Importance

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Abstract

The fluid distribution members according to the present invention preferably comprise three basic components: chemically stiffened, twisted, and curled bulking fibers, high surface area fibers, and thermoplastic binder fibers. Fluid distribution members according to the present invention use a high surface fiber to provide capillary pressure (or suction) to the fluid distribution member. These high surface area fibers are generally small and highly conformable. They provide the substrate with capillary pressure well in excess of the capillary pressure found in the bulk-providing chemically stiffened, twisted, and curled fibers alone. A presently preferred fiber for this high surface application is the eucalyptus family of wood pulp fibers. Eucalyptus provides the capillary pressure usually associated with cellulose fines, but at a large enough length and denier so as to not fill in the voids provided by the chemically stiffened, twisted, and curled fibers and will not easily pass through a forming screen.

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First Claim