A disposable cellulosic wiper includes a percentage by weight of pulp-derived papermaking fibers, and from about 10% to about 75% by weight of fibrillated regenerated independent cellulosic microfibers having a number average diameter of less than about 2 microns and a characteristic Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF) value of less than 175 ml.

A method of cleaning residue from a surface. A disposable cellulosic wiper is provided that includes a percentage by weight of pulp-derived papermaking fibers, and from about 10% to about 75% by weight of fibrillated regenerated independent cellulosic microfibers having a characteristic Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF) value of less than 175 ml and having a weight average diameter of less than about 2 microns. The wiper is applied, with a predetermined amount of pressure, to a residue-bearing surface. The surface is wiped with the applied wiper, while applying the predetermined amount of pressure, to remove residue from the surface, such that the surface has less than 1 g/m.sup.2 of residue after being wiped under the predetermined amount of pressure with the applied wiper.

A method of cleaning residue from a surface. A disposable cellulosic wiper is provided that includes a percentage by weight of pulp-derived papermaking fibers, and from about 10% to about 75% by weight of fibrillated regenerated independent cellulosic microfibers having a characteristic Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF) value of less than 175 ml and having a weight average diameter of less than about 2 microns. The wiper is applied, with a predetermined amount of pressure, to a residue-bearing surface. The surface is wiped with the applied wiper, while applying the predetermined amount of pressure, to remove residue from the surface, such that the surface has less than 1 g/m.sup.2 of residue after being wiped under the predetermined amount of pressure with the applied wiper.

A lightweight digital printing medium has a basis weight of less than 100 grams per square meter and includes a base paper. The base paper includes a fiber mixture of hardwood pulp and softwood pulp where at least 5% by weight of total fiber in the fiber mixture is bleached, chemi-thermo-mechanical pulp. An internal sizing agent for neutral or alkaline conditions and a wet-strength agent that is a thermosetting resin are mixed with the fiber mixture. An amount of the wet-strength agent added to the fiber mixture is at least 0.1% total dry weight of the base paper.

The paper material includes a base support having a mixture of cellulose fibres and other natural and/or synthetic fibres, at least one polymeric substance adapted to impart to the fibre mixture mechanical resistance, water resistance and a functional barrier to water, fats and oils, and an inorganic filler. The base support has at least one surface coat at least having an adhesive, transition metal complexes, isothiazolone-based compounds and inorganic pigments imparting barrier properties towards water, fats and oils, a metallic or matt appearance, and a virucidal and biocidal effect.

The paper material includes a base support having a mixture of cellulose fibres and other natural and/or synthetic fibres, at least one polymeric substance adapted to impart to the fibre mixture mechanical resistance, water resistance and a functional barrier to water, fats and oils, and an inorganic filler. The base support has at least one surface coat at least having an adhesive, transition metal complexes, isothiazolone-based compounds and inorganic pigments imparting barrier properties towards water, fats and oils, a metallic or matt appearance, and a virucidal and biocidal effect.

Methods for improving one or more surface properties of a sheet of paper or paperboard, which method comprises (a) coating at least one side of the sheet of paper or paperboard with a dispersion having a cationic zeta potential formed by combining (1) a mixture containing one or more anionic pigments with (2) one or more polyamine-epihalohydrin cationic wet strength resins at a coating weight of from about 0.1 g/m.sup.2 to about 20 g/m.sup.2; (b) drying the coated sheet of paper or paperboard; (c) applying a functional barrier top coating that resists one or more of the following: liquid water, water vapor, gas permeability, oil and grease, slip, and static or an anionic latex based pigment coating that imparts improved opacity, brightness, or printability. The invention also includes the dispersions as well as paper or paperboard coated with the dispersion.

Methods for improving one or more surface properties of a sheet of paper or paperboard, which method comprises (a) coating at least one side of the sheet of paper or paperboard with a dispersion having a cationic zeta potential formed by combining (1) a mixture containing one or more anionic pigments with (2) one or more polyamine-epihalohydrin cationic wet strength resins at a coating weight of from about 0.1 g/m.sup.2 to about 20 g/m.sup.2; (b) drying the coated sheet of paper or paperboard; (c) applying a functional barrier top coating that resists one or more of the following: liquid water, water vapor, gas permeability, oil and grease, slip, and static or an anionic latex based pigment coating that imparts improved opacity, brightness, or printability. The invention also includes the dispersions as well as paper or paperboard coated with the dispersion.

Absorbent materials and methods for making absorbent materials are provided. The absorbent material comprises cellulose fibers and a wet strength agent. The cellulose fibers comprise softwood fibers and hardwood fibers having a weight ratio of softwood fibers to hardwood fibers from about 82 to about 18 to about 97 to about 3. The absorbent material has excellent tensile strength properties. The absorbent material can be particularly useful as an absorbent material in food trays, especially food trays for fresh produce such as meat, fish and berries.

Absorbent materials and methods for making absorbent materials are provided. The absorbent material comprises cellulose fibers and a wet strength agent. The cellulose fibers comprise softwood fibers and hardwood fibers having a weight ratio of softwood fibers to hardwood fibers from about 82 to about 18 to about 97 to about 3. The absorbent material has excellent tensile strength properties. The absorbent material can be particularly useful as an absorbent material in food trays, especially food trays for fresh produce such as meat, fish and berries.