Polymer Group, Inc.

Marlene Storzer

Michael J Putnam

Richard Ferencz

Jian Weng

Thomas Scott Carlyle

A nonwoven fabric comprises continuous polymer filaments of 0.5 to 3 denier that have been hydroentangled in a complex matrix for interconnecting filament loops, and that is otherwise substantially free of knotting, or of otherwise wrapping about one another. A process for making a nonwoven fabric comprises continuously extruding polymer filaments of 0.5 to 3 denier onto a moving support, pre-entangling the filaments with water jets, and entangling the filaments with a second set of water jets on a three-dimensional image transfer device. An apparatus for making a nonwoven fabric comprises means for continuously extruding substantially endless polymer filaments of 0.5 to 3 denier onto a moving support to form an unbonded web, a pre-entangling station for entangling the web with a plurality of water jets, and a plurality of water jets for final entanglement of the filament web on a three-dimensional image transfer device. In another aspect of the present invention, plural precursor webs, each comprising polymeric filaments, can be employed to form a laminated nonwoven fabric.

Hydroentanglement of continuous polymer filaments

The present invention is directed to a method of making a substantially continuous filament web which includes providing a plurality of polymer extruders for supplying polymer streams of at least two different polymer compositions, and providing a spinneret assembly for receiving the polymer streams. The spinneret assembly includes a plurality of orifices from which the polymer streams are extruded for formation of substantially continuous filaments formed from the polymer compositions. The distribution of at least one of the polymer compositions within the spinneret assembly is selected to optimize selected physical characteristics of the resultant continuous filament web.

Method of making continuous filament web with statistical filament distribution

A process is disclosed for hydroentangling polymeric filament webs for production of low basis weight nonwoven fabrics. A three-dimensional image transfer device is employed for patterning a precursor web to form a fabric preferably having a rectilinear pattern. High-speed production of relatively low basis weight fabrics can be achieved, with the fabrics exhibiting desired softness, uniformity, and strength characteristics.

Hydroentangled, low basis weight nonwoven fabric and process for making same

A process is disclosed for hydroentangling polymeric filament webs for production of low basis weight nonwoven fabrics. A hydroentangling device having a foraminous forming surface is employed for hydroentangling a precursor web to form a fabric. High-speed production of relatively low basis weight fabrics can be achieved, with the fabrics exhibiting desired softness, uniformity, and strength characteristics.

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Cornelius, NC, United States of America

Marlene Storzer