An insulating (nonconductive) microporous polymeric battery separator comprised of a single layer of enmeshed microfibers and nanofibers is provided. Such a separator accords the ability to attune the porosity and pore size to any desired level through a single nonwoven fabric. Through a proper selection of materials as well as production processes, the resultant battery separator exhibits isotropic strengths, low shrinkage, high wettability levels, and pore sizes related directly to layer thickness. The overall production method is highly efficient and yields a combination of polymeric nanofibers within a polymeric microfiber matrix and/or onto such a substrate through high shear processing that is cost effective as well. The separator, a battery including such a separator, the method of manufacturing such a separator, and the method of utilizing such a separator within a battery device, are all encompassed within this invention.

A process for the production of paper, board, and cardboard is disclosed. The process results in improved drainage and comprises adding to the wet end of a paper machine (a) microfibrillated cellulose and (b) a coadditive. The coadditive can be one or more of (1) a cationic aqueous dispersion polymer, (2) colloidal silica, (3) bentonite clay and (4) vinylamine-containing polymers or combinations thereof.

A process for the production of paper, board, and cardboard is disclosed. The process results in improved drainage and comprises adding to the wet end of a paper machine (a) microfibrillated cellulose and (b) a coadditive. The coadditive can be one or more of (1) a cationic aqueous dispersion polymer, (2) colloidal silica, (3) bentonite clay and (4) vinylamine-containing polymers or combinations thereof.

A chemically modified cellulosic fibre or filament having a moisture content of at least 7% by weight obtained by a process comprising the steps of (i) obtaining cellulosic fibres or filament and chemically modifying the cellulose by substitution to increase its absorbency; (ii) washing the fibres after step (i) in a mixture comprising water and up to 99% by weight of water-miscible organic solvent; (iii) drying the fibres to a moisture content of at least 7% by weight.

A chemically modified cellulosic fibre or filament having a moisture content of at least 7% by weight obtained by a process comprising the steps of (i) obtaining cellulosic fibres or filament and chemically modifying the cellulose by substitution to increase its absorbency; (ii) washing the fibres after step (i) in a mixture comprising water and up to 99% by weight of water-miscible organic solvent; (iii) drying the fibres to a moisture content of at least 7% by weight.

A method of producing a fibrous web, according to which method a fibrous web is formed of foamed fibre dispersion, by using foam forming. According to the present invention, the foamed fibre dispersion comprises recycled textile fibres and possibly natural fibres or synthetic fibres, or a mixture thereof, in which case, of the fibres in the fibre layer, at least 30% % by weight, in particular at least 50% by weight, is sourced from recycled textile fibres. The present invention generates a product with which it is possible to replace, for example, plastic in bag and package applications. The present product is also suitable, for example, for various textile and furniture applications.

A method of producing a fibrous web, according to which method a fibrous web is formed of foamed fibre dispersion, by using foam forming. According to the present invention, the foamed fibre dispersion comprises recycled textile fibres and possibly natural fibres or synthetic fibres, or a mixture thereof, in which case, of the fibres in the fibre layer, at least 30% % by weight, in particular at least 50% by weight, is sourced from recycled textile fibres. The present invention generates a product with which it is possible to replace, for example, plastic in bag and package applications. The present product is also suitable, for example, for various textile and furniture applications.

A process for making an absorbent towel paper web is provided. The process steps include a) providing a papermaking furnish, b) forming a differential density wet fibrous web from the paper making furnish; and, c) drying the differential density wet fibrous web until fibrous web contains not more than about 10% by weight moisture to form the absorbent towel paper web. Step a) provides the steps of providing: i) from about 20.1% to about 99.9% by weight of a softwood pulp fiber mixture and, ii) from greater than 0% to about 79.9% by weight of a hardwood pulp fiber mixture. Step i) further provides the steps of providing u) from about 20% to about 99.8% by weight of softwood pulp fiber, v) from about 0.05% to about 20% by weight of cellulose nano-filaments, and, w) from about 0.05% to about 5.0% by weight of strengthening additive.

A process for making an absorbent towel paper web is provided. The process steps include a) providing a papermaking furnish, b) forming a differential density wet fibrous web from the paper making furnish; and, c) drying the differential density wet fibrous web until fibrous web contains not more than about 10% by weight moisture to form the absorbent towel paper web. Step a) provides the steps of providing: i) from about 20.1% to about 99.9% by weight of a softwood pulp fiber mixture and, ii) from greater than 0% to about 79.9% by weight of a hardwood pulp fiber mixture. Step i) further provides the steps of providing u) from about 20% to about 99.8% by weight of softwood pulp fiber, v) from about 0.05% to about 20% by weight of cellulose nano-filaments, and, w) from about 0.05% to about 5.0% by weight of strengthening additive.

A differential density absorbent towel paper web having from about 45% to about 90% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the differential density absorbent towel paper web of a softwood pulp fiber mixture and from about 10% to about 55% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the differential density absorbent towel paper web of a hardwood pulp fiber mixture is provided. The softwood pulp fiber mixture has: 1) from about 20.0% to about 88.5% by weight of the dry fiber basis of softwood pulp fiber; and, 2) from about 0.05% to about 5.0% by weight of the dry fiber basis of strengthening additive. The hardwood pulp fiber mixture has: 1) from about 9.9% to about 54.9% by weight of the dry fiber basis of hardwood pulp fibers; and, 2) from about 0.05% to about 20.0% by weight of the dry fiber basis of cellulose nano-filaments.