Vegetable paper comprising bast fibres and cosmetic products made thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a vegetable paper comprising bast fibres, characterized in that the amount of bast fibres is at least 40% by weight of dry matter of the vegetable paper, and the bast fibres have a length-weighted average length of from 1 mm to 12 mm, and cosmetic products comprising the vegetable paper.

Claims

1. A vegetable paper comprising a mixture of bast fibres and cellulose fibres, wherein the amount of bast fibres is at least 40% by weight of dry matter of the vegetable paper, the amount of cellulose fibres is at least 10% by weight of dry matter of the vegetable paper, and the bast fibres have a length-weighted average length of from 1 mm to 12 mm, the mixture of bast fibres and cellulose fibres has a degree of refinement from 5° SR to 50° SR, wherein ° SR stands for Schopper-Riegler, and wherein the basis weight of the vegetable paper is from 15 g/m.sup.2 to 70 g/m.sup.2.

2. The vegetable paper according to claim 1, wherein the bast fibres are selected from hemp fibre, Indian hemp fibre, jute fibre, kenaf fibre, kudzu fibre, Dalbergia ecastaphyllum fibre, flax fibre, okra fibre, nettle fibre, papyrus fibre, ramie fibre, sisal fibre, esparto fibre, and mixtures thereof.

3. The vegetable paper according to claim 1, wherein the bast fibres have undergone extraction in a solvent.

4. The vegetable paper according to claim 1, wherein the cellulose fibres are selected from wood pulp, lyocell fibres, viscose fibres, cellulose acetate fibres, and mixtures thereof.

5. The vegetable paper according to claim 4, wherein the amount of lyocell fibres is from 10% to 40% by weight of dry matter of the vegetable paper.

6. The vegetable paper according to claim 4, wherein the amount of wood pulp is from 10% to 40% by weight of dry matter of the vegetable paper.

7. The vegetable paper according to claim 1 further comprising an additive selected from a wet strength agent, a dry strength agent, a softening agent, a lotion composition, a wetting agent, latex, a cannabinoid, and mixtures thereof.

8. The vegetable paper according to claim 7 wherein the additive is a cannabinoid.

9. The vegetable paper according to claim 7, wherein the amount of additive is less than 3% by weight of dry matter of the vegetable paper.

10. A hybrid paper comprising the vegetable paper as defined in claim 1 and a second paper, said second paper being a spunbound support or being manufactured via a wet laid process, a drylaid carded process using long artificial fibres, long natural fibres, cellulose fibres, and mixtures thereof, or an airlaid process using long artificial fibres, long natural fibres, cellulose fibres, and mixtures thereof.

11. A cosmetic product comprising the vegetable paper as defined in claim 1.

12. The cosmetic product according to claim 11 wherein the cosmetic product is a cosmetic mask, an eye patch, a body envelope, or a wipe.

13. The cosmetic product according to claim 11 further comprising an active principle chosen from sebum regulators, antimicrobial agents, antibacterial agents, matt-effect agents, astringents, acidifying agents, cicatrizing agents, exfoliants or kerato-regulating agents, occlusive agents, protective agents, disinfectants, emollients, nourishing agents, moisturizers, anti-ageing agents, calmatives, decongestants or veinotonic agents, occlusive agents, UV-screening agents, humectants, hygroscopic agents, gelling agents, exfoliants, anti-free radical, cell-regenerating or cell-stimulating agents, firming agents, tautening agents, anti-glycation agents, lightening agents, and mixtures thereof.

14. A wipe comprising the vegetable paper as defined in claim 1.

15. A hygiene paper comprising the vegetable paper as defined in claim 1.

16. An absorbent paper comprising the vegetable paper as defined in claim 1.

17. A process for manufacturing a vegetable paper as defined in claim 1 via a wet route.

18. The process according to claim 17 comprising the following steps: a) mixing bast fibres with a solvent to extract all or some of the bast fibre compounds that are soluble in the solvent, b) separating of the bast fibres from the soluble compounds to obtain the bast fibres which have undergone extraction in a solvent, c) forming the vegetable paper via a wet process using the bast fibres which have undergone extraction in a solvent.

19. Process according to claim 17, wherein the vegetable paper undergoes an additional hydroentanglement treatment.

20. The vegetable paper according to claim 1, wherein the amount of cellulose fibres is at least 20% by weight of dry matter of the vegetable paper.

Description

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Vegetable Paper with Flax Fibres

Example 1-1: Vegetable Paper with Flax Fibres, Tencel Fibres and Södra Blue, the Vegetable Paper Having a Basis Weight of 50 g/m.SUP.2 .and the Fibre Mixture Having a Schopper-Riegler Degree of 12° SR

(1) A vegetable paper comprising 50% of flax fibres, 30% of glossy Tencel® lyocell fibres of 6 mm and 1.7 dTex available from Lenzing AG, 20% of Södra blue 85Z wood pulp refined to 53° SR available from Södra, and 1.5% of Kymene GHP20 BF (a wet strength agent) available from Solenis was manufactured. The percentages are expressed on a weight basis relative to the weight of the dry matter of the vegetable paper.

(2) The flax fibres have a length-weighted average length of from 1.95 mm to 2.05 mm. The flax fibres were mixed with water at 70° C.±10° C. for 50 minutes. The mixture then undergoes a step of extraction in a screw press to separate the flax fibres from the aqueous part comprising the flax fibre compounds that are water-soluble.

(3) The Södra blue 85Z was refined for 25 minutes in a 24″ offline refiner with a power set point of 170 kW.

(4) The flax fibres which have undergone the extraction in water are mixed with the Tencell® fibres and with the refined Södra blue to form a fibre mixture. This fibre mixture is then mixed with water to form a pulp. This pulp then passes onto an inclined wire paper-making machine to manufacture the vegetable paper.

Example 1-2: Vegetable Paper with Flax Fibres, Tencel Fibres and Södra Blue, the Vegetable Paper Having a Basis Weight of 50 g/m.SUP.2 .and the Fibre Mixture Having a Schopper-Riegler Degree of 13° SR

(5) The vegetable paper of Example 1-2 is manufactured in a similar manner to the vegetable paper of Example 1-1. The only difference is that the fibre mixture is refined using a 14″ online refiner with a power set point of 40 kW before passing onto the inclined wire paper-making machine to obtain the vegetable paper.

(6) This refining step makes it possible to increase the Schopper-Riegler degree of the fibre mixture.

Example 1-3: Vegetable Paper with Flax Fibres, Tencel Fibres and Södra Blue, the Vegetable Paper Having a Basis Weight of 45 g/m.SUP.2 .and the Fibre Mixture Having a Schopper-Riegler Degree of 13° SR

(7) The vegetable paper of Example 1-3 is manufactured in a similar manner to the vegetable paper of Example 1-2, the only difference being the basis weight of the vegetable paper of Example 1-3. A person skilled in the art knows how to adapt the wet-route paper manufacturing process to vary the basis weight of the vegetable paper.

Example 1-4: Vegetable Paper with Flax Fibres, Tencell Fibres and Södra Blue, the Vegetable Paper Having a Basis Weight of 50 g/m.SUP.2 .and the Fibre Mixture Having a Schopper-Riegler Degree of 13° SR

(8) A vegetable paper comprising 50% of flax fibres of 2 mm, 20% of glossy Tencell® fibres of 6 mm and 1.7 dTex, 30% of Södra blue 85Z refined to 61° SR and 1.5% of Kymene GHP20 BF (a wet strength agent) was manufactured via a wet route. The percentages are expressed on a weight basis relative to the weight of the dry matter of the vegetable paper.

(9) 90% by number of the flax fibres have a length of from 1.95 mm to 2.05 mm. The flax fibres were mixed with water at 70° C.±10° C. for 45 minutes on average. The mixture then undergoes a step of extraction in a hydraulic press to separate the flax fibres from the aqueous part comprising the water-soluble flax fibre compounds.

(10) The Södra blue 85Z was refined for 30 minutes in a 24″ refiner with a power set point power of 170 kW.

(11) The flax fibres which have undergone extraction in water are mixed with the Tencell® fibres, the refined Södra blue and water to form a pulp. This pulp then passes onto an inclined wire paper-making machine to obtain the vegetable paper.

Example 1-5: Vegetable Paper with Flax Fibres, Tencel Fibres and Södra Blue, the Vegetable Paper Having a Basis Weight of 45 g/m.SUP.2 .and the Fibre Mixture Having a Schopper-Riegler Degree of 13° SR

(12) The vegetable paper of Example 1-5 is obtained in a similar manner to the vegetable paper of Example 1-4, the only difference being the basis weight of the vegetable paper of Example 1-5. A person skilled in the art knows how to adapt the wet-route paper manufacturing process to vary the basis weight of the vegetable paper.

(13) The vegetable papers of Examples 1-1 to 1-5 are summarized in Table 1 below:

(14) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Example 1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4 1-5 Composition 50% flax fibres, 50% flax fibres, 30% glossy Tencel 6 mm 20% glossy Tencel 1.7 dTex, 6 mm 1.7 dTex, 20% of Södra Blue 85Z, 30% of Södra Blue 85Z, 1.5% Kymene GHP20 BF 1.5% Kymene GHP20 BF Basis weight 50 g/m.sup.2 50 g/m.sup.2 45 g/m.sup.2 50 g/m.sup.2 45 g/m.sup.2 ° SR 53º SR 61° SR Södra Blue 85Z ° SR 12° SR 13° SR 13° SR 13° SR 13° SR fibre mixture

Example 2: Vegetable Paper with Hemp Fibres

Example 2-1: Vegetable Paper with Hemp Fibres, Tencell Fibres and Södra Blue, the Vegetable Paper Having a Basis Weight of 60 g/m.SUP.2

(15) A vegetable paper comprising 50% of hemp fibres of 2 mm, 30% of glossy Tencell® fibres of 6 mm and 1.7 dTex, 20% of Södra blue 85Z refined to 37° SR and 1.5% of Kymene GHP20 BF (a wet strength agent) was manufactured via a wet route. The percentages are expressed on a weight basis relative to the weight of the dry matter of the vegetable paper.

(16) The hemp fibres have a length-weighted average length of from 1.95 mm to 2.05 mm. The hemp fibres were mixed with water at 85° C.±5° C. for 45 minutes. The mixture then undergoes a step of mechanical extraction to separate the hemp fibres from the aqueous part comprising the water-soluble hemp fibre compounds.

(17) The hemp fibres which have undergone the extraction in water are mixed with the Tencel® fibres and the refined Södra blue 85Z to form a fibre mixture. This fibre mixture is then mixed with water to form a pulp. This pulp then passes onto an inclined wire paper-making machine to obtain the vegetable paper.

Example 2-2: Vegetable Paper with Hemp Fibres, Tencell Fibres and Södra Blue, the Vegetable Paper Having a Basis Weight of 50 g/m.SUP.2

(18) The vegetable paper of Example 2-2 is manufactured in a similar manner to the vegetable paper of Example 2-1. The only difference is that the fibre mixture is refined using a 14″ refiner with a power set point of 55 kW before passing onto the inclined ascending dewatering fabric to obtain the vegetable paper. A person skilled in the art knows how to adapt the wet-route paper manufacturing process to vary the basis weight of the vegetable paper.

Example 2-3: Vegetable Paper with Hemp Fibres, Tencell Fibres and Södra Blue, the Vegetable Paper Having a Basis Weight of 50 g/m.SUP.2

(19) The vegetable paper of Example 2-3 is manufactured in a similar manner to the vegetable paper of Example 2-1. The only differences are the basis weight of the vegetable paper of Example 2-1 and that the fibre mixture is refined using a 14″ refiner with a power set point of 45 kW before passing onto the inclined ascending dewatering fabric to obtain the vegetable paper. A person skilled in the art knows how to adapt the wet-route paper manufacturing process to vary the basis weight of the vegetable paper.

(20) The vegetable papers of Examples 2-1 to 2-3 are summarized in Table 2 below:

(21) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Example 2-1 2-2 2-3 Composition 50% hemp fibres, 30% glossy Tencel 6 mm 1.7 dTex, 20% of Södra Blue 85Z, 1.5% Kymene GHP20 BF Basis weight 50 g/m.sup.2 50 g/m.sup.2 45 g/m.sup.2 ° SR 53° SR Södra Blue 85 Z

Example 3: Properties of the Vegetable Papers of Examples 1 and 2

Example 3-1: Sensory Properties

(22) The sensory properties of the vegetable papers of Examples 1 and 2 are evaluated by cosmetic panels which are organized with several panelists.

(23) The vegetable papers of Example 1 have: a very positive appearance since they have a light colour, are homogeneous and without straw, a very positive tactile effect since they are soft and have a “light” and non-papery veil aspect, satisfactory strength, in particular for the papers of Examples 1-2 and 1-5, and ease of handling and of unfolding.

(24) Furthermore, the vegetable papers with flax fibres of Example 1 do not lose any particles.

(25) The vegetable papers with hemp fibres of Example 2 have: a very positive appearance because they have a light and neutral colour and are glossy, a very positive tactile effect because they are soft, and a neutral odour.

(26) The vegetable papers of Examples 1 and 2 have sensory properties such that they could be used as substrate for cosmetic face masks.

Example 3-2: Evaluation of the Reservoir Effect

(27) The reservoir effect is characterized by the specific volume (m.sup.3/kg). FIG. 1 illustrates the specific volume for the eight exemplified vegetable papers.

(28) All the exemplified vegetable papers have a specific volume of greater than 4.55 dm.sup.3/kg. This is entirely satisfactory for use of the vegetable papers of Examples 1 and 2 as a cosmetic product or as a substrate for cosmetic masks.

Example 3-3: Evaluation of the Absorption and Release Capacities

(29) The absorption and release capacities of each exemplified vegetable paper are measured as follows: a sheet of exemplified vegetable paper is weighed (m1) and folded into four, an aluminium plate is filled with 150 ml of water or of Technature cosmetic lotion (available from Tech Nature), the sheet of paper folded into four is placed in the plate and held under the water or Technature lotion for 2 minutes, the sheet is then removed from the plate and drained for 30 seconds, the drained sheet is then weighed (m2) to determine the absorption capacity (Ca) according to the formula Ca=(m2−m1)/m1*100, the sheet is then placed on an operator's arm and weighed each minute to determine the release capacity of the sheet (the sheet is returned to the arm after each weighing).

(30) FIG. 2 illustrates the absorption capacity for the vegetable papers of Examples 1-1 to 2-2 with water, for the vegetable paper of Example 1-2 with the Technature lotion and for a commercial face mask made of synthetic fibres with the Technature lotion (referred as comparative sample with lotion in FIG. 2).

(31) FIG. 3 illustrates the release capacity (or retention) for the eight different vegetable papers of Examples 1-1 to 2-2 with water, for the vegetable paper of Example 1-2 with the Technature lotion, for a preimpregnated commercial face mask and for a commercial face mask made of synthetic fibres with the Technature lotion (referred as comparative sample with lotion in FIG. 3).

(32) The various exemplified vegetable papers have absorption capacities inferior to that of the commercial mask, but have equivalent release capacities. This may be advantageous for the face mask manufacturer, since a face mask, the substrate of which is an exemplified vegetable paper, consumes less cosmetic lotion than the commercial mask made of synthetic fibres and releases it just as well as the commercial mask made of synthetic fibres. By virtue of the vegetable paper according to the invention, the face mask manufacturer can make savings on the amount of lotion required per mask.

Example 3-4: Evaluation of the Dry and Wet Strengths

(33) FIG. 4 illustrates the dry tensile strengths in the Machine Direction (MD) and in the Cross Direction (CD) for the eight exemplified vegetable papers with water.

(34) All the exemplified vegetable papers have entirely satisfactory dry strengths for use in the manufacture of face masks.

(35) FIG. 5 illustrates the wet tensile strengths in the Machine Direction (MD) and in the Cross Direction (CD) for the eight exemplified vegetable papers with water.

(36) All the exemplified vegetable papers have entirely satisfactory wet strengths for use as substrate for cosmetic face masks.

Example 4: Treatment by Hydroentanglement of the Vegetable Papers of Example 1

Example 4-1: Treatment Process

(37) Each of the vegetable papers of Example 1 is subjected to a hydroentanglement treatment with three increasing levels of total pressure: level 1: 2 injectors: 30+40=70 bar, level 2: 2 injectors: 47+67=114 bar level 3: 2 injectors: 62+88=150 bar.

(38) The injectors have a diameter of 110 μm and are 1 mm apart.

Example 4-2: Properties of the Vegetable Papers which have Undergone the Treatment

(39) The hydroentanglement reduces the dry and wet strength of the vegetable papers of Example 1. However, the deformability of the papers is greatly improved by this treatment.

(40) The sensory properties of the vegetable paper of Example 1-2 after hydroentanglement treatment were evaluated by a cosmetic panel.

(41) Relative to the untreated vegetable paper, the softness of the treated vegetable paper, its drape and its conformability are increased; in particular, its conformability is comparable to that of a commercial product. Furthermore, the marking of the folds has reduced. The treated vegetable paper also absorbs more water and dries less quickly than the untreated vegetable paper.

(42) The vegetable paper of Example 1-2 after hydroentanglement treatment may thus advantageously replace substrates for commercial face masks based on synthetic fibres.