3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Solventum Intellectual Properties Company

Bradley W Eaton

Leigh E Wood

Michael R Berrigan

Kurt J Halverson

Raymond Patrick Johnston

Hassan Sahouani

Michael R Gorman

Alan J Sipinen

Karl J L Geisler

Brian W Lueck

Shou-Lu G Wang

Jennifer N Hanson

Hyacinth L Lechuga

Roland R Midgley

John J Sullivan

Jodi L Connell

Patrick G Zimmerman

William J Feil, Iii

Gordon A Kuhnley

Nedlin B Johnson

Alexander C Eldredge

Torrence B Stahl

Keith E Moe

Matthew T Scholz

Andrew R Fox

Wayne Scott Mahoney

David S Hays

Scott J Tuman

Vivian Wynne Jones

John D Stelter

David A Olson

Timothy J Lindquist

Eric M Moore

Joon Chatterjee

Donald R Battles

Byron M Jackson

Randall Lynn Alberg

Troy K Ista

Dawud H Tan

Anne N De Rovere

Brett P Krull

Ibrahim A El Hedok

Ibrahim A El-Hedok

Brandy S Nolan

Vivian W Jones

Mark W Schimmel

William J Bond

David L Nelson

Thund Y Watt

Timothy J Diekmann

William J Iii Feil

Films and articles are described comprising a microstructured surface having an array of peak structures and adjacent valleys. For improved cleanability, the valleys preferably have a maximum width ranging from 10 microns to 250 microns and the peak structures have a side wall angle greater than 10 degrees. The peak structures may comprise two or more facets such as in the case of a linear array of prisms or an array of cube-corners elements. The facets form continuous or semi-continuous surfaces in the same direction. The valleys typically lack intersecting walls. Also described are methods of making and methods of use. The microstructured surface of the article can be prepared by various microreplication techniques such as coating, injection molding, embossing, laser etching, extrusion, casting and curing a polymerizable resin; and bonding microstructured film to a surface or article with an adhesive.

Microstructured surface with increased microorganism removal when cleaned, articles and methods

Articles are provided that include a fibrous substrate and porous polymeric particles. At least 50% of the porous polymeric particles are bound to the fibrous substrate. Methods of making the articles are provided that include providing porous polymeric particles, providing a fibrous substrate, and binding the porous polymeric particles to the fibrous substrate. The articles can be used for fluid management.

Articles including fibrous substrates and porous polymeric particles and methods of making same

The present disclosure provides adhesive articles that can be removed from surfaces without damage by having reduced or eliminated contribution of a core backing to peel force generated by the adhesive during removal. In some instances, this can be accomplished by a core that loses structural integrity in a direction normal to a plane defined by a major surface. In other instances, the contribution is reduced by compromising the interface between the core and a peelable adhesive layer.

Adhesive articles permitting damage free removal

Medical dressings and methods of using same. The medical dressing can include a fluid management article. The fluid management article can include a fibrous substrate and porous polymeric particles. At least 50% of the porous polymeric particles are bound to the fibrous substrate. Methods of using the medical dressings can include applying the medical dressing to the target site, such that the fluid management article is in fluid communication with the target site.

Medical dressings comprising fluid management articles and methods of using same

The present invention pertains to nonwoven webs, and multi-component fibers comprising polydiorganosiloxane polyamide as well as method of making microfibers and multi-component fibers comprising a polydiorganosiloxane polyamide copolymer.

Nonwoven webs and multi-component fibers comprising a polydiorganosiloxane polyamide and methods of melt blowing

Fluid filtration articles, including composite nonwoven fibrous webs, and methods of making and using such articles as gas or liquid filtration elements. The articles include a population of coarse microfibers having a population median diameter of at least 1 micrometer (&#x3bc;m) formed as a first layer, and a population of fine fibers having a population median diameter less than 10 &#x3bc;m formed as a second layer adjoining the first layer. At least one of the fiber populations may be oriented. In one implementation, the coarse microfibers and fine fibers are polymeric, the coarse microfibers have a population median diameter of at least 10 &#x3bc;m, and the fine fibers have a population median diameter less than 10 &#x3bc;m. In another implementation, the population of fine fibers has a population median diameter less than 1 &#x3bc;m. Optionally, one or both of the first and second layers may include particulates.

Fluid filtration articles and methods of making and using the same

Provided are filter elements and methods of making and using the same where the filter elements are suitable for liquid filtration and contain particle-loaded meltblown fiber webs. A filter element comprises: a porous article comprising a web of self-supporting nonwoven polymeric fibers and a plurality of sorbent particles enmeshed in the web, the article comprising a first surface and a second surface; a liquid-impermeable housing surrounding the porous article; an inlet in fluid communication with the first surface; and an outlet in fluid communication with the second surface. Spiral-wound webs, web-covered blocks, and stacked disks of webs are also provided.

Liquid filtration systems

Multilayer articles having acoustical absorbance properties are disclosed. Methods of making and using the multilayer articles are also disclosed.

Multilayer articles having acoustical absorbance properties and methods of making and using the same

A coherent nonwoven fibrous web comprises directly formed elastic fibers that have a molecular orientation sufficient to provide a birefringence number of at least 1&#xd7;10and preferably at least 1&#xd7;10. The web can be made by a method that comprises a) extruding filaments of elastic-fiber-forming material; b) directing the filaments through a processing chamber in which gaseous currents apply a longitudinal stress to the filaments that attenuates and draws the filaments; c) maintaining the filaments at their orienting temperature while the filaments are under attenuating and drawing stress for a sufficient time for molecules within the filaments to become oriented along the length of the filaments; d) cooling the filaments to their orientation-locking temperature while the filaments are under attenuating and drawing stress and further cooling the filaments to a solidified fiber form; and e) collecting the solidified fibers as a fibrous nonwoven web. In a preferred aspect, the method includes the further step of annealing the collected fibers by exposing them to a temperature that is above their shrinking temperature but less than their relaxation temperature, and preferably bonding the fibers after (or before) the annealing step. Dimensionally stable webs comprising elastic oriented fibers are obtained.

Nonwoven elastic fibrous webs and methods for making them

Methods of manufacturing composite webs including a substrate with one or more reinforcing discrete polymeric regions located on or within the composite web are disclosed. Molten nonelastomeric thermoplastic material of the discrete polymeric region is forced against the substrate by a transfer roll. If the substrate is porous, fibrous, etc., a portion of the nonelastomeric thermoplastic composition may infiltrate the substrate and/or encapsulate fibers of the substrate.

Methods for producing composite webs with reinforcing discrete polymeric regions

Methods of manufacturing composite webs including a substrate with one or more reinforcing discrete polymeric regions located on or within the composite web are disclosed. Molten nonelastomeric thermoplastic material of the discrete polymeric region is forced against the substrate by a transfer roll. If the substrate is porous, fibrous, etc., a portion of the nonelastomeric thermoplastic composition may infiltrate the substrate and/or encapsulate fibers of the substrate. The composite webs also include elastomeric thermoplastic material in discrete polymeric regions on or within the composite web.

Composite webs with reinforcing polymeric regions and elastic polymeric regions

There is provided an extensible elastic tab designed to be adhered to the edge of an article, formed using a coextruded elastic film comprising at least one elastic layer and at least one second layer on at least a first face of the elastic layer with at least one face of the coextruded elastic film attached to at least a partially extensible nonwoven layer. The partially expandable, or extensible nonwoven layer has at least one first portion with limited extensibility in a first direction and at least one second inextensible portion in the first direction. The extensible elastic tab when stretched to the extension limit of the first portion or portions in the first direction will elastically recover at least 1.0 cm, preferably at least 2 cm providing an elastic tab having a Useful Stretch Ratio (as defined in the Examples) of at least 30 percent. The Useful Stretch Ratio includes the portion of the elastic recovery length having an elastic recovery force of greater than 20 grams/cm force, but below a given extension which generally is 90 percent of the extension limit. Further the elastic tab in the region of the Useful Stretch Ratio preferably has an incremental extension force of less than about 300 grams/cm. The invention tab provides definable predictable elastic performance and is useful as a fastening tab used to join to surfaces requiring elastic engagement, particularly a person or animal. The tab is particularly useful as a diaper fastening tab.

Elastic tab laminate

An elastic strand construction comprising a plurality of spaced ribs separated by thin zones is provided. The elastic strand construction is preferred for applications in disposable garments or the like. A method of manufacturing the preferred elastic strand comprises extrusion of polymeric material through a profiled die or the like. In the alternative, a method of formation comprising extrusion between a profiled roller arrangement is described. A preferred disposable garment construction utilizing elastic strands according to the present invention is described.

Elastic strand construction

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Bradley W Eaton