3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovation Properties Company

Delton R Thompson, Jr

Thomas P Klun

William M Lamanna

David A Olson

Pamela A Percha

Robert L Rowan

Xiaohe Liu

Leigh E Wood

Joseph D Rule

Ronald W Gerdes

Evan D Brutinel

Alexi J Young

Randall L Knoll

Myles Lee Brostrom

Thomas R LaLiberte

Timothy V Stagg

David C Brownlee

Brian L Nelson

A microbial detection device and methods of use are provided. The device comprises a water-proof pouch that includes a first wall portion, a second wall portion, and a porous membrane filter disposed in the pouch between the first and second wall portions. The filter membrane divides the pouch into first and second compartments. A dry, cold water-soluble gelling agent is adhered to the pouch in the first compartment and an absorbent pad is disposed in the second compartment. A sealable sample port provides access to deposit a liquid into the first compartment.

Thin-film culture device for enumerating microorganisms

Absorbent articles are described comprising an absorbent composite. The absorbent composite comprises a first absorbent layer comprising a polymeric foam having an average cell size of at least 100 microns. The polymeric foam has at least one property selected from a) an indentation force deflection of less than 75 N at 50%; or b) a constant deflection compression set of less than 25% for a deflection of 50%; or a combination of a) and b); and a second absorbent layer in fluid communication with the fluid transport layer. In another embodiment, the a second absorbent layer has an average absorption capacity of at least 20 g/g. In another embodiment, a polyurethane foam is described having an average cell size of at least 100 microns. The polyurethane foam comprises the reaction product of at least one polyol component having polyethylene oxide units and a polyisocyanate component that comprises at least 75 wt-% of at least one polymeric polyisocyanate that lacks urethane linkages. In some embodiments, the polyurethane foam is free of superabsorbent polymer. In some embodiments, the polyurethane foam has an average cell size up to 500 microns. In some embodiments, the polyurethane foam comprises at least 12 wt-% ethylene oxide units. Also described are various composites comprising the polyurethane foam described herein in combination with another substrate such as a second absorbent layer, a fluid impervious backsheet, and/or a fluid pervious topsheet.

Absorbent article comprising polymeric foam and intermediates

Absorbent articles are described comprising a first absorbent layer comprising a polymeric foam. In one embodiment, the polyurethane foam comprises the reaction product of a polymeric polyisocyanate component having an equivalent weight of no greater than 250 g/equivalent; and a polyol component. The polyol component comprises one or more polyether polyols such that the polyol component comprises an average equivalent weight ranging from 500 to 2000 g/equivalent; an ethylene oxide content ranging from 15-30 wt.-%; a secondary hydroxyl content of at least 55 wt.-% and less than 80 wt.-% of the total hydroxyl content of the polyol component; and less than 5 wt-% water. Also described are various composites comprising the polyurethane foam described herein in combination with another substrate such as a second absorbent layer, a fluid impervious backsheet, and/or a fluid pervious topsheet.

Absorbent article comprising flexible polymeric foam and intermediates

Sound insulation constructions, multilayer constructions for acoustically insulating a source of sound from a receiver that include one or more sound insulation constructions, structures comprising one or more sound insulation constructions and/or multilayer constructions, and a method for acoustically insulating a source of sound from a receiver. In some embodiments, the sound insulation construction includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer can include a bonded fiber nonwoven web exhibiting a work of compression of at least about 0.7 kJ/mand an airflow resistance of no greater than 10,000 Rayls/m. The second layer can exhibit an airflow resistance of greater than 10,000 Rayls/m. In some embodiments, the method includes coupling the first layer to a surface of a vehicle to attenuate sound in at least a portion of the vehicle.

Sound insulation constructions and methods of using the same

A method of making absorbent foam composites and absorbent foam composites produced therefrom. The method comprises casting an absorbent foam layer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side onto a barrier layer having a first side and second side opposite the first side, where the second side of the absorbent foam layer is in contact with the first side of the barrier layer; joining a second absorbent layer to the second side of the barrier layer before, during, or after the casting step; and breaching the barrier layer after the casting step so that the foam layer and second absorbent layer are in fluid communication. The absorbent foam composites can be used in a variety of applications, including personal hygiene articles, medical bandages, pet pads and agricultural pads.

Method of making absorbent foam composites

A sound absorptive multilayer composite having an air-impermeable barrier, an air-permeable reinforcing core having an airflow resistance of at least about 100 mks Rayls and a thickness at least about &#x2153; the final composite thickness, an air-permeable open cell foam or fibrous pad having an airflow resistance less than about 2000 mks Rayls and a thickness at least about 1/10 the final composite thickness and a semipermeable airflow-resistive membrane having an airflow resistance of about 500 to about 4000 mks Rayls can provide improved acoustic performance. For example, existing vehicular headliner designs may be improved by adding a properly chosen and properly positioned semipermeable airflow-resistive membrane, a properly chosen and properly positioned air-impermeable barrier, or a properly chosen and properly positioned open cell foam layer.

Sound absorptive multilayer composite

A water- and oil-repellent, antistatic composition comprises (a) at least one nonpolymeric ionic salt consisting of (i) at least one cation selected from the group consisting of monovalent metal cations, divalent metal cations, and organic onium cations, and (ii) at least one weakly coordinating anion, the conjugate acid of the anion having an acidity greater than or equal to that of a hydrocarbon sulfonic acid, and with the proviso that the anion is organic or fluoroorganic when the cation is a metal; (b) at least one fluorochemical repellency-imparting additive or repellent; and (c) at least one insulating material. The composition exhibits good antistatic and repellency characteristics.

Water- and oil-repellent, antistatic composition

Water-and oil-repellent, antistatic composition

New fibrous nonwoven webs are taught that comprise a mass of polyethylene terephthalate fibers that exhibit a double melting peak on a DSC plot: one peak is representative of a first molecular portion within the fiber that is in non-chain-extended crystalline form, and the other peak is representative of a second molecular portion within the fiber that is in chain-extended crystalline form and has a melting point elevated over that of the non-chain-extended crystalline form. Webs comprising fibers having such a morphology have a unique combination of durability and dimensional stability. The fibers are generally autogenously bonded at points of fiber intersection.

Fibrous nonwoven webs

A thermoplastic composition comprises (a) a major amount of a semi-crystalline thermoplastic first polymer; (b) an amount of a fluoroaliphatic radical-containing surface-modifying additive sufficient to modify surface properties of articles made of the composition; and (c) a minor amount of a second thermoplastic polymer sufficient to enhance the effects of the surface-modifying additive.

Thermoplastic composition comprising fluoroaliphatic radical-containing surface-modifying additive

A method and apparatus for tentering nonwoven webs during annealing. The nonwoven web of thermoplastic fibers is restrained on a tentering structure at a plurality of tentering points distributed across an interior portion of the web, rather than just along its edges. The nonwoven web is annealed while restrained on the tentering structure to form a dimensionally stable nonwoven fibrous web, dimensionally stable up to at least the heatsetting temperature. The annealed nonwoven fibrous web is then removed from the tentering structure. In one embodiment, the tentering structure restrains the nonwoven fibrous web in a non-planar configuration during the annealing process. The tentering structure includes a plurality of tentering points projecting distally from a tentering support. The tentering points are positioned to be engaged with an interior portion of the web, thus restraining the web during annealing.

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Delton R Thompson, Jr