Kimberly-clark Corporation

David G Thome

Michael A Sciaraffa

Clifford M Vogt

Lightweight, pattern bonded, generally continuous filament web having physical, aesthetic, and functional attributes particularly desirable for liner material for disposable absorbent products such as diapers, sanitary napkins, and the like. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a continuous filament polypropylene web is formed and pattern bonded by heat and pressure producing a high frequency of high density bond areas. This bonded web is then subjected to hot embossing in a gross pattern producing permanent web deformation and increasing the web effective thickness. In use the nonwoven web of the invention provides a very soft, flexible web having a pleasing appearance and yet retaining strength properties making it very effective at low basis weights for applications such as liners for disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, and the like. The method of the invention includes melt spinning and accumulating the spun fibers into a web that is pattern bonded in a fine pattern by heat and pressure and then subjected to a gross pattern of embossments under heated conditions.

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Appleton, WI, United States of America

David G Thome