Viscous dispersion for forming wet-laid, non-woven fabrics

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Abstract of the Disclosure An improved process for forming a non-woven fabric by wet-laying, on paper making equipment staple, length, synthetic fibers having a length to diameter ratio of about 400 to 3000, and an improved, non-woven fabric produced by the process. The process involves forming a stable, viscous, uniform, air-fiber-water dispersion by: adding the fibers to a high-shear agitated mixture of water and a dispersant to separate the fibers and to completely and uniformly distribute the individual fibers throughout the resulting, high-shear agitated air, water, and fiber mixture; and then slowly adding a thixotropic thickener to the high-shear agitated mixture to form the viscous, …