Propex Operating Company, LLC

Rheinische Kunststoffewerke Gmbh

Kam Chung Lui

Hugh C Gardner

Jeffrey H Mumm

Josef Uesbeck

Philippe Combier

Andy Rakovac

A woven geotextile fabric derived from beta-nucleated polyolefin yarn or monofilament, the method of manufacture of fabric, and the use of such fabric are disclosed. The yarn is made by compounding one or more polyolefins and a beta-nucleator reagent wherein the compounded mixture is extruded then drawn to at least 9 times its original length. The yarn or monofilament is woven into synthetic fabric useful for roadway construction, embankment stabilization, and mechanically stabilized earth.

Woven geotextile fabric derived from beta-nucleated, polypropylene yarn or monofilament

Making foamed polyolefin tapes can include combining a polyolefin resin and a chemical blowing agent to form a mixture. This mixture can then be heated in an extruder to create a supersaturated solution of gas within the polyolefin resin. A cooling device can be positioned adjacent to a die at a set distance for receiving extruded resin and for allowing exposure of the extruded resin to ambient air between a die outlet and the cooling device. This predetermined distance or space between the cooling device and die outlet allows bubbles to grow in the extruded resin and to be shaped such that voids or empty spaces can be generated within the extruded polyolefin resin. The voids or empty spaces allow the formation of tapes which use less material but have adequate strength for various applications, such as for carpet backings, geotextiles, packaging, housewrap, bags, wire insulation, and reinforcement elements in concrete.

Method and system for manufacturing foamed polyolefin tapes at cost effective line speeds

This invention provides breathable composite materials with good liquid barrier properties comprising a laminate of a nonwoven web layer and a breathable film layer wherein breathability of the composite is provided by a plurality of point-like deformations of the film layer. In one embodiment, the composites also have a soft, cloth-like texture at at least one surface thereof. Also provided is a process for making such composites comprising applying a molten film-forming resin composition capable of developing breathability on deformation to a nonwoven web, cooling the molten composition to form a coated web having a web layer bonded to a film layer, and subjecting the coated web to heat and pressure at a plurality of points on a surface thereof wherein the heat, pressure and density of, and proportion of the composite surface occupied by, the deformations are effective to impart breathability to the film without loss of liquid barrier properties. In another embodiment of the process, web and cast film components are subjected to heat and pressure at a plurality of points to bond the film and the web and provide a plurality of point-like deformations of the film layer, thereby imparting breathability without loss of liquid barrier properties.

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Kennesaw, GA, United States of America

Kam Chung Lui