Inventors:
Gordon G. Guay - Chelmsford MA
Ahmet Cem Firatli - Wiesbaden, DE
Norbert Schaefer - Frankfurt, DE
Armin Schwarz-Hartmann - Wendelsheim, DE
Georges Driesen - Weilrod, DE
Rainer Hans - Waldems, DE
Assignee:
Gillette Canada Company - Halifax
International Classification:
B05D 104
US Classification:
427 229, 427462, 427307, 427316
Abstract:
The invention is based on the discovery that flocked or textured materials (e. g. , for use as dental floss, or toothbrush bristles) can be manufactured without using adhesives to secure the short fibers or texture particles to the base material, or substrate. The flocked or textured materials are formed by thermally or chemically softening a preformed substrate (e. g. , sheets, fibers, or filaments made of TEFLONÂ fibers, KEVLARÂ fibers, cotton, polyester, polyethylene, or other plastic), then treating the softened substrate with short fibers or texture particles. Alternatively, the short fibers or texture particles can be applied during the formation of the substrate (e. g. , in an extrusion, melt-blowing, die casting, weaving, or drawing process).