Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Gregory James Wideman

James Hongxue Wang

Vasily Aramovich Topolkaraev

Mark Michael Mleziva

Feng Chen

Michael John Faulks

Bo Shi

William S Pomplun

David Michael Schertz

Aimin He

Ross Thomas Kaufman

Brent Merrik Thompson

Austin N Pickett

Peter Shawn Lortscher

Eric Donald Johnson

Garry Roland Woltman

Ryan J McEneany

Richard Warren Tanzer

Bernhardt Edward Kressner

Alan Edward Wright

Sarah Ann Funk

James Wang

Alphonse DeMarco

Michael G Shlepr

Dave Allen Soerens

Peiguang Zhou

Neil T Scholl

Susan Elaine Shawver

Jayant Chakravarty

Antonio J Carrillo Ojeda

Alphonse Carl DeMarco

Yuriy Galabura

JaeHong Lee

Lori A Eslinger

David W Hall

Jaehong Lee

Tom Eby

Juha P Kemppinen

Doris Palfery

Matthew Joseph Graham

Hubert Stankiewicz

Ryan J Mceneany

Alphonse Demarco

A polymeric material that includes a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a matrix polymer and a siloxane component is provided. The siloxane component contains an ultrahigh molecular weight siloxane polymer that is dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains. A porous network is defined within the thermoplastic composition that includes a plurality of nanopores.

Polymeric material

A water-dispersible injection-moldable composition includes partially-hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polyethylene glycol (PEG), plasticizer, and a hydrophobic polymeric component, wherein the composition has a melt flow index of 5-180. The hydrophobic polymeric component can be a colorant within an ethylene matrix or polyethylene. The composition is flushable according to Guidance Document for Assessing the Flushability of Nonwoven Consumer Products (INDA and EDANA, 2006); Test FG 522.2 Tier 2&#x2014;Slosh Box Disintegration Test. The PVOH has a hydrolysis of 87% to 89%.

Thermoplastic injection molded and flushable material

A flushable tampon applicator product includes an outer tube for housing a tampon; an inner tube, at least a portion of which extends into the outer tube, wherein the outer tube includes an outer, body-contacting surface, wherein the inner tube is moveable relative to the outer tube and configured to expel a tampon from the outer tube, and wherein at least one of the outer tube and the inner tube comprises a thermoplastic composition including partially-hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polyethylene glycol (PEG), a plasticizer, and a hydrophobic polymeric component, wherein at least one of the outer tube and the inner tube is a molded part; and a wrapper material configured for storage under high and low moisture storage conditions, the wrapper material having a water vapor transmission rate of less than 0.05 g/100 in2/day.

Thermoplastic injection molded and flushable tampon applicator

A thin nanocomposite film for use in an absorbent article is provided. The film contains an ethylene polymer, a nanoclay having an organic surface treatment, and a compatibilizer that includes an olefin polymer containing an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer. The present inventors have discovered that through selective control over the particular type and concentration of the components used to form the film, as well as the manner in which it is formed, the modulus and tensile strength of the film can be significantly improved without having an adverse impact on its ductility.

Thin nanocomposite film for use in an absorbent article

A package that contains a wrapper material that defines an interior cavity within which an absorbent article is removably positioned is provided. The wrapper material is formed from a film that includes a polymer composition containing at least one ethylene polymer and at least one nanofiller. The present inventors have discovered that through selective control over the particular type and concentration of these components, as well as the manner in which it is formed, the resulting package may generate a relatively low degree of noise when physically deformed.

Absorbent article package with reduced noise

A film for use in an absorbent article is provided. The film is formed from a polymer composition that contains an ethylene polymer and a nanofiller. The present inventors have discovered that through selective control over the particular type and concentration of these components, as well as the manner in which it is formed, the resulting film may generate a relatively low degree of noise when physically deformed.

Film with reduced noise for use in an absorbent article

Polylactic acid fibers formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains polylactic acid and a polymeric toughening additive are provided. The present inventors have discovered that the specific nature of the components and process by which they are blended may be carefully controlled to achieve a composition having desirable morphological features. More particularly, the toughening additive can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous phase of the polylactic acid. These domains have a particular size, shape, and distribution such that upon fiber drawing, they absorb energy and become elongated. This allows the resulting composition to exhibit a more pliable and softer behavior than the otherwise rigid polylactic acid. Through selective control over the components and method employed, the present inventors have discovered that the resulting fibers may thus exhibit good mechanical properties, both during and after melt spinning.

Toughened polylactic acid fibers

A sustainable thermoplastic composition made by forming a mixture of virgin polypropylene and post-industrial-recycled material (PIR). The PIR may include a thermoplastic, elastomeric-polymer and a spunbond component. The mixture is melt-blended in an extruder. Extruded materials made from the mixture demonstrate little variance in the results of the IZOD Impact Test of materials containing 30 to 70 percent PIR, and a material containing 100 percent virgin polypropylene. In addition, the extruded materials containing 30 to 70 percent PIR demonstrate a substantially constant strain at yield, that strain at yield being substantially equal to that demonstrated by a material containing 100 percent virgin polypropylene.

Sustainable injection molded articles

A multi-layered nanocomposite film for use in packaging is provided. More particularly, the film contains at least one core layer positioned adjacent to at least one outer layer. For example, in one embodiment, the film contains a core layer that is positioned between two outer layers. The core layer(s) and/or outer layer(s) may be formed from a polymer composition that contains an ethylene polymer, nanoclay having an organic surface treatment, and a compatibilizer that includes an olefin component and a polar component.

Nanocomposite packaging film

A thin nanocomposite film for use in an absorbent article (e.g., sanitary napkin) is provided. The film contains a first ethylene polymer having a density of about 0.94 g/cm3 or less, second ethylene polymer having a density of greater than 0.94 g/cm3, and nanoclay having an organic surface treatment. The present inventors have discovered that through selective control over the particular type and concentration of the components used to form the film, as well as the manner in which it is formed, the properties of the film can be significantly improved.

Stiff nanocomposite film for use in an absorbent article

A film that contains a core layer positioned adjacent to an outer layer is provided. The core layer contains a relatively high percentage of thermoplastic biopolymers that are both biodegradable and renewable. Despite being biodegradable and renewable, many biopolymers tend to be relatively stiff in nature. The present inventors have discovered, however, that through selective control over the components in the core and outer layers, a film can be readily formed having good mechanical properties. Among other things, this is accomplished by blending the biopolymer in the core layer with a polyolefin. A polyolefin is also employed in the outer layer. In addition to providing functionality to the film (e.g., heat sealing, printing, etc.), the polyolefin-containing outer layer also helps counteract the stiffness of the biopolymer in the core layer, and helps improve processability, stiffness, and ductility.

Multi-layered film containing a biopolymer

A continuous process for manufacturing a blended polymer includes mixing a native starch, a polyolefin, and a compatibilizer; and forming the blended polymer from the resulting mixture using an extruder. The process can also include mixing the native starch, the polyolefin, and the compatibilizer in the extruder. The polyolefin can be a petroleum- or bio-based polyethylene, and the compatibilizer can be a maleic anhydride grafted polyolefin. The process can further include mixing a processing aid such as glycerin, and forming the blended polymer into a film.

Simultaneous plasticization and compatibilization process and compositions

A tampon applicator that is water-sensitive (e.g., water-soluble, water-dispersible, etc.) in that it loses its integrity over time in the presence of water is provided. The tampon applicator can be discreetly disposed of in a toilet without the risk of clogging sewer pipes. The tampon applicator includes a molded thermoplastic composition containing at least one partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol a plasticizer. The desired water-sensitive characteristics of the tampon applicator may be achieved in the present invention by selectively controlling a variety of aspects of the thermoplastic composition from which the applicator is formed, such as the nature of the components employed, the relative amount of each component, the manner in which the composition is formed, and so forth.

Thermoplastic and water-dispersible injection moldable materials and articles

A tampon applicator that is water-sensitive (e.g., water-soluble, water-dispersible, etc.) in that it loses its integrity over time in the presence of water is provided. The tampon applicator can be discreetly disposed of in a toilet without the risk of clogging sewer pipes. The tampon applicator includes a molded thermoplastic composition containing a cellulose derivative, a synthetic water-soluble polymer, and a plasticizer. The desired water-sensitive characteristics of the tampon applicator may be achieved in the present invention by selectively controlling a variety of aspects of the thermoplastic composition from which the applicator is formed, such as the nature of the components employed, the relative amount of each component, the manner in which the composition is formed, and so forth.

Flushable tampon applicator

A method and system for melt processing a thermoplastic composition that contains a starch and plasticizer is provided. The composition is melt blended and extruded through a die to form an extrudate, which is thereafter cooled using a multi-stage system of the present invention that includes at least one water-cooling stage and at least one air-cooling stage. More particularly, the extrudate is initially contacted with water for a certain period time so that it becomes partially cooled and solidified on its surface. After the water-cooling stage(s), the extrudate is also subjected to at least one air-cooling stage in which a stream of air is placed into contact with the extrudate.

Growing community of inventors

Menasha, WI, United States of America

Gregory James Wideman