Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Jared Lockwood Martin

Vasily Aramovich Topolkaraev

Jayant Chakravarty

Stephen Avedis Baratian

John Herbert Conrad

Richard Warren Tanzer

Wing-Chak Ng

Ross Thomas Kaufman

Joy Francine Jordan

Eric Scott Kepner

Renette E Richard

Christian Lee Sanders

Thomas William Brock

Lindsay C Shelley

Thomas Brock

A biodegradable nonwoven laminate is provided. The laminate comprises a spunbond layer formed from substantially continuous filaments that contain a first aliphatic polyester having a melting point of from about 50&#xb0; C. to about 160&#xb0; C. The meltblown layer is formed from microfibers that contain a second aliphatic polyester having a melting point of from about 50&#xb0; C. to about 160&#xb0; C. The first aliphatic polyester, the second aliphatic polyester, or both have an apparent viscosity of from about 20 to about 215 Pascal-seconds, as determined at a temperature of 160&#xb0; C. and a shear rate of 1000 sec-1. The first aliphatic polyester may be the same or different than the second aliphatic polyester.

Biodegradable nonwoven laminate

A biodegradable nonwoven web comprising substantially continuous multicomponent filaments is provided. The filaments comprise a first component and a second component. The first component contains at least one high-melting point aliphatic polyester having a melting point of from about 160&#xb0; C. to about 250&#xb0; C. and the second component contains at least one low-melting point aliphatic polyester. The melting point of the low-melting point aliphatic polyester is at least about 30&#xb0; C. less than the melting point of the high-melting point aliphatic polyester. The low-melting point aliphatic polyester has a number average molecular weight of from about 30,000 to about 120,000 Daltons, a glass transition temperature of less than about 25&#xb0; C., and an apparent viscosity of from about 50 to about 215 Pascal-seconds, as determined at a temperature of 160&#xb0; C. and a shear rate of 1000 sec.

Biodegradable continuous filament web

A method of producing a laminate material includes the steps of providing a first flexible sheet material; providing a second flexible sheet material having a first surface and a second surface, and also having a first width of 1&#xd7;; stretching the second flexible sheet material in a cross-machine direction to a second width of between about 1.2&#xd7; and 3&#xd7; when in a flattened state; necking the second flexible sheet material to produce an accordion shape, thereby reducing the second width of the sheet material to a third width, less than the width of the first width, such that the third width is between 0.65&#xd7; to 0.975&#xd7; when in an accordion shape; applying adhesive to the first surface of the second flexible sheet material with a slot coat adhesive process; and joining the first flexible sheet material to the first surface of the second flexible sheet material.

Extensible and stretch laminates with comparably low cross-machine direction tension and methods of making same

Fibers are hydroentangled at temperatures near or above their glass transition temperature, the resultant fabrics are then rapidly cooled. A process of preparing a nonwoven fabric that includes depositing fibers on a foraminous support; impinging hot or warm water upon the fibers to hydroentangle them; and then rapidly cooling the resultant fabric is disclosed. The hydroentangled fabric resulting from this process, products made from the hydroentangle fabric, and the equipment used to prepare the fabrics are described.

Hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics, process, products and apparatus

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Cumming, GA, United States of America

Jared Lockwood Martin