Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Charles Edward Edmundson

Ali Yahiaoui

Ann Louise McCormack

Roger Bradshaw Quincy, Iii

Tamara Lee Mace

Howard Martin Welch

Stephen Michael Campbell

Stephen Avedis Baratian

John Joseph Sayovitz

Bryon Paul Day

Peter Michailovich Kobylivker

Mary Lucille DeLucia

Steven R Stopper

Gregory Todd Sudduth

Braulio Arturo Polanco

Wendy Marie Takken

A technique for incorporating a liquid additive into a nonwoven web is disclosed. Specifically, the liquid additive is loaded into filler particles to form a 'dry liquid concentrate', i.e., pulverulent granular solid or powder loaded with the liquid additive. The incorporation of the liquid additive into dry liquid concentrates provides a variety of benefits. For example, prior to extrusion, the dry liquid concentrates generally retain the properties of filler particles from which they are formed as the liquid remains isolated. In this manner, a higher level of the liquid additive may be compounded with a melt-extrudable base composition without adversely affecting the extrusion process. Only upon extrusion of the composition will a significant portion of the liquid additive be released to provide the desired properties to the resulting nonwoven web.

Technique for incorporating a liquid additive into a nonwoven web

A multilayer, breathable film that contains a base layer and at least one skin layer is provided. The skin layer is incorporated with a filler that is capable of reducing odor. The base layer may be substantially free of the odor-reducing filler to maintain the integrity of the resulting film. As a result, it has been discovered that the multilayer film of the present invention can be used to reduce odor in a variety of applications, while still maintaining the desired breathability.

Breathable multilayer films for use in absorbent articles

The present invention provides a one or two step method for bonding and creping or double creping a nonwoven web. In the method of the present invention, a nonwoven web is adhered to a creping roll and bonded while on the creping roll. The bonding of the nonwoven adheres the nonwoven to the creping roll in a pattern of the bonding roll. Once creped from the creping roll, the resulting nonwoven web is creped in the pattern of the bonding roll. The creped nonwoven webs of the present invention are useful in a wide variety of application including as wipes, liners, transfer or surge layers, outercovers, other fluid handling materials and looped fastener materials.

Method for producing creped nonwoven webs

A breathable, stretch-thinned barrier film having improved strength, processability and/or breathability is formed from a mixture of a thermoplastic polymer and cavated filler particles such as cyclodextrin. The cavated filler particles provide the film with enhanced breathability to water vapor due to their ring-like, conical, cylindrical or otherwise hollow molecular structure, yet the film remains substantially impermeable to aqueous liquids. The enhanced breathability occasioned by the cavated particles permits the use of relatively low filler levels and correspondingly high polymer levels, thereby enhancing the film strength. The filler may melt during extrusion of the molten polymer into a film, facilitating smooth processing, and re-crystallize into particles after the film is formed and cooled.

Breathable barrier films containing cavated fillers

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Roswell, GA, United States of America

Charles Edward Edmundson