Inventors:
William H. Gonzales - Houston TX
Assignee:
Gulf Oil Corporation - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
B29C 2300
Abstract:
Fibrils prepared by a differential temperature precipitation process of the type described in U. S. Pat. No. 4,013,751 are refined in isopropanol at a subambient temperature not higher than about 10. degree. C. , and subsequently are treated with an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol to sorb at least 1. 0 weight % of polyvinyl alcohol on the fibrils. The treated fibrils, as compared with fibrils prepared by prior art processes disperse more readily in aqueous media and provide water-laid sheets having greater strength. The fibrils preferably are prepared from an olefin polymer having a weight average molecular weight of at least one (1) million.