Abstract:
The present invention provides a composite nonwoven fabric with a superior combination of extensibility, tensile properties and abrasion resistance. The composite nonwoven fabric (10) comprises at least one layer containing multipolymer fibers, with a plurality of bonds (B) bonding the fibers together to form a coherent extensible nonwoven web (11). This coherent extensible nonwoven web (11) has a Taber surface abrasion value (rubber wheel) of greater than 10 cycles and an elongation at peak load in at least one of the machine direction or the cross-machine direction of at least 70 percent. A second extensible layer (12) is laminated to this coherent extensible nonwoven web (11) by an adhesive layer (13).
Abstract:
A refastenable mechanical fastening system has built-in elasticity and stretchability. The fastening system includes a first member provided with engaging elements and a second member consisting of a stretchable elastic tab having opposite end portions. One end portion of the elastic tab is secured to one of the objects to be fastened. The free end portion of the elastic tab extends from the object. The first member of the attachment system, which consists of engaging elements, is secured to the second object to be fastened. The two objects are fastened together by extending the elastic tab to engage the engaging elements of the first member. The stretchable elastic tab provides freedom for adjustment of the spatial relation between the two secured objects. One application of this invention is to provide a flexible closure system for a disposable diaper.
Abstract:
The invention provides composite elastic nonwoven fabrics and the process of making them. The elastic nonwoven composite fabrics of the invention are formed from the combination of a plurality of cooperative elastic layers including an elastomeric fibrous layer and an elastomeric net layer which has increased elastic properties as compared to the elastomeric fibrous layer. The plural elastomeric layers are joined together in a unitary elastic fabric structure to provide a composite having a desirable combination of different elastic properties. Advantageously the elastic nonwoven composites of the invention are fabrics formed from the combination of an elastomeric net and one or more elastomeric fibrous spunbond or meltblown webs. The elastomeric net component imparts desirable strength and recovery properties to the composite fabric while the elastomeric fibrous web imparts desirable cover, barrier, and/or porosity properties to the composite.
Abstract:
The invention is directed to a composite nonwoven fabric (10) comprising a nonwoven web (11) of spunbonded substantially continuous thermoplastic filaments, a nonwoven web (14) of thermoplastic strands, and a nonwoven web (13) of thermoplastic meltblown microfibers sandwiched between the nonwoven web of spunbonded substantially continuous filaments and the nonwoven web of thermoplastic strands. An adhesive agent (12) is disposed between the nonwoven web (11) of spunbonded filaments and the nonwoven web (13) of meltblown microfibers and between the nonwoven web (14) of thermoplastic strands and the nonwoven web (13) of meltblown microfibers, adhering the respective nonwoven webs together to form a unitary composite nonwoven fabric. In a preferred embodiment, the composite nonwoven fabric of the invention comprises a nonwoven web of spunbonded substantially continuous polyamide filaments, a nonwoven web of polyamide strands, and a nonwoven web of polyethylene meltblown microfibers sandwiched between the nonwoven web of spunbonded substantially continuous filaments and the nonwoven web of strands.
Abstract:
The invention provides composite elastic nonwoven fabrics and the process of making them. The composite elastic fabrics of the invention include an elastomeric net and at least one fibrous web including binder fibers and which is intimately hydroentangled with the elastomeric net. At least a portion of the binder fibers in the hydroentangled fibrous web have been thermally activated thereby bonding the hydroentangled web into a coherent, substantially unitary structure encompassing the elastomeric net.
Abstract:
A nonwoven web (12) of meltblown microfibers formed of a composition of polyethylene and at least one component added to provide processing stability to the polyethylene component. The meltblown web (12) can be produced at high polymer throughputs and exhibits good barrier properties. The meltblown web (12) is useful as a component of a composite fabric (10), which can be used for barrier application in medical and industrial applications.
Abstract:
The invention is directed to a composite nonwoven fabric (10) comprising first and second nonwoven webs (11, 13) of spunbonded substantially continuous thermoplastic filaments, and a nonwoven hydrophobic microporous web (12) of thermoplastic meltblown microfibers sandwiched between the first and second nonwoven webs. The filaments of the nonwoven spunbond webs are formed of continuous multiconstituent filaments which include a lower melting gamma radiation stable polyethylene polymer component and one or more higher melting gamma radiation stable polymer constituents, wherein a substantial portion of the surfaces of the multiconstituent filaments consists of the lower melting gamma radiation stable polyethylene constituent. The nonwoven hydrophobic microporous web is formed from a gamma radiation stable polyethylene polymer. The webs are bonded together to form the composite nonwoven fabric by discrete point bonds in which the polyethylene constituent of said multiconstituent filaments and the polyethylene of said third nonwoven web are fused together.
Abstract:
The invention is directed to composite nonwoven fabrics comprising a hydrophobic nonwoven web, a nonwoven web of thermoplastic meltblown microfibers and a hydrophilic nonwoven web comprising staple fibers. The nonwoven web of thermoplastic meltblown fibers is sandwiched between the hydrophobic nonwoven web and the hydrophilic nonwoven web and all of the layers are thermally bonded together via discontinuous thermal bonds distributed substantially throughout the composite nonwoven fabric.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a method for producing a continuous filament nonwoven fabric under conditions which modify the surface characteristics of the filament and the fabric formed by the process. A blend of thermoplastic polymers, wherein at least one is a polyolefin polymer and containing a majority polymer component of low MFR, is extruded through a heated die under conditions which are responsible for controlled oxidation of the filament surface of at least one component so that they are capable of efficient bonding. During spinning, the continuous filaments display good drawability and good filament distribution on the collection surface. Preferably, the filaments are drawn to a fine denier (i.e., 5 or less). The corresponding continuous filament fabric possesses desirable strength properties, as a result of high interfilamentary bond strength.
Abstract:
The present invention provides composite nonwoven fabric laminates and processes for producing such. The fabric (10) is comprised of a web (11) of thermoplastic filaments laminated to at least one other web. Preferably, the filaments are spunbonded continuous polyolefin filaments which have an oxidatively degraded outer sheath portion to promote better interfilamentary bonding and improved fabric laminate strength. In a preferred embodiment, two outer nonwoven webs (11, 13) comprise oxidatively degraded spunbonded filaments and are positioned around and laminated to a web (12) of meltblown microfibers thus forming an spunbond/meltblown/spunbond fabric. Additionally, a stretch compatible fabric may be formed in which a web of oxidatively degraded filaments is laminated to an elastic web. The fabrics of the invention may be advantageously used in numerous applications such as medical garments and disposable absorbent products.