Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CLAIMS:
1. A cellulosic composition comprising fibres having a
length weighted average fibre length ("LWAFL") of 0.25 to
0.40mm.
2. A cellulosic composition as claimed in claim 1, the
composition comprising, by weight:
(a) 15% to 25% fibres of a length weighted average
fibre length of 0.001 mm to 0.2 mm;
(b) 40% to 60% fibres of a length weighted average
fibre length of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm;
(c) 8% to 35% fibres of a length weighted average
fibre length of 0.5 mm to 1.2 and
(d) less than 3% fibres of a length weighted average
fibre length of 1.2 mm to 2.0 mm.
3. A cellulosic composition comprising, by weight:
(a) 15% to 25% fibres of a length weighted average
fibre length of 0.001 mm to 0.2 mm;
(b) 40% to 60% fibres of a length weighted average
fibre length of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm;
(c) 8% to 35% fibres of a length weighted average
fibre length of 0.5 mm to 1.2 and
(d) less than 3% fibres of a length weighted average
fibre length of 1.2 mm to 2.0 mm.
4. A cellulosic composition as claimed in any one of the
preceding claims, wherein the composition has a Water
Retention Value (WRV) of 600% to 2000%.
5. A cellulosic composition as claimed in any one of the
preceding claims, wherein the composition comprises, by
weight:
(a) 15% to 25% fibres of a length weighted average
fibre length of 0.001 mm to 0.2 mm;
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(b) 45% to 55% fibres of an a length weighted
average fibre length of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm;
(c) 20% to about 30% fibres of a length weighted
average fibre length of 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm and
(d) less than 1% fibres of a length weighted average
fibre length of 1.2 mm to 2.0 mm.
6. A cellulosic composition as claimed in any one of the
preceding claims, wherein the cellulosic composition is in
the form of pellets, granules or powder.
7. A cellulosic composition as claimed in any one of the
preceding claims, wherein the composition also comprises
one or more functional additives.
8. A cellulosic composition as claimed in claim 7,
wherein the functional additives are selected from dyes
and pigments for colouring, resins and waxes for
waterproofing, lime, fire retardants including natron,
silicate, glues, metal powders and graphites for
electrical conductivity, latex for flex and waterproofing,
fillers and very long fibres of 1.5-6.0mm in length for
increased tensile strength.
9. A cellulosic composition as claimed in any one of the
preceding claims, wherein the composition is prepared by
any one or combination of processing methods including
ultra friction grinding, high pressure homogenizing, cryo
grinding, extrusion, steam explosion, ultra sonic
treatment, enzyme-fibre separation, high
consistency/medium consistency/low consistency refining,
chemical treatment or whitewater fines recovery.
10. A cellulosic composition as claimed in any one of the
preceding claims, wherein components of the composition
are prepared separately and mixed together.
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11. A cellulosic composition as claimed in claim 10,
wherein two or more intermediary compositions with
different fibre length distributions are prepared and
mixed in the required proportions to form the composition.
12. A cellulosic composition as claimed in any one of the
preceding claims, wherein the raw material used in the
preparation of the compositions comprises one or more of
short/ultra short cellulose fibres/fines recovered from
waste streams, recovered paper, recovered fines in
whitewater from paper & pulp processing and recovered
cotton fibres, any cellulosic fibres used in pulp & paper
processing and plant fibres having a high cellulosic
content such as hemp, flax, cotton, abaca, sisal and jute.
13. A product made from a composition as claimed in any
one of the preceding claims..
14. A product as claimed in claim 13, wherein the density
of the product is from 0.5 g/cm3 to 1.5 g/cm3.
15. A product as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein the
tensile modulus of the product is from 3500 MPa to 10800
MPa.
16. A product as claimed in any one of claims 13-15,
wherein the tensile strength of the product is from 27 MPa
to 115 MPa.
