
  • The skin's waxy surface lipids widen the range of liquids it holds off, and the source finds that an edge with a single overhang loses its hold on liquids that fully wet the solid, which only a doubly overhanging edge holds; the design has a single lid edge and no fluorochemical, silicone or other water-repelling finish, so whether it holds menses and stool, at about 50 mN/m surface tension, is untested.
  • Engineered overhanging pillars, about 100 µm tall in one reported example, are caps on stems that break or flatten under wear; the design instead uses a fine lid layer stretched between fixed points on the base filaments, formed over a dissolvable filler layer that hot water then washes out.

How does it work?

The design is a film-free fabric of three spun layers. A fine lid layer stays stretched over the gaps of a coarse base layer, leaving a hidden cavity behind each narrow mouth. The shape of each mouth, with no coating, is meant to hold back urine, faeces and menses at 62 mbar or more.

  1. Stack three spun layers

    The coarse base layer, made of 18–22 µm plastic filaments, carries the fabric's strength and stiffness. Its filaments sit far apart, leaving gaps 30–50 µm across. Filaments of this size are standard production stock 7. A dissolvable filler layer of water-soluble fibre is spun over the base and fills the top of each gap. A fine lid layer of 2–4 µm filaments goes on top. It is fixed to the base filament tops where they cross and rests on the filler everywhere else.

  2. Interlace with water jets, then wash out

    Cold water jets interlace the continuous filaments, a step known as hydroentangling and established practice for such filaments 8. The filler supports the fine lid layer from below, so the jets cannot press it down onto the base. Hot water then dissolves the filler out through the openings between lid filaments, and the plant's water loop reclaims the polymer. Dissolving a water-soluble part out of a hydroentangled spun web is already described, though only inside single fibres 9, and water-soluble PVA fibre that dissolves at a chosen temperature is a commercial product 10.

  3. Overhanging mouths hold liquid out

    Over each base gap the fine lid layer stays taut. Behind each narrow mouth of 2–6 µm it leaves a hidden cavity about 5–8 µm deep. Fluid reaching a mouth meets an overhanging edge, so its surface has to spread sideways and bend more sharply to move forward, and both cost energy. In fibrous media the local pore shape dominates how liquid enters 11. The liquid surface also has to sag the full depth of the cavity before it touches the base.

  4. The gain the barrier depends on

    On an alumina membrane with overhanging nanostructures and a water-repelling finish, simulations credited the overhangs with a 3.2-fold rise in wetting pressure over straight pores 612. This web needs about a 1.93-fold rise against a menses simulant. At 1.5-fold it would hold only about 48 mbar against that simulant. Whether a flat filament underside overhangs enough is untested, because a simple overhang fails as liquids approach full wetting 4.

Fig. 3The proposed outercover is built on a dissolvable filler that holds fine filaments above wide base gaps; once it is washed out, narrow mouths over hidden cavities hold body fluid back while air and vapour pass.
Fig. 3

Fine-filament lid over washed-out cavities repels fluid by shape

Four cross-section panels of a layered fabric, core side up. 1: thick grey base filaments with wide gaps, a pale green filler filling the top of the gaps, and thin red filaments laid on top. 2: water jets strike from above while the green filler keeps the thin filaments level. 3: hot water carries the green filler out through the narrow gaps between thin filaments, leaving wide shallow air cavities. 4: blue body fluid from above rests on the thin filaments, its surface pinned at each narrow gap, while arrows show air and vapour leaving downward through the base.

The proposed outercover is built on a dissolvable filler that holds fine filaments above wide base gaps; once it is washed out, narrow mouths over hidden cavities hold body fluid back while air and vapour pass.

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
Hygiene and barrier nonwovens · Spunbond outer layers of barrier fabrics

An in-field barrier-fabric patent describes continuous spunbond filaments with an average diameter of about 10 to 25 µm, which spans the 18–22 µm filaments the coarse base layer uses. 7

What is the evidence it will work?

Coarse base layer of thick spun filaments

Where it works
Hygiene and barrier nonwovens · Spunbond outer layers of barrier fabrics
What it does there
An in-field barrier-fabric patent describes continuous spunbond filaments with an average diameter of about 10 to 25 µm, which spans the 18–22 µm filaments the coarse base layer uses.
Here
Carries over if: A light, very open base layer held together only by cold water jets would still reach the required strength and stretch and would wind at line speed.
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.”

Carries over ifA light, very open base layer held together only by cold water jets would still reach the required strength and stretch and would wind at line speed.Tested in What we’d test →

Nonwoven fibre and fabric patents · Shaped hollow-fibre spunbond webs

A water-soluble component (PVOH, EVOH or starch) is dissolved out of a spunbond web to leave a hollow region, with hydroentangling named as the bonding route; a related fibre dissolves at a selectable 0–100 °C. 910

What is the evidence it will work?

Washing a water-soluble fibre out of spunbond

Where it works
Nonwoven fibre and fabric patents · Shaped hollow-fibre spunbond webs
What it does there
A water-soluble component (PVOH, EVOH or starch) is dissolved out of a spunbond web to leave a hollow region, with hydroentangling named as the bonding route; a related fibre dissolves at a selectable 0–100 °C.
Here
Carries over if: A thin dissolvable filler layer would survive cold water jets and wash out to leave a uniform hidden cavity a few micrometres deep under a separate fine lid layer, where the patent's hollow sits inside a single fibre.
The evidence
  • Forming shaped fiber fabrics ↗Patent application · WO 2006020109 A2 · 2005 · Google Patents
    “If present, a hollow region in the fiber may be singular in number or multiple. The hollow region may be produced by the spinneret design or possibly by dissolving out a water-soluble component, such as PVOH, EVOH and starch.”
  • Water soluble polyvinyl alcohol-based fiber ↗Patent application · EP 0 636 716 A1 · 1994 · Google Patents
    “a water soluble PVA-based fiber having a water dissolution temperature (T °C) of 0 to 100 °C, a maximum shrinkage in water of not more than 20%, a tensile strength of at least 3 g/d.”

Carries over ifA thin dissolvable filler layer would survive cold water jets and wash out to leave a uniform hidden cavity a few micrometres deep under a separate fine lid layer, where the patent's hollow sits inside a single fibre.Tested in What we’d test →

Microfabrication on textiles · Printed MEMS structures on e-textiles

A printed, dried water-based PVA layer "provides a stable mechanical support for subsequent printed structural layers" and "can be removed in water once all other processes are complete". 13

What is the evidence it will work?

Water-soluble support removed after layers are built

Where it works
Microfabrication on textiles · Printed MEMS structures on e-textiles
What it does there
A printed, dried water-based PVA layer "provides a stable mechanical support for subsequent printed structural layers" and "can be removed in water once all other processes are complete".
Here
Carries over if: The same hold-up-then-wash-out logic would work for a spun fibre layer under a filament lid, where the source used a printed layer under printed structures.
The evidence

Carries over ifThe same hold-up-then-wash-out logic would work for a spun fibre layer under a filament lid, where the source used a printed layer under printed structures.

Membrane distillation · Treated porous alumina distillation membranes

Hydrophobically treated alumina membranes carrying overhanging nanostructures held water up to 36.2 bar; simulation credited the overhangs with a 220% rise in wetting pressure over cylindrical pores for a low-surface-tension liquid. 6

What is the evidence it will work?

Overhanging edges raising liquid hold-out in pores

Where it works
Membrane distillation · Treated porous alumina distillation membranes
What it does there
Hydrophobically treated alumina membranes carrying overhanging nanostructures held water up to 36.2 bar; simulation credited the overhangs with a 220% rise in wetting pressure over cylindrical pores for a low-surface-tension liquid.
Here
Carries over if: The gain would carry over to 2–6 µm openings between flexible, uncoated plastic filaments facing a body-fluid simulant, at the at least 1.9-fold margin the requirement needs.
The evidence
  • High Pressure Resistance in Omniphobic Distillation Membranes with Re-entrant Nanostructures. ↗Paper · Lee et al. · 2025 · doi.org
    “Membranes were synthesized by grafting re-entrant nanostructures onto porous alumina membranes, followed by hydrophobic modification. The membranes exhibited a high liquid entry pressure of 36.2 bar with water and withstood an applied pressure up to 15.5 bar with a low-surface-tension 15 wt % ethanol–water mixture. Simulations revealed that the enhanced wetting resistance is due to the presence of re-entrant structures, which facilitated a 220% increase in wetting pressure for the low-surface-tension liquid compared to a control membrane with cylindrical pores.”

Carries over ifThe gain would carry over to 2–6 µm openings between flexible, uncoated plastic filaments facing a body-fluid simulant, at the at least 1.9-fold margin the requirement needs.Tested in What we’d test →

Surface science · Microfabricated pillar surfaces

Pillars with a doubly overhanging, downturned edge made surfaces repel even fully wetting liquids from shape alone, while edges that overhang only once are stated to fail for such liquids. 4

What is the evidence it will work?

Double overhangs repelling fully wetting liquids

Where it works
Surface science · Microfabricated pillar surfaces
What it does there
Pillars with a doubly overhanging, downturned edge made surfaces repel even fully wetting liquids from shape alone, while edges that overhang only once are stated to fail for such liquids.
Here
Carries over if: The fine lid layer would need a downturned lip at each narrow mouth, which the design does not yet specify, because a flat underside overhangs only once.
The evidence

Carries over ifThe fine lid layer would need a downturned lip at each narrow mouth, which the design does not yet specify, because a flat underside overhangs only once.Tested in What we’d test →

Biology and bio-inspired surfaces · Springtail skin and its engineered copies

A copy of springtail skin, with fine overhanging caps on microscale wrinkles, repelled liquids from water to ethanol and withstood high-speed impact of water and ethylene glycol drops. 214

What is the evidence it will work?

Two-scale overhanging bumps on springtail skin

Where it works
Biology and bio-inspired surfaces · Springtail skin and its engineered copies
What it does there
A copy of springtail skin, with fine overhanging caps on microscale wrinkles, repelled liquids from water to ethanol and withstood high-speed impact of water and ethylene glycol drops.
Here
Carries over if: Fine filament mouths over a coarse filament web would form the same two-scale structure and give comparable hold-out.
The evidence

Carries over ifFine filament mouths over a coarse filament web would form the same two-scale structure and give comparable hold-out.

Fuel-cell porous electrodes · Carbon-fibre gas-diffusion paper

A pore-network model fitted to measured air–water data on carbon-fibre paper showed local pore geometry dominating capillary pressure; the classic Washburn relation, which predicts liquid entry from pore radius and wettability, gave erroneous results for fibrous media. 11

What is the evidence it will work?

Pore shape governing liquid entry into fibre mats

Where it works
Fuel-cell porous electrodes · Carbon-fibre gas-diffusion paper
What it does there
A pore-network model fitted to measured air–water data on carbon-fibre paper showed local pore geometry dominating capillary pressure; the classic Washburn relation, which predicts liquid entry from pore radius and wettability, gave erroneous results for fibrous media.
Here
Carries over if: The same shape-dominated behaviour would hold for uncoated plastic filament openings against a protein- and surfactant-laden fluid at 37 °C.
The evidence

Carries over ifThe same shape-dominated behaviour would hold for uncoated plastic filament openings against a protein- and surfactant-laden fluid at 37 °C.

Nonwoven process engineering · Hydroentangled continuous-filament and spunlace webs

Continuous polymer filaments are hydroentangled into "a complex matrix of interconnecting filament loops", and jet pressures up to 300 bar are common in industry. 815

What is the evidence it will work?

Water-jet consolidation of continuous filaments

Where it works
Nonwoven process engineering · Hydroentangled continuous-filament and spunlace webs
What it does there
Continuous polymer filaments are hydroentangled into "a complex matrix of interconnecting filament loops", and jet pressures up to 300 bar are common in industry.
Here
Carries over if: A reduced jet pressure exists that fixes the fine lid layer to the base filament tops without flattening the cavities or closing the narrow mouths.
The evidence

Carries over ifA reduced jet pressure exists that fixes the fine lid layer to the base filament tops without flattening the cavities or closing the narrow mouths.

Hygiene and wipes nonwovens · Microfibre spunbond and meltblown fabrics

"The use of 'micro' fiber spunbond and meltblown technologies has allowed improvements in opacity by reducing the fiber diameter." 16

What is the evidence it will work?

Finer fibres raising opacity without pigment

Where it works
Hygiene and wipes nonwovens · Microfibre spunbond and meltblown fabrics
What it does there
"The use of 'micro' fiber spunbond and meltblown technologies has allowed improvements in opacity by reducing the fiber diameter."
Here
Carries over if: A 30 gsm web with an 8 gsm fine lid layer would reach the at least 70% dry opacity the requirement needs and stay air-filled after a fluid insult, though a fit to measured opacity data puts it near 51%, short of that.
The evidence
  • Hollow fiber fabrics ↗Patent application · US 2004/0170836 A1 · 2003 · Google Patents
    “Basis Weight (gsm) / Opacity (%): 61.7 / 53.19; 67.6 / 56.52; 57.1 / 49.23; 52.5 / 47.86; 32.7 / 30.68; 29.5 / 29.47”

Carries over ifA 30 gsm web with an 8 gsm fine lid layer would reach the at least 70% dry opacity the requirement needs and stay air-filled after a fluid insult, though a fit to measured opacity data puts it near 51%, short of that.

Membrane distillation testing · Liquid breakthrough tests on hydrophobic membranes

A fast pressure rise gave higher, more scattered breakthrough values on commercial membranes, tested with and without surfactant; 0.1 bar steps held for 5 minutes are recommended. 17

What is the evidence it will work?

Stepped pressure with fixed hold times

Where it works
Membrane distillation testing · Liquid breakthrough tests on hydrophobic membranes
What it does there
A fast pressure rise gave higher, more scattered breakthrough values on commercial membranes, tested with and without surfactant; 0.1 bar steps held for 5 minutes are recommended.
Here
Carries over if: A 5-minute hold would be long enough on an opaque, deformable web and on thick particulate simulants, which the source did not test.
The evidence

Carries over ifA 5-minute hold would be long enough on an opaque, deformable web and on thick particulate simulants, which the source did not test.

Membrane filter characterisation · ASTM F316 bubble-point porometry

The standard measures the maximum limiting pore diameter and the relative abundance of a given pore size, with sizes calculated on the premise of circular pores. 18

What is the evidence it will work?

Bubble-point test for the largest pore

Where it works
Membrane filter characterisation · ASTM F316 bubble-point porometry
What it does there
The standard measures the maximum limiting pore diameter and the relative abundance of a given pore size, with sizes calculated on the premise of circular pores.
Here
Carries over if: An equivalent size measured by gas displacement would match the edge where an incoming liquid actually stops at slot-like narrow mouths.
The evidence

Carries over ifAn equivalent size measured by gas displacement would match the edge where an incoming liquid actually stops at slot-like narrow mouths.Tested in What we’d test →

What's different?

The film-free outercover gets its liquid barrier from the overhanging edge of each narrow mouth over a hidden cavity, left when a dissolvable filler layer washes out, not from finer pores or water-repelling coatings.

How it’s done todayThis idea
Barrier mechanismVery fine blown (meltblown) fibre plies shrink pores; a finish repels liquidOverhanging edge at each narrow mouth gives a shape-based liquid barrier
MaterialsSpunbond skins of continuous melt-spun filaments, meltblown plies, barrier coatingCoarse base layer, fine lid layer, washed-out filler; no coating
Basis weightCited film-free barrier webs weigh 45–60 grams per square metre (gsm)30 gsm over an open coarse base layer
Low-surface-tension fluidsHold-out depends on the finish, whose effect surfactants and proteins cancelPredicted to hold menses simulant without chemistry; untested
Stain maskingBought with basis weight, pigment or a separate masking layerAir-filled filament interfaces predicted to scatter light; no pigment
Key limitationUncoated spunbond–meltblown–meltblown–spunbond laminate holds back 45–50 mbar liquid pressure, short of 62Mechanism shown on membranes and channels; no prior work shows it on nonwovens
Closest existing work · 4
  • Donaldson patent US-12383871-B219Donaldson fabricates a cap-and-stem lattice on a filter. Here, a washed-out filler leaves overhanging edges at every mouth of one melt-spun filament web.Google Patents ↗
  • Lee et al., omniphobic distillation membranes, Nano Letters6Overhanging nanostructures are grafted onto alumina membranes; here the edge is the lid filament, and the web is meant to mask stains and stay soft.doi.org ↗
  • Lee et al., liquid-metal channel patch20The overhanging tip there is cut into a microchannel wall. Here, the same edge profile appears at every narrow mouth across a nonwoven web.doi.org ↗
  • Allegiance film-free backsheet patent US12558273B221Four meltblown plies and a fluorocarbon finish give its barrier. Here, the barrier comes from the overhanging profile of each mouth, with no finish.Google Patents ↗

What would we test?

The riskiest open question

On a real fine lid layer, the overhanging edges at each narrow mouth raise liquid hold-out at least 1.9-fold over an identical flat-laid lid.

Why it matters
The shape-based liquid barrier is the whole mechanism; at a 1.5-fold gain the web holds about 48 mbar against the menses simulant and misses the requirement.
First test
Stepped-pressure liquid-entry tests on matched hand-sheets, lid tented over dissolved filler versus laid flat, in water, saline, menses simulant and surfactant-added simulant. 3017
Go if
Ratio at least 1.9-fold, tented web holding 62 mbar against simulant, surfactant shifting hold-out under 15%.
No-go if
Ratio below 1.5-fold, tented web below 62 mbar, or surfactant cutting hold-out by over 40%.
Effort
$25K–60KUSD$25K–60Kas statedEUR€22.4K–53.7KJPY¥3.96M–9.52MECB reference rates, 2026-10-12 · 4 to 8 weeks
The other open questions · riskiest first

  1. Each narrow mouth carries a downturned lip, a double overhang, so hold-out survives liquids that wet the plastic almost completely.

    Why it matters
    A flat lid underside overhangs only once, and a single overhang fails against fully wetting liquids, which would remove the advantage over a water-repelling finish.
    First test
    Image every liquid-entry path in cross-section, then measure entry pressure on the same coupons with alcohol and surfactant series of falling surface tension. 1733
    Go if
    Hold-out stays at least 62 mbar against simulant and does not collapse below about 35 mN/m.
    No-go if
    Hold-out collapses as probe-liquid surface tension falls, marking a single overhang.
    Effort
    $8K–15KUSD$8K–15Kas statedEUR€7.15K–13.4KJPY¥1.27M–2.38MECB reference rates, 2026-10-12 · 2 to 3 weeks

  2. Cold water jets fix the fine lid layer to the base filament tops while the dissolvable filler layer holds it up, and hot water leaves 5–8 µm cavities.

    Why it matters
    Without a stable hidden cavity there is no overhanging edge and no mechanism.
    First test
    Pilot-line trial crossing five jet pressures with three hot-water temperatures on one filler grade, measuring cavity depth by SEM cross-section, air permeability and filler recovery. 343533
    Go if
    An interior pressure window gives 5–8 µm cavities at 80% of mouths and 85% filler recovery.
    No-go if
    No setting gives cavities above 2 µm at 80% of mouths, or filler recovery falls below 70%.
    Effort
    $80K–150KUSD$80K–150Kas statedEUR€71.5K–134KJPY¥12.7M–23.8MECB reference rates, 2026-10-12 · 3 to 5 months

  3. The widest through-path in finished, converted web stays within about 6 µm radius, with no lid-free patches or oversized pinholes.

    Why it matters
    Hold-out is set by the single widest path: one 20 µm pinhole gives about 51.5 mbar, and a flattened lid-free patch about 7 mbar.
    First test
    Bubble-point porometry to ASTM F316 on converted web, as-formed and compressed, paired with a 250 cm² SEM defect count and hold-out on the same specimens. 3618
    Go if
    Largest path within 6 µm radius, under one path above 10 µm per 100 cm², 62 mbar held.
    No-go if
    A path above 10 µm radius, more than one per 100 cm², or compression lowering bubble point 40%.
    Effort
    $60K–120KUSD$60K–120Kas statedEUR€53.7K–107KJPY¥9.52M–19MECB reference rates, 2026-10-12 · 2 to 4 months

  4. A light, open coarse base layer bonded only by water jets still gives the strength, stretch and softness the requirement sets at 30 gsm.

    Why it matters
    With no thermal bonds, the 30 gsm web may fall short on tensile strength or fail to form a self-supporting cup-crush specimen at all.
    First test
    Breaking force on 3-inch strips both ways, and cup crush (force to crush a cup formed from the fabric; lower is softer) on ten barrier-web specimens, against controls.
    Go if
    At least 2000 gf per 3-inch strip both ways, 5% stretch, cup crush within 45 g on 8 of 10.
    No-go if
    Specimens that cannot form a cup; below 1800 gf, the base must gain 4 gsm or change to higher-draw grade.
    Effort
    $12K–20KUSD$12K–20Kas statedEUR€10.7K–17.9KJPY¥1.9M–3.17MECB reference rates, 2026-10-12 · 3 to 4 weeks
Also to check before scale-up
  • Pigment-free opacity: a fit to measured data puts a 30 gsm web near 51%, short of the 70% dry requirement.
  • Wet opacity depends on cavities staying air-filled after a fluid insult, so it falls if the barrier fails.
  • A ruling on whether dissolved-filler residue or the cavity geometry counts as a film under the no-film constraint.
  • Which of the two stated cost ceilings governs; the central estimate is 3.7% over the tighter one.
  • Fixed simulant recipes, test head, dwell times and leak criterion, which must be set before any per-fluid result means anything.
  • Whether a 5-minute dwell suffices for thick particulate faecal simulant and a deformable web.
  • Air permeability and water-vapour transmission floors on the same conditioned coupons as the barrier tests.
  • Whether each aperture figure is a radius or a diameter; read as diameters, the stated numbers would change.
  • Production-speed capability, which a single-beam pilot does not show.

Who could help make this happen?

First contacts

3

References

84 sources35 cited in this idea, 49 background reading

Where it comes from5

Where it comes from

5

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

  1. 1Paper: The springtail cuticle as a blueprint for omniphobic surfaces., Hensel et al.2016
    R. Hensel, C. Neinhuis and C. WernerChemical Society Reviews
    Why it’s hereSpringtail skin repels oils through overhanging surface curvature, the principle the idea borrows.
    Cited in
    Where it comes from
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  2. 2Paper: Springtail-inspired superomniphobic surface with extreme pressure resistance, Yun et al.2018
    G. Yun, W. Jung, M. S. Oh and 5 moreScience Advances
    The cuticles of springtails have both of these features, which result from their hierarchical structure composed of primary doubly reentrant nanostructures on secondary microgrooves ... the surface was able to endure extreme pressure resulting from the impacts of drops of water and of ethylene glycol with We >> 200.
    Why it’s hereSpringtail-inspired surface: fine double-overhang dots on coarser grooves resisting high pressure.
    Cited in
    Where it comes fromWhy we believe it
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  3. 3Paper: pone.0025105 1..6
    Due to the negative curvature of the overhanging profile, an energy barrier must be overcome by the advancing liquid phase before wetting becomes irreversible even for liquids with very low surface tension ... When exposed to increasing pressure, the plastron shrank and the shiny cover disappeared at pressures exceeding 3.5–4.0 bar.
    Why it’s hereSpringtail skin: overhanging profile creates an energy barrier; air layer held until about 3.5–4 bar.
    Cited in
    Where it comes from
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  4. 4Paper: Turning a surface superrepellent even to completely wetting liquids, Liu & Kim2014
    T. Liu and C. C. J. KimScience
    Why it’s hereDouble overhangs repel even fully wetting liquids; single overhangs fail, a limit the design carries.
    Cited in
    Where it comes fromHow it worksWhy we believe it
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  5. 5Paper: Client Challenge
    The Cassie–Wenzel transition at elevated pressures was explored by in situ plastron collapse experiments and by numerical FEM simulations ... breakthrough pressures for springtail skin and replicas were approximately 4200 hPa and 3900 hPa.
    Why it’s hereSpringtail skin and replicas resisted liquid entry up to roughly 4.2 and 3.9 bar.
    Cited in
    Where it comes from
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Evidence it works8

Evidence it works

8

Each shows a part of the idea already working somewhere.

  1. 6Paper: High Pressure Resistance in Omniphobic Distillation Membranes with Re-entrant Nanostructures., Lee et al.2025
    S. Lee, O. A. Laris, E. A. Hjelvik and 2 moreNano letters (Print)
    Membranes were synthesized by grafting re-entrant nanostructures onto porous alumina membranes, followed by hydrophobic modification. The membranes exhibited a high liquid entry pressure of 36.2 bar with water and withstood an applied pressure up to 15.5 bar with a low-surface-tension 15 wt % ethanol–water mixture. Simulations revealed that the enhanced wetting resistance is due to the presence of re-entrant structures, which facilitated a 220% increase in wetting pressure for the low-surface-tension liquid compared to a control membrane with cylindrical pores.
    Why it’s herePorous membrane with overhanging nanostructures held 36.2 bar water; simulation credits geometry over cylindrical pores.
    Cited in
    Where it comes fromHow it worksWhy we believe itNew to your fieldWhat we'd testWho could help
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  2. 11Paper: 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, local pore shape, not surface chemistry, dominates capillary resistance.
    Cited in
    How it worksWhy we believe it
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  3. 12Web page: Research Collection | ETH Library, research-collection.ethz.ch
    Simulations revealed that the enhanced wetting resistance is due to the presence of re-entrant structures, which facilitated a 220% increase in wetting pressure for the low-surface-tension liquid compared to a control membrane with cylindrical pores.
    Why it’s hereSimulation detail: overhangs raised wetting pressure 220% over cylindrical pores.
    Cited in
    How it works
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  4. 13Paper: Water Based PVA Sacrificial Material for Low Temperature MEMS Fabrication and Applications on e-textiles, Yang et al.2014
    K. Yang, R. Torah, Y. Wei and 2 moreProcedia Engineering
    a screen printable water based polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) sacrificial material, which, when printed and dried, provides a stable mechanical support for subsequent printed structural layers. The PVA support layer can be removed in water once all other processes are complete
    Why it’s herePVA layer used as temporary support on textiles, then washed out in water.
    Cited in
    Why we believe it
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  5. 14Paper: Curvature‐Enhanced Superomniphobic Property for Minimizing Contact Time of Low‐Surface‐Tension Liquid, Ahn et al.2025
    H. Ahn, G. Yun, J. Ryu and 3 moreSmall Science
    Their cuticle repels oils in a static state (contact angle (CA) >150°) and remains unwetted by impacting droplets such as raindrops, with elevated hydrostatic pressure up to 4200 hPa... any organic liquids (e.g., 10 mN m⁻¹ of tetradecafluorohexane (FC-72)) can roll over this surface without collapsing its own surface tension.
    Why it’s hereSpringtail skin and engineered analogues held up to 4200 hPa hydrostatic pressure.
    Cited in
    Why we believe it
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  6. 15Web page: Hydroentangling process and properties of spunlace nonwovens, researchgate.net
    The formed web is first compacted and pre-wetted to eliminate air pockets ... pressures of up to 300 bar are often used in industry.
    Why it’s hereDescribes industrial hydroentangling, with water-jet pressures up to 300 bar.
    Cited in
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  7. 16Patent application: Hollow fiber fabrics, US 2004/0170836 A12003
    Procter and Gamble CoInventors: E. Bond and R. Gorley
    Basis Weight (gsm) / Opacity (%): 61.7 / 53.19; 67.6 / 56.52; 57.1 / 49.23; 52.5 / 47.86; 32.7 / 30.68; 29.5 / 29.47
    Why it’s hereMeasured opacity against basis weight for a hydroentangled nonwoven; finer fibres raise opacity.
    Cited in
    Why we believe it
    Google Patents (opens in a new tab)PDFEspacenet
  8. 32Paper: Wetting resistance at its topographical limit: the benefit of mushroom and serif T structures., Hensel et al.2013
    R. Hensel, R. Helbig, S. Aland and 4 moreLangmuir
    The micrographs reveal cavity side-wall profiles with characteristic overhangs ... Our results indicate the decisive role of the sectional profile of overhanging structures to form a robust heterogeneous wetting state for low-surface-tension liquids.
    Why it’s hereShows the cross-sectional profile of overhanging edges decides wetting resistance to low-surface-tension liquids.
    Cited in
    What we'd testWho could help
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Today's approaches and closest prior art7

Today's approaches and closest prior art

7

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

  1. 7Patent 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 hereNearest barrier fabric: multi-ply web plus non-fluorinated coating reaching 81.2 mbar water head.
    Cited in
    How it worksWhy we believe itWho could help
    Google Patents (opens in a new tab)PDFEspacenet
  2. 8Patent: Hydroentanglement of continuous polymer filaments, EP 1 360 357 B12001
    Polymer Group IncInventors: M. Putnam, R. Ferencz, M. Storzer and 1 more
    A nonwoven fabric comprises continuous polymer filaments of 0.5 to 3 denier that have been hydroentangled in a complex matrix of interconnecting filament loops.
    Why it’s hereHydroentangling continuous polymer filaments into a matrix of interlocking filament loops.
    Cited in
    How it worksWhy we believe it
    Google Patents (opens in a new tab)PDFEspacenet
  3. 9Patent application: Forming shaped fiber fabrics, WO 2006020109 A22005
    Hills IncInventors: J. Hagewood and A. E. Wilkie
    If present, a hollow region in the fiber may be singular in number or multiple. The hollow region may be produced by the spinneret design or possibly by dissolving out a water-soluble component, such as PVOH, EVOH and starch.
    Why it’s herePatent describing dissolving a water-soluble component out of spun fibre fabrics.
    Cited in
    How it worksWhy we believe it
    Google Patents (opens in a new tab)PDFEspacenet
  4. 10Patent application: Water soluble polyvinyl alcohol-based fiber, EP 0 636 716 A11994
    Kuraray Co LtdInventors: A. Ohmory, T. Sano, S. Naramura and 1 more
    a water soluble PVA-based fiber having a water dissolution temperature (T °C) of 0 to 100 °C, a maximum shrinkage in water of not more than 20%, a tensile strength of at least 3 g/d.
    Why it’s hereWater-soluble PVA fibre with set dissolution temperature and limited shrinkage, enabling temperature staging.
    Cited in
    How it worksWhy we believe it
    Google Patents (opens in a new tab)PDFEspacenet
  5. 19Patent: Structures having re-entrant geometries on a porous material surface, US 12,383,8712022
    Donaldson Co IncInventors: M. A. Yoder, C. P. Conklin, D. B. Moravec and 5 more
    a plurality of re-entrant structures, each ... comprising a stem and a cap ... forming a continuous lattice ... and a plurality of pores formed by or between the re-entrant structures, wherein the pores are through-holes ... The pores have a pore diameter of 1 μm to 100 μm ... Repellency to aqueous liquids may be achieved by coating the filter media with a fluorinated polymer.
    Why it’s hereClosest structure: stem-and-cap overhangs forming through-pores on porous media, relying on fluorinated coating.
    Cited in
    New to your fieldWho could help
    Google Patents (opens in a new tab)Espacenet
  6. 20Paper: Self‐Adhesive Liquid Metal Channel Patch with Tip‐Guided Conformal Coupling and Leakage Suppression for Skin Bioelectronics, Lee et al.2025
    S. Lee, H. Song, J. Kim and 5 moreAdvancement of science
    A key parameter governing this behavior is the local wall angle ... ≈ 90° for vertical walls (CP design), and → 0° for re-entrant profiles (CPT design) ... reducing θmin or D increases the resistance to leakage. In CPT geometry, θmin approaches zero, resulting in substantially higher Pth ... the critical pressure (P critical) ... was measured for channel widths ranging from 20 to 100 μm.
    Why it’s hereOverhanging channel tips raise the pressure needed for liquid leakage in microchannels.
    Cited in
    New to your field
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  7. 21Patent: Breathable absorbent article, US 12,558,273 B22020
    Allegiance CorpInventors: W. H. Isaac
    hydrostatic pressure of the backsheet may be greater than or equal to 60 centimeters based on AATCC Test Method 127-2008 ... the air permeability of the underpad may range from 5 to 35 cubic feet per minute.
    Why it’s herePatented film-free breathable backsheet reaching the barrier class with 5–35 cfm air flow.
    Cited in
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    Google Patents (opens in a new tab)Espacenet
Methods for the tests8

Methods for the tests

8

The rigs, protocols and measures the first tests borrow.

  1. 17Paper: 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 fast pressure ramps inflate liquid-entry readings; recommends 5-minute dwell steps for reproducibility.
    Cited in
    Why we believe itWhat we'd test
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  2. 18Web page: Standard Test Methods for Pore Size Characteristics of Membrane Filters by Bubble Point and Mean Flow Pore Test, store.astm.org
    Test Method A presents a test method for measuring the maximum limiting pore diameter ... The effective pore size calculated from this test method is based on the premise of capillary pores having circular cross sections.
    Why it’s hereStandard bubble-point and mean-flow-pore test for pore size, including the largest pore.
    Cited in
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  3. 30Paper: Membranes for the Gas/Liquid Phase Separation at Elevated Temperatures: Characterization of the Liquid Entry Pressure, Claramunt et al.2021
    S. Claramunt, F. Völker, U. Gerhards and 2 more
    The Visual Method and the Pressure Step Method were applied for the experimental investigation. The results show the Pressure Step Method to be an early detection method.
    Why it’s hereCompares visual and stepped-pressure detection of liquid entry; the stepped method detects entry earlier.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  4. 31Paper: Advances in water breakthrough measurement at high temperature in macroporous hydrophobic ceramic/polymeric membranes, Varela-Corredor & Bandini2018
    F. Varela-Corredor and S. BandiniJournal of Membrane Science
    The method is based on the construction of the initial part of the 'flooding curve'... Protocols have been defined in order to get a measure of the volume flux across the flooded pores.
    Why it’s hereProtocol for measuring water flux through the first flooded pores at the onset of liquid entry.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
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  5. 33Paper: ACCURATE MEASUREMENT OF COATING THICKNESS ON FULLY-FINISHED NON-ORIENTED ELECTRICAL STEELS USING FIB-SEM, Petrovič et al.2025
    D. S. Petrovič, A. Šeper and Č. DonikMateriali in Tehnologije
    The procedure produces a clean, sharp cross-section suitable for high-resolution SEM imaging... proven to be repeatable, robust, specific...
    Why it’s hereIon-beam cross-sectioning gives clean sections for imaging layer profiles and thicknesses.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  6. 34Paper: Effect of material properties and process parameters on properties of hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics, Maiti et al.2020
    S. Maiti, V. S. Bele and S. K. Basu
    The material parameters such as type of fiber, blend ratio and process parameters like jet pressure were studied in this research. The performance characteristics... have been reported in terms of air permeability, mass per unit area, thickness... and tensile strength.
    Why it’s hereRelates fibre type and water-jet pressure to air permeability, thickness and strength of hydroentangled fabrics.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  7. 35Paper: Numerical Modeling and Experimental Investigation of the Hydroentanglement Process, Xiang2007
    P. Xiang
    Numerical and experimental treatment of the hydroentanglement process and the effect of jet parameters on web consolidation.
    Why it’s hereModels and measures how water-jet parameters consolidate a fibre web during hydroentangling.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  8. 36Paper: DESIGN OF COMPOSITE FILTRATION MEDIA USING FLOW POROMETRY, Akshaya & Gupta2003
    J. Akshaya and K. Gupta
    Flow porometry applied to characterize the pore structure of composite fibrous filtration media.
    Why it’s hereFlow porometry applied to characterise pore structure of composite fibrous filter media.
    Cited in
    What we'd test
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
People and organizations7

People and organizations

7

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

  1. 37Paper: The role of staple fiber length on the performance of carded, hydroentangled nonwovens produced with polypropylene fibers - Jordan Tabor, Carl Wust, Behnam Pourdeyhimi, 2019
    Carding, crosslapping, and pre-needling were completed at The Nonwovens Institute’s Staple Nonwovens Pilot Facility located at North Carolina State University. This facility includes a fiber feeding device, opening and blending equipment, a Trutzschler High-Speed EWK 413 Card, an Asselin Profile 415-FD Crosslapper, and a Trutzschler Nonwovens ENL (single board) Needle Loom (used for web pre-needling). The recommended fiber length for the EWK card is 15–60 mm. During carding, samples were processed with similar settings to ideally achieve a basis weight of 125 g/m ² . Overall, the carding process ran smoothly for all fiber lengths. However, some issues arose when processing the 2.54-cm-long fibers. The 6-denier, 2.54-cm-long fibers were particularly difficult to doff and resulted in the production of splotchy, non-uniform webs such as those seen in Figure 2 . Figure 2 . Splotchy web produced from 2.54-cm-long, 6-denier PP fibers. ... 0/> ) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages ( <https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage> ). ### Authors #### Affiliations Jordan Tabor The Nonwovens Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA View all publications by this author Carl Wust FiberVisions Corporation (An Indorama Ventures Company), Covington, GA, USA View all publications by this author Behnam Pourdeyhimi The Nonwovens Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA []( View all publications by this author #### Notes ## Metrics and citations ### Metrics #### Journals metrics
    Why it’s hereHis group studies how fibre properties set the performance of hydroentangled polypropylene nonwovens, with webs formed on the institute's own pilot equipment.
    Cited in
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  2. 38Patent application: Liquid barrier and air-permeable backsheet, US 2026/0009174 A12025
    Nanhai Nanxin Non Woven Co LtdInventors: D. Wu, Y. Jin, M. Fang and 1 more
    A multi-layered nonwoven backsheet design with spunbond and fine-fiber layers addresses the issue of inadequate ventilation in conventional backsheets ... to achieve both liquid barrier and air permeability, with optional surface treatments for enhanced hydrophobicity.
    Why it’s herePatented layered spunbond and fine-fibre backsheet seeking barrier with breathability.
    Cited in
    Who could help
    Google Patents (opens in a new tab)Espacenet
  3. 39Web page: KURALON K-II™: Kuraray, kuraray.eu
    Kuraray Europe GmbH Products & Solutions KURALON K-II™ Search Contact us Contact Contact Do you have any questions, need technical support or would like to place an order? Contact us Order form # KURALON K-II™ – the high-quality PVOH fibre invented by Kuraray KURALON K‑II™ is a water‑soluble PVA fibre designed to dissolve at controlled temperatures. It is primarily used as a temporary material in textile and nonwoven manufacturing processes and is typically removed before the final production stage. In weaving and knitting applications, KURALON K‑II™ functions as a support fibre, stabilizing fabric structures and improving processability during production. Once manufacturing is complete, the fibre is easily removed using water at a defined temperature, leaving the finished fabric intact and undamaged. KURALON K‑II™ is available in a range of grades with different water‑solubility profiles. This enables manufacturers to select fibres that dissolve quickly, gradually, or only at elevated temperatures, depending on specific process conditions and application requirements. #### Contact Do you have any questions, need technical support or would like to place an order? Special features * High tenacity * Low elongation * High modulus * UV-stability * Strong alkali resistance * Insoluble Kuralon K-II has good adhesive properties with rubber, cement, plastics and other materials Main application areas Soluble type: * Water-dissolving non-wovens * Processing agent for spinning and weaving of wool and cashmere * Water-soluble yarn for separation of materials in sections Insoluble type: * Reinforcement of concrete and mortar * Reinforcement of plastics ## Find more information about KURALON™ ▸︎︎ KURALON™ ### Contact Kuraray For more information on our KURALON K-II™, please do not hesitate to contact us. []( Contact To top **Company** * Company * Strategy * Media Center * [Possible starts here](https://www.kuraray.eu/lp/possiblestartshere.html "Possible starts here") * History * Locations **Sustainability** * Sustainability * Sustainability Strategy * Product stewardship * Safety and health * Lighthouse projects and inititiatives * Blog **Career** * Career * We are Kuraray * Apprenticeship * Study * Career entry * Vacancies * People at Kuraray
    Why it’s hereIt makes KURALON K-II, a water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibre offered in grades that dissolve at different water temperatures.
    Cited in
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  4. 40Web page: Spunbond and Hydroentangling Lab - The Nonwovens Institute, thenonwovensinstitute.com
    [NC State Home](https://www.ncsu.edu/) [](https://www.ncsu.edu/) # Spunbond and Hydroentangling Lab **The Nonwovens Institute at North Carolina State University offers state-of-the-art** **technology and deep expertise in spunmelt nonwovens.** ## **Fiber options include sheath-core bico, side-by-side bico, or homofilament, as well as more complex cross-sections, such as segmented pie and islands-in-the-sea. Resin options include PP, PE and PET, along with many others, including nylon, elastomers and biopolymers, such as PLA.** The Nonwovens Institute has decades of experience in spunmelt nonwovens, which in tandem with its in-house Reicofil spunbond line – soon-to-be upgraded to RF5 with full digitalization capability – provides you the opportunity to customize the web path to your specific application requirements. Thus, NWI’s Advanced Spunbond and Hydroentangling Pilot Lab also utilizes equipment from supporting partners – including Hills bico or mono filament die packs, two unwinds, an Andritz thermobonding calender, two Andritz Perfojet hydroentanglement units, a kiss roll, a through-air dryer, and a high-speed A.Celli winder and slitter. Importantly, this system includes in-line electrostatic charging capability (corona). Following spunbond web laydown, the line offers several bonding methods via a hydroentanglement unit (one pre-entanglement injector, plus six additional injectors), a thermal calender (includes roll options for three bond patterns), a kiss roll unit, and a through-air dryer. The hydroentangling unit and thermal calender can also be used in combination. Layers can be added either via a front-end unwind or after the web laydown via an unwind prior to bonding, supporting application variables such as, for example, combining cellulosics with spunbond in a hydroentangled structure. Finally, the web path concludes with slitting and winding. ## Meet the Lab Manager: Angelo Corino Angelo Corino joined The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) in 2006 after serving for 21 years as a Production Supervisor and Lead Pilot Line Technician at Fiberweb in Simpsonville, South Carolina. Since joining NWI, Angelo has led NWI’s Meltblown and Spunbond/Hydroentangling Pilot Labs as a Lab Manager and Research Engineer, working directly with NWI leadership and industry partners to develop solutions to varied nonwovens challenges. [Learn More](https://thenonwovensinstitute.com/nwi-behind-the-scenes-angelo-corino-lab-manager/) Angelo Corino, The Nonwovens In…
    Why it’s hereSpunbond and hydroentangling pilot line with layer unwinds
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  5. 41Web page: Hills Inc - Multicomponent fiber extrusion technologies, hillsinc.net
    ## The world leader in Multi-component Fiber Extrusion Technology **[Hills, Inc.](http://hillsinc.net/company)** , founded in 1971, is a well-known innovator in multi-component fiber extrusion technologies. Hills is devoted to the design, development, and manufacture of [fiber extrusion equipment](http://hillsinc.net/equipment) . Hills delivers the latest innovations to the fiber and nonwovens industries by supply of Multi-Filament, Mono-Filament, Staple, Spunbond, Meltblown, & Solvent Spinning machinery In addition to the supply of machinery, Hills routinely assist customers with product development by offering fiber and fabric trials. Hills, [in-house lab facility](http://hillsinc.net/research-development) , is equipped with the latest instruments in product development and testing. The lab facility includes a half-meter spunbond and melt blown line as well as a filament development line that is capable of spinning up to 6,000 meters per minute.
    Why it’s hereFibre and fabric trials on a half-metre spunbond and meltblown lab line
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  6. 42Web 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 of nonwovens
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  7. 43Web page: Textest AG, textest.ch
    Textest AG is a Measuring and Control Instrument Manufacturing company. TEXTEST AG is a market leader in testing equipment for air permeability and water tightness. They have been a supplier of testing equipment for the textile, nonwoven, filter, paper, and plastics industries for over six decades. Textest AG employs 7 people, founded in 1964. Headquartered in Schwerzenbach, Zurich, Switzerland. ... TEXTEST AG exists since 1969 and is a Swiss manufacturer of testing instruments for technical textiles. The main focus lies on a comprehensive family of Air Permeability Testers, a Hydrostatic Head Tester, a Water Vapor Transmission Rate Tester, and an on-line instrument for determination of air permeability and thickness at the moving web. The FX 3300 Air Permeability Tester LabAir IV determines the air permeability, the pressure drop and other related parameters under laboratory conditions. It complies with many national and international standard test methods and can be adapted for numerous special applications. The FX 3340 MinAir is a compact and mobile version of the laboratory instrument. The FX 3345 FlexAir is particularly suitable for measuring the air permeability or the pressure drop of contaminated (filter) materials. The FX 3360 PortAir is a portable instrument for profile measurements of air permeability, pressure drop, and thickness in the production or finishing line. The FX 3370 SpotAir can be used to determine the Air Permeability and the Pressure Drop in the moving production line. The same measuring module can be used hand-held, or it can be mounted to the frame of the production or finishing machine for a continuous profile measurement. The FX 3500 CombiScan continuously measures the air permeability or pressure drop, and, optionally, the thickness, and displays length, cross or zigzag profiles. The FX 3000 Hydrostatic Head Tester HydroTester IV is used for automatic determination of the water resistance of any flat material. The FX 3180 Water Vapor Transmission Rate Tester CupMaster automatically determines the WVTR of up to 15 samples simultaneously based on the gravimetric method. The FX 3250 PICK COUNTER automatically determines the thread density of woven and knitted materials up to 300/cm or 762/inch. ... · 2 ... device, the FX 33 ... 0 SpotAir # Textest AG Textest AG is a Measuring and Control Instrument Manufacturing company. TEXTEST AG is a market leader in testing equipment for air permeability and water tightness. They have been a supplier of testing equipment for the textile, nonwoven, filter, paper, and plastics industries for over six decades. Textest AG employs 7 people, founded in 1964. Headquartered in Schwerzenbach, Zurich, Switzerland. ## About TEXTEST AG exists since 1969 and is a Swiss manufacturer of testing instruments for technical textiles. The main focus lies on a comprehensive family of Air Permeability Testers, a Hydrostatic Head Tester, a Water Vapor Transmission Rate Tester, and an o…
    Why it’s hereAir permeability and hydrostatic head testers
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Background reading49

Background reading

49

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

  1. 22Patent application: US4340563A - Method for forming nonwoven webs - Google Patents, US 4,340,563 A
    United States Download PDF Find Prior Art Similar Inventor David W. Appel Michael T. Morman Current Assignee Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc Worldwide applications 1980 US 1981 MX BR KR IT GB AU CA DE FR NL JP Application US06/146,450 events 1980-05-05 Application filed by Kimberly Clark Corp 1980-05-05 Priority to US06/146,450 1982-07-20 US4526733A * 1982-11-17 1985-07-02 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Meltblown die and method US4627811A * 1984-01-19 1986-12-09 Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft Apparatus for producing a spunbond EP0214636A2 1985-09-06 1987-03-18 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Form-fitting self-adjusting disposable garment WO1995012702A1 1993-11-03 1995-05-11 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Spunbond loop material for hook and loop fastening systems US5415640A * 1991-07-17 1995-05-16 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Bodyside cover for an absorbent article US5423789A * 1993-03-31 1995-06-13 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Garment with selectable fasteners US5540976A * 1995-01-11 1996-07-30 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Nonwoven laminate with cross directional stretch US5547746A * 1993-11-22 1996-08-20 Kimberly-Clark Corporation High strength fine spunbound fiber and fabric US5549868A * 1995-04-21 1996-08-27 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Method of sterilizing an article US5622772A * 1994-06-03 1997-04-22 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Highly crimpable spunbond conjugate fibers and nonwoven webs made therefrom US5639541A * 1995-12-14 1997-06-17 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Oil absorbent material with superior abrasive properties US5667750A * 1994-10-12 1997-09-16 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Process of making a nonwoven web US5667619A * 1992-11-06 1997-09-16 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Method for making a fibrous laminated web US5667562A * 1996-04-19 1997-09-16 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Spunbond vacuum cleaner webs
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  2. 23Web page: Method for forming nonwoven webs Patent Grant Appel , et al ..., uspto.report
    U.S. patent number 4,340,563 [Application Number 06/146,450] was granted by the patent office on 1982-07-20 for method for forming nonwoven webs. This patent grant is currently assigned to Kimberly-Clark Corporation. Invention is credited to David W. Appel, Michael T. Morman.
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  3. 24Patent application: US5284703A - High pulp content nonwoven composite fabric, US 5,284,703 A
    US5284703A - High pulp content nonwoven composite fabric European patent application 128,667 discloses an entangled composite fabric having an upper and lower surface. The upper surface is disclosed as having been US5284703A - High pulp content nonwoven composite fabric 4,808,467 to Suskind discloses a high-strength nonwoven fabric made of a mixture of wood pulp and textile fibers entangled with a continuous filament base web. US5284703A - High pulp content nonwoven composite fabric 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
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  4. 25Web page: Fred R. Radwanski Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search, patents.justia.com
    The dry bulk of the liquid saturant treated permeable sheet may be within about 15 percent of the dry bulk of an identical untreated permeable sheet. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** April 22, 1994 **Date of Patent:** January 23, 1996 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Corporation **Inventors:** Terry R. Cleveland, Cherie H. Everhart, Fred R. Radwanski, Henry Skoog * ###### Process for making a high pulp content nonwoven composite fabric **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 * ###### Process for making a hydraulically needled superabsorbent composite material and article thereof **Patent number:** 5328759 **Abstract:** Disclosed is a process of making an superabsorbent composite material which contains a hydraulically-needled fibrous web and superabsorbent materials. The method includes the steps of providing a nonwoven fibrous web; hydraulically needling the nonwoven web to enhance its liquid distribution properties; and introducing dry superabsorbent materials into intimate bonding contact with at least one surface of the hydraulically needled fibrous web. Also disclosed is the superabsorbent nonwoven composite material made by the described process. The hydraulically needled fibrous web component of the material may contain pulp fibers, synthetic fibers, natural fibers, bicomponent fibers, continuous filaments or mixtures thereof. The superabsorbent composite material has a saturation capacity greater than about 500 percent and a wicking rate greater than about 12 centimeters per 15 minutes. The superabsorbent composite material may be used as a liquid management material in an absorbent product or absorbent structure. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** November 1, 1991 **Date of Patent:** July 12, 1994 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Corporation **Inventors:** Ann L. McCormack, Fred R. Radwanski, Cherie H. Everhart * ###### High pulp content nonwoven composite fabric **Patent number:** 5284703 **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:** January 6, 1993 **Date of Patent:** February 8, 1994 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Corporation **Inventors:** Cherie H. Everhart, Danial O. Fischer, Fred R. Radwanski, Henry Skoog * ###### Hydraulically needled nonwoven pulp fiber web **Patent number:** 5137600 **Abstract:** A hydraulically needled nonwoven pulp fiber web is disclosed. This nonwoven pulp fiber web has a mean flow pore size ranging from about 18 to about 100 microns, and a Frazier porosity of at least about 100 cfm/ft.sup.2. The web may also be characterized by a specific volume ranging from about 8 to about 15 cm.sup.3 /g. The nonwoven pulp fiber web may contain a significant proportion of low-average fiber length pulp and still have a total absorptive capacity greater than about 500 percent and a wicking rate greater than about 2 centimeters per 15 seconds. The hydraulically needled nonwoven pulp fiber web may be used as a hand towel, wipe, or as a fluid distribution material in an absorbent personal care product. Also disclosed is a method of making the hydraulically needled nonwoven pulp fiber web. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** November 1, 1990 **Date of Patent:** August 11, 1992 **Assignee:** Kimberley-Clark Corporation **Inventors:** Harold K. Barnes, Ronald F. Cook, Cherie H. Everhart, Ann L. McCormack, Fred R. Radwanski, Paulette M. Rosch, Adrian J. Trevisan * ###### Nonwoven material subjected to hydraulic jet treatment in spots **Patent number:** 4970104 **Abstract:** Nonwoven materials, methods of forming the same, and apparatus for forming the same, are disclosed. The nonwoven materials include at least one nonwoven web, with the at least one web being bonded by entangle bonding in spots, such entangle bonding being provided by hydraulic entangling. As a specific embodiment, elastomeric laminates are formed, the at least one nonwoven web subjected to spot-entangle-bonding including an elastomeric web spot-entangle-bonded to another web so as to form an elastomeric laminate. By spot-entangle-bonding (jet treating) the webs, utilizing hydraulic entangling to provide the spot-entangle-bonds, conventional bonding methods need not be used, whereby good hand and drape properties can be retained after bonding, and the overall bulk of the material can be maintained, while providing a product that does not easily delaminate and that is stretchable and resilient. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** March 18, 1988 ... Preferred embodiments include those where the machine direction strength to cross machine direction grab tensile ratios in the range of from about 1:1 to 4:1 and the fibers or filaments are made from polypropylene. Other embodiments include webs and filter plugs containing additives distributed throughout the web. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** January 16, 1987 **Date of Patent:** October 9, 1990 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Corporation **Inventors:** Fred R. Radwanski, Donald F. Durocher, Leon E. Chambers, Jr., Loyd G. Kasbo, William F. Cartwright, Robert G. Geer, Edward P. Bullwinkel * ###### Nonwoven hydraulically entangled
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  5. 26Web page: Cherie H. Everhart Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search, patents.justia.com
    The dry bulk of the liquid saturant treated permeable sheet may be within about 15 percent of the dry bulk of an identical untreated permeable sheet. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** April 22, 1994 **Date of Patent:** January 23, 1996 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Corporation **Inventors:** Terry R. Cleveland, Cherie H. Everhart, Fred R. Radwanski, Henry Skoog * ###### Process for making a high pulp content nonwoven composite fabric **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 * ###### Process for making a hydraulically needled superabsorbent composite material and article thereof **Patent number:** 5328759 **Abstract:** Disclosed is a process of making an superabsorbent composite material which contains a hydraulically-needled fibrous web and superabsorbent materials. The method includes the steps of providing a nonwoven fibrous web; hydraulically needling the nonwoven web to enhance its liquid distribution properties; and introducing dry superabsorbent materials into intimate bonding contact with at least one surface of the hydraulically needled fibrous web. Also disclosed is the superabsorbent nonwoven composite material made by the described process. The hydraulically needled fibrous web component of the material may contain pulp fibers, synthetic fibers, natural fibers, bicomponent fibers, continuous filaments or mixtures thereof. The superabsorbent composite material has a saturation capacity greater than about 500 percent and a wicking rate greater than about 12 centimeters per 15 minutes. The superabsorbent composite material may be used as a liquid management material in an absorbent product or absorbent structure. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** November 1, 1991 **Date of Patent:** July 12, 1994 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Corporation **Inventors:** Ann L. McCormack, Fred R. Radwanski, Cherie H. Everhart * ###### High pulp content nonwoven composite fabric **Patent number:** 5284703 **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:** January 6, 1993 **Date of Patent:** February 8, 1994 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Corporation **Inventors:** Cherie H. Everhart, Danial O. Fischer, Fred R. Radwanski, Henry Skoog * ###### Hydraulically needled nonwoven pulp fiber web **Patent number:** 5137600 **Abstract:** A hydraulically needled nonwoven pulp fiber web is disclosed. This nonwoven pulp fiber web has a mean flow pore size ranging from about 18 to about 100 microns, and a Frazier porosity of at least about 100 cfm/ft.sup.2. The web may also be characterized by a specific volume ranging from about 8 to about 15 cm.sup.3 /g. The nonwoven pulp fiber web may contain a significant proportion of low-average fiber length pulp and still have a total absorptive capacity greater than about 500 percent and a wicking rate greater than about 2 centimeters per 15 seconds. The hydraulically needled nonwoven pulp fiber web may be used as a hand towel, wipe, or as a fluid distribution material in an absorbent personal care product. Also disclosed is a method of making the hydraulically needled nonwoven pulp fiber web. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** November 1, 1990 **Date of Patent:** August 11, 1992 **Assignee:** Kimberley-Clark Corporation **Inventors:** Harold K. Barnes, Ronald F. Cook, Cherie H. Everhart, Ann L. McCormack, Fred R. Radwanski, Paulette M. Rosch, Adrian J. Trevisan * ###### Hydraulically entangled nonwoven elastomeric web and method of forming the same **Patent number:** 4939016 **Abstract:** A composite nonwoven elastomeric web material, and method of forming such material, as well as a nonwoven elastomeric web material and method of forming such material, are disclosed. The composite web material is provided by hydraulically entangling a laminate of at least (1) a layer of meltblown fibers; and (2) at least one further layer, preferably of at least one of pulp fibers, staple fibers, meltblown fibers, and continuous filaments, with or without particulate material, with at least one of the layer of meltblown fibers and the further layer being elastic so as to form an elastic web material after hydraulic entanglement. The nonwoven elastomeric web material is provided by hydraulically entangling a layer of meltblown elastomeric fibers. The material formed can be cloth-like with smooth surfaces, and with isotropic elasticity and strength. Different texture properties, including a corrugated stretchable fabric, can be provided by pre-stretching and then hydraulically entangling while stretched. **Type:** Grant **Filed:** March 18, 1988 **Date of Patent:** July 3, 1990 **Assignee:** Kimberly-Clark Corporation **Inventors:** Fred R. Radwanski, Lloyd E. Trimble, Roland C. Smith, Cherie H. Everhart, Deborah A. Kimmitt * ###### Elastic nonwoven pad **Patent number:** 4801482 **Abstract:** An elastic pad which is elastic in at least one direction, includes an elastic sheet having at least one nonelastic nonwoven web joined thereto at least at two areas. The nonelastic web is gathered between the two areas. The sheet may be formed from a
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  6. 27Patent application: US5342335A - Nonwoven web of poly(vinyl alcohol) fibers - Google Patents, US 5,342,335 A
    # Nonwoven web of poly(vinyl alcohol) fibers ## US5342335A ### Description European Published Patent Application No. 0 176 316 A2 describes a nonwoven fabric of water-soluble resin fibers. The fabric consists of water-soluble resin fine fibers having a mean fiber diameter of 30 μm or less and a basis weight of 5 to 500 g/m ² . The fabric is produced by extruding an aqueous solution comprising a water-soluble resin or a melt of a water-soluble resin plasticized with water through nozzles, stretching the extruded material to form fibers by a high speed gas flow, heating the fibers to evaporate the water in the fibers, and then collecting the fibers. The water-soluble resins which can be used are stated to include poly (vinyl alcohol), although the application clearly is directed primarily to the use of pullulan, a natural glucan. The high speed gas flow typically consists of air at a temperature of from 20° C. to 60° C. and having a linear velocity of, e.g., 10 to 1,000 m/sec. Drying of the fibers is accomplished by banks of infrared heaters located on both sides of and parallel to the fiber stream. ... Such methods typically produce very short fibers and, consequently, differ significantly from the more traditional meltblowing or spunbonding processes which commonly are used to prepared nonwoven webs from molten thermoplastic polymers. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. ... Wente et al., "Manufacture of Superfine Organic Fibers" Navy Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. , NRL Report 4364 (111437), dated May 25, 1954, United States Department of Commerce, Office of Technical Services; and Robert R. Butin and Dwight T. Lohkamp, "Melt Blowing-A One-Step Web Process for New Nonwoven Products", Journal of the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, Vol. 56, No. 4, pp. 74-77 (1973). ... The first step (step A) of the method involves preparing an aqueous poly(vinyl alcohol) solution which comprises from about 10 to about 75 percent by weight of the polymer. Because the solubility of the polymer in water is inversely proportional to the polymer molecular weight, higher concentrations, i.e., concentrations above about 40 percent by weight, usually are practical only when polymer molecular weights are below about 100,000. ... The poly(vinyl alcohol) solution was prepared by mixing 20 parts of polymer, 80 parts of water, and 2 parts of a polyethylene glycol, PEG 400 (Union Carbide Corporation) for about five hours at 90°-110° C. in a glass reaction kettle. The resulting solution was deaerated before use. Extrusion of a poly(vinyl alcohol) solution was carried out at about 70° C. The primary gaseous source typically was heated compressed air humidified by the addition of atomized water droplets through the use of an "Oil Fog" lubricator or steam, although the latter most often was used. The relative humidity of the primary gaseous source was greater than 90 percent. The temperature of the primary gaseous source was approximately 55 ° C. ... The poly(vinyl alcohol) solution was prepared by heating 25 parts of polymer and 75 parts of water in a two-liter Buchi autoclave at 95°-100° C. with stirring at 200-1,000 rpm Optionally, PEG 400 was included in an amount ranging from about 10 percent to about 50 percent, based on the amount of poly (vinyl alcohol ) employed. ... ``` TABLE 2-1 ______________________________________ Summary of Solutions Extruded Solution Airvol ® Solution Composition (Parts) Number Number PVOH Water PEG-400 ______________________________________ 1 125 25 75 -- 2 125 25 72.5 2.5 3 523 25 75 -- 4 205 40 40 20 ______________________________________ ``` ... In order to prepare a coformed web, the procedure of Example 2 was repeated separately with solutions 2 and 3. A largely softwood pulp sheet (Coosa CR-54, manufactured by Kimberly-Clark Corporation at its Coosa Pines, Ala., Mill) was fiberized with a hammer mill and then blown with air at a velocity of 24 m/s through a rectangular duct having a depth of 2.5 cm. ... ### Patent Citations (75) US3755527A * 1969-10-09 1973-08-28 Exxon Research Engineering Co Process for producing melt blown nonwoven synthetic polymer mat having high tear resistance US3770856A * 1970-09-08 1973-11-06 Oji Yuka Goseishi Kk Production of fine fibrous structures ... US4100324A * 1974-03-26 1978-07-11 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Nonwoven fabric and method of producing same US4100319A * 1975-07-14 1978-07-11 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Stabilized nonwoven web ... US4627811A * 1984-01-19 1986-12-09 Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft Apparatus for producing a spunbond US4644045A * 1986-03-14 1987-02-17 Crown Zellerbach Corporation Method of making spunbonded webs from linear low density polyethylene ... US4526733A * 1982-11-17 1985-07-02 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Meltblown die and method US4622983A * 1983-08-08 1986-11-18 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Reduced ignition proclivity smoking article wrapper and smoking article ... ### Non-Patent Citations (8) Robert R. Butin and Dwight T. Lohkamp, "Melt Blowing--A One-Step Web Process for New Nonwoven Products", Journal of the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, vol. 56, No. 4, pp. 74-77 (1973). ... ### Cited By (66) US20030090020A1 * 2001-10-15 2003-05-15 Toshio Kobayashi Process for making fibrous web having inelastic extensibility US6576575B2 2000-05-15 2003-06-10 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Dispersible adherent article US6620503B2 2000-07-26 2003-09-16 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Synthetic fiber nonwoven web and method US6828014B2 2001-03-22 2004-12-07 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Water-dispersible, cationic polymers, a method of making same and items using same ... US6908966B2 2001-03-22 2005-06-21 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Water-dispersible, cationic polymers, a method of making same and items using same US20050136780A1 * 2003-12-17 2005-06-23 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Water dispersible, pre-saturated wiping products ... US12234431B2 2018-10-03 2025-02-25 The Procter & Gamble Company Water-soluble unit dose articles comprising water-soluble fibrous structures and particles CN119731382A * 2022-08-13 2025-03-28 阿夸派克Ip有限公司 Polyvinyl alcohol fibers and meltblown fiber products CN120077171A * 2022-08-13 2025-05-30 阿夸派克Ip有限公司 Polyvinyl alcohol fibers and spunbond fiber products ... US6001303A * 1997-12-19 1999-12-14 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Process of making fibers JP2002500282A * 1997-12-31 2002-01-08 キンバリー クラーク ワールドワイド インコーポレイテッド Nonwoven web of superabsorbent fibers and method of making same ... DE19963983A1 * 1999-12-31 2001-07-05 Ivo Edward Ruzek Flexible plastic fiber manufacturing process, involves extruding a solution based on water soluble PVAL polymer through a nozzle in an expansion chamber to effect fibrillation ... ### Legal Events 1997-04-21 AS Assignment **Owner name** : KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC., WISCONSIN **Free format text** : ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:008519/0919 **Effective date** : 19961130
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  7. 28Patent: US6576575B2 - Dispersible adherent article - Google Patents, US 6,576,575 B2
    An adherent article, such as a bandage or adhesive tape, having a nonwoven substrate that contains water soluble fibers is provided. The water soluble fibers of the nonwoven substrate can include polyvinyl alcohol fibers that only dissolve at temperatures greater than 37° C. and/or polyvinyl alcohol fibers that can dissolve at temperatures less than about 37° C. The adherent article also # Dispersible adherent article ## Abstract An adherent article, such as a bandage or adhesive tape, having a nonwoven substrate that contains water soluble fibers is provided. The water soluble fibers of the nonwoven substrate can include polyvinyl alcohol fibers that only dissolve at temperatures greater than 37° C. and/or polyvinyl alcohol fibers that can dissolve at temperatures less than about 37° C. ... ## US6576575B2 United States [Download PDF](https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/de/f5/10/bd84c0adae7776/US6576575.pdf) Find Prior Art Similar Inventor Henry L. Griesbach, III Julie R. Taylor Current Assignee O&M Halyard Inc Worldwide applications 2000 US 2001 WO AU MX ... ### Description In one embodiment, an article of the present invention includes a nonwoven substrate made from water soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers and a generally water insoluble, dispersible pressure-sensitive adhesive. In accordance with the present invention, any fibers known in the art to substantially dissolve in aqueous solutions at a certain temperature can generally be used as the water soluble fibers of the nonwoven substrate. For example, fibers that can substantially dissolve in an aqueous solution at temperatures below about 37° C., i.e., cold water soluble fibers, can generally be used in a nonwoven substrate of the present invention. In one embodiment, polyvinyl alcohol fibers that can dissolve in water at temperatures between about 20° C. to about 35° C., or greater, are employed. Moreover, fibers that can only substantially dissolve in an aqueous solution at temperatures greater than 37° C., i.e., hot water soluble fibers, can also be used. For example, in some embodiments, polyvinyl alcohol fibers that only dissolve at temperatures of at least 37° C. to about 50° C. ... For example in one embodiment, a substrate made from polyvinyl alcohol fibers can be applied with a pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive to form a skin bandage that, when contacted with substantial amounts of water, dissolves and/or disperses. In accordance with the present invention, an adherent article of the present invention includes at least one component that is soluble in water at certain temperatures. For instance, referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a bandage 10 is illustrated that contains a generally water soluble nonwoven substrate **12** . When substantially dry, such a nonwoven substrate **12** can provide increased dimensional stability and strength to the bandage **10** . In general, any material that is dissolvable in water can generally be used to form a nonwoven substrate of the present invention. For example, in some embodiments, the nonwoven substrate **12** can contain cold water soluble synthetic fibers. As used herein, “cold water soluble fibers” generally refers to fibers that can substantially dissolve in an aqueous solution at temperatures of less than about 37° C. ... Any synthetic fibers that can be substantially dissolved in an aqueous solution at temperatures of less than about 37° C. can generally be used in the present invention as the cold water soluble fibers. In one embodiment, the cold water soluble fibers are polyvinyl alcohol fibers. In particular, the cold water soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers can, in some instances, substantially dissolve in water at a temperature of at least about 20° C. to about 35° C. Commercially available polyvinyl alcohol fibers that are suitable for use as cold water soluble fibers in the present invention are Kuralon K-II fibers (Types WN2 or WJ2) staple fibers made by Kuraray Company, Ltd. (Japan). Other examples of suitable polyvinyl alcohol fibers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,251 to Jackson. et al., which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. In addition to cold water soluble synthetic fibers, the nonwoven substrate **12** can also contain hot water soluble synthetic fibers. As used herein, “hot water soluble fibers” generally refers fibers that substantially dissolve in an aqueous solution only at temperatures greater than 37° C. For instance, in some embodiments, the hot water soluble fibers only substantially dissolve in an aqueous solution at temperatures greater than about 50° C. Any fibers that can only be substantially dissolved in an aqueous solution at temperatures greater than 37° C. can generally be used in the present invention as the hot water soluble fibers. In one embodiment, the hot water soluble component is made from polyvinyl alcohol fibers. In one embodiment, for example, polyvinyl alcohol fibers are provided that dissolve in water at temperatures of at least 37° C. to about 50° C. One example of commercially available polyvinyl alcohol fibers that are soluble at about 50° C. are Kuralon K-II fibers (Types WN5) made by Kuraray Company, Ltd. (Japan). ... For example, in one embodiment, the nonwoven substrate **12** contains about 100% cold water soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers. In another embodiment, the nonwoven substrate **12** contains about 50% cold water soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers and 50% hot water soluble fibers. Moreover, in yet another embodiment, the nonwoven substrate **12** contains about 50% cold water soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers and 50% rayon fibers. ... For example, in one embodiment, the nonwoven substrate **12** is formed through a bonded carded process as is well-known in the art. For example, a web of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers may be formed by carding the fibers into a web. Although not required, the fibers can also be cross-layed (cross-lapped) in the machine direction and/or cross machine direction and thereafter thermal point bonded to achieve further strength. ... As a result of the present invention, the bandage **10** can generally be removed from a person's skin by using an aqueous solution, such as water from a shower, bath, faucet, etc. For example, when the bandage **10** contacts a sufficient amount of water, the water-soluble fibers within the substrate **12** substantially dissolve as described above. ... The ability of a bandage of the present invention to be dispersed with water was demonstrated. Various samples of bonded carded webs were made from water soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) staple fibers. Two types of polyvinyl alcohol fibers were used as the water soluble fibers for the samples, i.e., one being soluble in water at a temperature of at least 20° C. ... ### Claims (45) a nonwoven substrate having a first and second side, said nonwoven substrate comprising fibers that are soluble in an aqueous solution selected from the group consisting of cold water soluble fibers, hot water soluble fibers, and combinations thereof, wherein said fibers soluble in said aqueous solution comprise greater than about 50% by weight of said nonwoven substrate; and ... 2. An adherent article as defined in claim 1 , wherein said nonwoven substrate comprises cold water soluble fibers. 3. An adherent article as defined in claim 2 , wherein said cold water soluble fibers comprise polyvinyl alcohol fibers. 4. An adherent article as defined in claim 1 , wherein said nonwoven substrate comprises hot water soluble fibers. 5. An adherent article as defined in claim 4 , wherein said hot water soluble fibers comprise polyvinyl alcohol fibers. 6. An adherent article as defined in claim 2 , further comprising hot water soluble fibers. 7. An adherent article as defined in claim 1 , wherein said nonwoven substrate further comprises fibers that are generally non-soluble and dispersible in said aqueous solutions. ... a nonwoven subs
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  8. 29Web 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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  9. 44Paper: 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 hereReview: an oversized top over a narrower base resists liquid entry, even for very low-tension liquids.
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  10. 45Paper: Robust omniphobic surfaces, Tuteja et al.2008
    A. Tuteja, W. Choi, J. Mabry and 2 moreProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
    Surfaces possessing re-entrant texture facilitate extremely high apparent contact angles, even if theta > 90°, and are therefore necessary for developing superoleophobic surfaces.
    Why it’s hereShows overhanging texture gives very high apparent contact angles and is needed for oil-repelling surfaces.
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  11. 46Paper: Surface Structure and Wetting Characteristics of Collembola Cuticles, Gundersen et al.2014
    H. A. H. Gundersen, H. P. Leinaas and C. ThaulowPLoS ONE
    Overhanging structures were found in some, but not all Collembola species with superhydrophobic cuticles; which leads to the conclusion that there is no direct link between overhanging surface structures and superhydrophobicity in Collembola.
    Why it’s hereCaveat: overhangs occur in only some water-repelling springtail species.
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  12. 47Paper: Multifaceted design optimization for superomniphobic surfaces, Panter et al.2019
    J. R. Panter, Y. Gizaw and H. KusumaatmajaScience Advances
    We find that ΔPc is only dependent on the area fraction Fr and the pillar height Hr ... the doubly reentrant surface geometry is ideally situated to meet these challenges, as it is robust to pressure even for highly wetting or surfactant-contaminated liquids.
    Why it’s herePressure resistance of double-overhang surfaces set by area fraction and pillar height.
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  13. 48Paper: Client Challenge
    Key dimensions for doubly re-entrant pillars (D = 100 µm, H = 100 µm, S = 200 µm, to = 10 µm, δ = 10 µm) ... the vertical overhang provides a maximal suspension force compared to re-entrant or straight pillars.
    Why it’s hereVertical overhang gives the largest suspension force versus plain or singly overhanging pillars.
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  14. 49Paper: 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 hereIdentifies the edge lean-back angle as a critical parameter of overhanging texture.
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  15. 50Paper: Achieving Extreme Pressure Resistance to Liquids on a Super‐Omniphobic Surface with Armored Reentrants, Sun et al.2023
    P. Sun, Y. Jin, Y. Yin and 5 moreSmall Methods
    Two merits can be simultaneously realized by structuring surfaces at two size scales, with a micrometric reentrant structure providing static liquid repellency and a nanometric reentrant structure providing pressure resistance ... enduring the impact of low-surface-tension liquids under a high weber number (>400).
    Why it’s hereTwo-scale overhangs: coarse for static repellency, fine for pressure resistance.
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  16. 51Web page: Understanding superhydrophobic behaviors on hydrophilic materials: a thermodynamic approach, inis.iaea.org
    The wetting transition criterion was that sidewall angle should be less than intrinsic contact angle ... re-entrant structures were critical in the realization of microstructures alone inducing transition from hydrophilicity to superhydrophobicity.
    Why it’s hereThermodynamic criterion: overhanging sidewalls let water-attracting materials behave as water-repelling.
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  17. 52Paper: Estimation of liquid entry pressure in hydrophobic membranes using CFD tools, Yazgan-Birgi et al.2018
    P. Yazgan-Birgi, M. I. H. Ali and H. A. ArafatJournal of Membrane Science
    The Franken model, which is a widely used approach for LEP estimation... LEP is in Pa, B is the pore geometry factor, theta the intrinsic contact angle, gamma the liquid surface tension, and r the radius of the largest membrane pore.
    Why it’s hereStandard pore-geometry model for estimating liquid entry from largest pore radius.
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  18. 53Paper: Preparation of re-entrant and anti-fouling PVDF composite membrane with omniphobicity for membrane distillation, Zhang et al.2020
    W. Zhang, Y. Lu, J. Liu and 3 more
    fabricated by constructing a re-entrant composite structure via immobilizing silica nanoparticles (NPs) on the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane ... After surface modification, the liquid entry pressure (LEP) increased by 120% ... The modification process showed no effect on the pore size and pore structure.
    Why it’s hereSilica-particle overhangs on a membrane raised liquid entry 120% without changing pore size.
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  19. 54Paper: A low-temperature electroless route for in-situ growth of ZnO re-entrant nanostructures for scalable omniphobic hollow fiber membranes in wetting-resistant membrane distillation, Iqbal et al.2026
    R. M. Iqbal, S. Zhong, M. H. D. Othman and 5 moreJournal of Materials Science
    ZnO re-entrant nanostructures for scalable omniphobic hollow fiber membranes in wetting-resistant membrane distillation
    Why it’s hereOverhanging zinc oxide nanostructures on hollow-fibre membranes for wetting resistance.
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  20. 55Paper: Canthotaxis/Wetting Barriers/Pinning Lines, Langbein2002
    D. Langbein
    At a wetting barrier, the liquid surface winds from the contact angle with the better-wetting face to the contact angle with the worse-wetting face. This effect has been termed 'canthotaxis'. ... the length of the interval of canthotaxis (pinning interval) is proportional to the square of the angular interval in question.
    Why it’s hereClassical theory of liquid pinning at edges and wetting barriers.
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  21. 56Web page: Sacrificial Template Method (overview, ScienceDirect Topics), sciencedirect.com
    Sacrificial template method is the only strategy that is capable of generating pores smaller than 10 µm. This method produces porous structure with a strict control over the porosity level, pore size, and morphology.
    Why it’s hereOverview: dissolvable templates control pore size and shape below 10 µm.
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  22. 57Paper: Structure, performance, and technical applications of melt-blown materials: A review, Hao et al.2026
    X. Hao, G. Liu, S. Xie and 5 moreComposites Part B: Engineering
    Melt-blown (MB) materials are a class of microfibrous nonwovens that combine high porosity, small pore size, interconnected fibrous networks, and scalable solvent-free manufacturing.
    Why it’s hereReview of fine-fibre nonwovens: high porosity, small pores, scalable solvent-free production.
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  23. 58Paper: A 2D model for simulating heterogeneous mass and energy fluxes through melting snowpacks, Leroux & Pomeroy2016
    N. Leroux and J. Pomeroy
    the matric suction and water entry pressure for dry snow both decreased with larger grain (pore) size
    Why it’s hereSnowpack model: water entry pressure falls as grain (pore) size grows.
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  24. 59Web page: Spun-Bonded Polypropylene Nonwovens Market in the world, indexbox.io
    Standard commodity grades (basis weight 10–50 gsm, used in hygiene and wipes) traded in 2025 at approximately $1.80–$2.50 per kilogram in large-volume contracts.
    Why it’s hereCommodity hygiene spunbond grades traded at about $1.80–2.50 per kilogram in 2025.
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  25. 60Patent application: Water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol resin fiber and nonwoven fabrics made by using the same, EP 2 112 257 A12007
    Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co LtdInventors: M. Shibutani and N. Sakai
    A nonwoven fabric is also provided, which is produced by using the water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol resin filament. Therefore, the nonwoven fabric is excellent in water solubility at a lower temperature, and substantially free from bubbling during dissolution thereof in water.
    Why it’s hereWater-soluble PVA filament nonwoven dissolving cleanly at low temperature.
    Google Patents (opens in a new tab)PDFEspacenet
  26. 61Web page: Bombyx mori silk cocoons: structure, composition, and mechanical properties—a review, academic.oup.com
    the anisotropic, multilayered structure of the cocoon wall demonstrates a strategic gradation in porosity, fibre density, and mechanical stiffness from outer to inner layers, supporting a synergistic defence strategy.
    Why it’s hereSilk cocoon wall: graded, pigment-free fibrous wall as a natural layered nonwoven.
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  27. 62Paper: Easily splittable hollow segmented-pie microfiber nonwoven material with excellent filtration and thermal-wet comfort for energy savings, Duo et al.2022
    Y. Duo, X. Qian, B. Zhao and 5 moreJournal of Materials Research and Technology
    the impact of the high-pressure water jet will cause the segmented pie composite fibers on the fiber web surface rapidly split into a wedge-shaped structure and accumulate tightly, resulting in a dense 'protective layer'
    Why it’s hereHigh-pressure water jets densify the fibre-web surface into a tight layer.
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  28. 63Paper: SNICAR-ADv4: A physically based radiative transfer model to represent the spectral albedo of glacier ice, Whicker et al.2021
    C. Whicker, M. Flanner, C. Dang and 3 moreThe Cryosphere
    Snowpack is generally represented as a collection of independently scattering ice grains within an air medium. Snow radiative transfer models (RTMs) utilize the optical properties of ice, the snowpack properties (density, thickness, and ice grain size and shape)
    Why it’s hereSnow modelled as independent scattering grains in air, the basis for pigment-free opacity.
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  29. 64Paper: Preparation and Applications of Electrospun Optically Transparent Fibrous Membrane, Xiao et al.2021
    Y. Xiao, H. Luo, R. Tang and 1 morePolymers
    Transmittance falls as areal density rises; the web dense enough to be opaque is the web that is stiff and low-permeability.
    Why it’s hereFibre-membrane light transmission falls with areal density, tying opacity to density.
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  30. 65Web 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 water-head standard: two ramp rates give different results; support mesh must be reported.
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  31. 66Web page: ISO 9073-16:2007 - Textiles — Test methods for nonwovens — Part 16: Determination of resistance to penetration by water (hydrostatic pressure), iso.org
    ISO 9073-16:2007 describes the hydrostatic pressure test that measures the resistance of nonwoven fabrics to the penetration of water under varied hydrostatic head pressures.
    Why it’s hereStandard hydrostatic pressure test for nonwovens, limited to water.
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  32. 67Web page: Critical Surface Tension and Contact Angle with Water for Various Polymers (sort by contact angle), accudynetest.com
    This table compares critical surface tension to contact angle with water for a variety of polymers.
    Why it’s hereTable of polymer wettability values used in the pressure arithmetic.
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  33. 68Web page: Non Woven Fabric Price Trend 2026, Forecast, News, Chart, expertmarketresearch.com
    Global non woven fabric prices tracked close to the USD 1.74 to USD 1.92 per KG range projected for 2026.
    Why it’s hereNonwoven price trend near $1.74–1.92 per kilogram for 2026, used in cost estimate.
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  34. 69Web 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 with its specimen size and self-support requirement.
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  35. 70Paper: Hydroentanglement of polymer nonwovens. 1: Experimental and theoretical/numerical framework, Li et al.2019
    G. Li, C. Staszel, A. L. Yarin and 1 more
    The subsequent mechanical performance and physical integrity of hydroentangled fibrous nonwovens strongly relies on the fiber-to-fiber friction.
    Why it’s hereHydroentangled web integrity relies on fibre-to-fibre friction rather than bonds.
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  36. 71Patent application: Nonwoven material, use of the nonwoven material, and wiping cloth, dryer sheet and face mask containing the nonwoven material, US 2024/0068140 A12023
    Lenzing AGInventors: K. Gregorich and M. Einzmann
    The molded bodies are regenerated cellulosic molded bodies ... materially interconnected via node points. ... opacity [%]=100%−light transmittance [%].
    Why it’s hereNonwoven patent defining opacity from light transmittance for cellulose webs.
    Google Patents (opens in a new tab)PDFEspacenet
  37. 72Paper: SNICAR-ADv4: a physically based radiative transfer model to represent the spectral albedo of glacier ice, Whicker et al.2022
    C. A. Whicker, M. G. Flanner, C. Dang and 3 moreThe Cryosphere
    Snowpack is generally represented as a collection of independently scattering ice grains within an air medium. Snow radiative transfer models ... utilize ... density, thickness, and ice grain size and shape.
    Why it’s hereRadiative-transfer model treating snow as scattering grains in air, supporting interface-based opacity.
    Open source (opens in a new tab)
  38. 73Paper: Theoretical and experimental approaches of liquid entry pressure determination in membrane distillation processes, Racz et al.2014
    G. Racz, S. Kerker, Z. Kovács and 3 more
    LEP = B·γ_L·cos θ / r_max; the authors note real electrospun webs have very irregularly shaped, highly interconnected pore spaces and infer pore size by equating measured LEP rather than predicting it from geometry.
    Why it’s hereCapillary entry model set by surface tension, wettability and largest pore radius.
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  39. 74Paper: The effect of hydrophobization of PA6 nanofiber layers with fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon finishes on physiological comfort properties, Knížek et al.2025
    R. Knížek, D. Lubasova and V. BajzíkJournal of Industrial Textiles
    Ruco-Dry ECO Plus achieving a maximum hydrostatic pressure resistance of 7360 ± 470 mm H₂O. Contact angle measurements averaged ∼130° across all treated samples.
    Why it’s hereNanofibre layers treated with fluorinated or fluorine-free water repellents reached up to 7360 mm water head.
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  40. 75Paper: 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 times more wetback than saline on the same textile.
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  41. 76Web page: A Mechanistic Study of Liquid Entry Pressure Estimation for Hydrophobic Membranes: Values and Operating Conditions by Minsu Pyo, Dongyeon Kim, Hyungsoo Kim, Sanghyun Jeong, Euijong Lee, papers.ssrn.com
    A rapid increase in pressure leads to higher LEP values and increased deviation. ... the LEP measurement condition was set as a 0.1 bar pressure increment lasting for 5 min.
    Why it’s hereStepped 0.1 bar increments held 5 minutes, since fast ramps inflate readings.
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  42. 77Patent application: Mechanical and internal softening for nonwoven web, US 5,770,531 A1996
    Kimberly Clark Worldwide IncInventors: G. T. Sudduth and A. Yahiaoui
    An absolute cup crush load value of about 70 grams or less is considered desirably soft for the purposes of this invention.
    Why it’s hereOlder softness benchmark: cup crush of about 70 g or less counted as soft.
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  43. 78Web page: Standard Test Method for Air Permeability of Textile Fabrics, astm.org
    Standard Test Method for Air Permeability of Textile Fabrics, ASTM Committee D13.
    Why it’s hereStandard air permeability test for textile fabrics.
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  44. 79Paper: Fiber Selection for Reinforced Additive Manufacturing, Beckman et al.2021
    I. P. Beckman, C. M. Lozano, E. Freeman and 1 morePolymers
    Fiber flexural rigidity ∝ d⁴; bonding adds a torsion term to web bending rigidity; frictional sound correlates with friction, roughness, shear and bending rigidity.
    Why it’s hereFibre bending stiffness scales with diameter to the fourth power; bonding adds stiffness.
    Open source (opens in a new tab)PDF
  45. 80Web page: ECHA — RAC opinion on the Annex XV dossier proposing restrictions on PFAS (adopted 2 March 2026), echa.europa.eu
    Opinion adopted in accordance with Article 70 of the REACH Regulation on 2 March 2026; sector-specific evaluations include textiles, upholstery, leather, apparel, carpets (TULAC).
    Why it’s hereEU PFAS restriction opinion naming textiles, making fluorinated finishes fragile.
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  46. 81Web page: PFAS Restriction: the RAC final and SEAC draft opinions and next steps, fluorocarbons.org
    SEAC has published its draft opinion which is subject to a 60-day consultation process concluded on 25 May 2026.
    Why it’s hereStatus of the EU PFAS restriction committee opinions and consultation.
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  47. 82Patent: Dark-tinted nonwoven webs, US 12,042,3642020
    Procter and Gamble CoInventors: N. S. Wimalasena
    Dark-tinted nonwoven webs of the present disclosure may have a Hydrohead Value of between about 15 mbar and about 50 mbar.
    Why it’s hereDark-tinted nonwoven webs with water head of only about 15–50 mbar.
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  48. 83Patent: Absorbent article with a channel-forming area and a masking layer, US 12,004,934 B22021
    Procter and Gamble CoInventors: E. G. BIANCHI, M. K. Hippe, A. Chatterjee and 4 more
    A separate masking layer between the absorbent core and a liquid-impermeable backsheet, opacity ≥~25%, air permeability >150 m³/m²/min, caliper 0.1–2.0 mm, 25–100 gsm.
    Why it’s hereStain masking done by a separate layer beside a liquid-impermeable backsheet.
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  49. 84Web page: ECHAs update on the REACH restriction on PFAS, efsa.europa.eu
    RAC adopted opinion 2 March; SEAC agreed draft opinion 10 March; SEAC final opinion by end 2026. Covers full scope of the proposal.
    Why it’s hereTimeline update: final EU PFAS committee opinion expected by end of 2026.
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