Contoured articles formed in a mold from a fiber slurry are provided. The articles comprise a blend of cellulose fibers and cellulose ester, such as cellulose ester staple fibers. The articles are suitable in a wide array of end uses, including as cups, lids, boxes or pouches, storage containers, trays, plates, food trays, cutlery, coffee cups, coffee cup lid, packaging, bowls, clam shells, bottle caps, straws, covers, and packaging inserts.

Absorbent wet laid products are made containing cellulose fibers and cellulose ester staple fibers that are co-refined to obtain products and articles that have improved water absorbency and tensile strength or burst strength or both. The absorbent wet laid products can now be made with a synthetic fiber in the wet laid operation since cellulose ester can be subjected to a refining operation.

Absorbent wet laid products are made containing cellulose fibers and cellulose ester staple fibers that are co-refined to obtain products and articles that have improved water absorbency and tensile strength or burst strength or both. The absorbent wet laid products can now be made with a synthetic fiber in the wet laid operation since cellulose ester can be subjected to a refining operation.

The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of thermoplastic fibrous materials comprising forming at least one foamed liquid comprising water and at least one foaming agent, forming a dispersion by dispersing fibers including long fibers in said at least one foamed liquid comprising water and at least one foaming agent, mixing the dispersion with a foamable liquid or dispersion comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer, forming at least one foamed dispersion, and conveying the foamed dispersion or dispersions to a foraminous support and draining liquid trough the foraminous support to form a web or a sheet, to obtain the thermoplastic fibrous material. The invention also relates to materials and products obtainable by the method, and uses related thereto.

The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of thermoplastic fibrous materials comprising forming at least one foamed liquid comprising water and at least one foaming agent, forming a dispersion by dispersing fibers including long fibers in said at least one foamed liquid comprising water and at least one foaming agent, mixing the dispersion with a foamable liquid or dispersion comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer, forming at least one foamed dispersion, and conveying the foamed dispersion or dispersions to a foraminous support and draining liquid trough the foraminous support to form a web or a sheet, to obtain the thermoplastic fibrous material. The invention also relates to materials and products obtainable by the method, and uses related thereto.

A material comprising a fine fiber pulp is provided. The fine fiber pulp has a plurality of fine fibers have an average diameter of less than 1 micron and an average length of less than 1 millimeter. In embodiments, the fine fibers formed of a polymer. The material can be created according to a method in which the fine fiber strands are formed from a polymer melt or a polymer solution, the fine fiber strands are cooled to a temperature of less than −25° C. to increase brittleness of the fine fibers, and the fine fiber strands are granulated into the fine fiber pulp.

A material comprising a fine fiber pulp is provided. The fine fiber pulp has a plurality of fine fibers have an average diameter of less than 1 micron and an average length of less than 1 millimeter. In embodiments, the fine fibers formed of a polymer. The material can be created according to a method in which the fine fiber strands are formed from a polymer melt or a polymer solution, the fine fiber strands are cooled to a temperature of less than −25° C. to increase brittleness of the fine fibers, and the fine fiber strands are granulated into the fine fiber pulp.

The present invention relates to ultrasonic welding of compositions, and wet laid articles made from the compositions, containing cellulose fibers and cellulose ester fibers, as well as wet laid processes using the compositions. More specifically, the present invention relates to a wet laid nonwoven comprising cellulose and cellulose ester fibers. The wet laid nonwoven is bonded to itself and/or to other substrates, and this bonding is accomplished at least in part by ultrasonic welding.

The present invention relates to ultrasonic welding of compositions, and wet laid articles made from the compositions, containing cellulose fibers and cellulose ester fibers, as well as wet laid processes using the compositions. More specifically, the present invention relates to a wet laid nonwoven comprising cellulose and cellulose ester fibers. The wet laid nonwoven is bonded to itself and/or to other substrates, and this bonding is accomplished at least in part by ultrasonic welding.

The present invention relates to ultrasonic welding of compositions, and wet laid articles made from the compositions, containing cellulose fibers and cellulose ester fibers, as well as wet laid processes using the compositions. More specifically, the present invention relates to a wet laid nonwoven comprising cellulose and cellulose ester fibers. The wet laid nonwoven is bonded to itself and/or to other substrates, and this bonding is accomplished at least in part by ultrasonic welding.