Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Steven R Stopper

Vasily Aramovich Topolkaraev

Ali Yahiaoui

Peiguang Zhou

Mark Michael Mleziva

Peter Michailovich Kobylivker

Ann Louise McCormack

Roger Bradshaw Quincy, Iii

Ryan J McEneany

John Anthony Rotella

Phillip A Schorr

Sylvia Bandy Little

Palani Raj Ramaswami Wallajapet

Charles John Morell

Howard Martin Welch

Braulio Arturo Polanco

Wing-Chak Ng

Tamara Lee Mace

Stephen Avedis Baratian

Mark G Reichmann

Bryon Paul Day

Ross Thomas Kaufman

Mary Lucille DeLucia

Gregory K Hall

Joy Francine Jordan

Robert David Wright

Rob Lee Jacobs

Maya Aroch

Charles Edward Edmundson

Joerg Hendrix

Dennis Y Lee

Bryan James Stadelman

John David Tucker

Greg Nicholas Geiser

Rowland Jaynes McClellan, Jr

Robin Lee Jacobs

Bryon P Day

L Warren Collier

Ryan J Mceneany

James Russell Fitts Jr

A film that comprises a thermoplastic composition that contains a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and a nanoinclusion additive dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains is provided. The film is biaxially stretched in a machine direction and cross-machine direction to form a porous network in the composition. The porous network contains nanopores having a maximum cross-sectional dimension of about 800 nanometers or less. At least a portion of the nanopores are oriented in the cross-machine direction so that the axial dimension generally extends in the cross-machine direction and the cross-sectional dimension generally extends in the machine direction.

Biaxially stretched porous film

The present invention relates to a floor underlayment that may be positioned directly in contact with the underside surface of a finished floor and comprise more than one layer such as a first layer pattern-unbonded nonwoven web and a second layer microporous film. Additional layers may comprise a meltblown nonwoven layer and a spunbond layer. The floor underlayment of the present invention may exhibit a sound pressure level (SPL in dB at 800 Hz or 1600 Hz) reduction IIC of about 30 to about 40.

Fibrous laminate floor underlayment with improved acoustical insulation and breathable barrier protection

A breathable film having a base layer comprising first filler particles and second filler particles dispersed within a biodegradable polymer matrix is provided. The first filler particles constitute from about 25 wt. % to about 75 wt. % of the base layer and the second filler particles constitute from about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of the base layer. The ratio of the average size of the first filler particles to the average size of the second filler particles being from about 2 to about 100. The film exhibits a water vapor transmission rate of about 2,000 g/m/24 hours or more and a peak load in the machine direction of about 800 grams-force per inch or more.

Highly breathable biodegradable films

An elastic laminate capable of being rolled for storage and unwound from a roll when needed for use, includes an elastic layer of an array of continuous filament strands with meltblown deposited on the continuous filament strands, and a facing layer bonded to only one side of the elastic layer. The meltblown layer may include an elastic polyolefin-based meltblown polymer having a degree of crystallinity between about 3% and about 40%. The laminate suitably has an inter-layer peel strength of less than about 70 grams per 3 inches cross-directional width at a strain rate of 300 mm/min. Alternatively or additionally, the continuous filament strands and/or the facing layer may include an elastic polyolefin-based meltblown polymer having a degree of crystallinity between about 3% and about 40%. In certain embodiments, the elastic laminate may include an extensible facing layer bonded to an elastic or semi-elastic film layer having a basis weight of about 50 gsm or less, wherein the facing layer includes an elastic polyolefin-based polymer having a degree of crystallinity between about 3% and about 40%.

Single sided stretch bonded laminates, and methods of making same

The present invention provides a nonwoven web prepared from an aliphatic polyester polymer which has sufficient tear strength and is biodegradable. Biodegradable nonwoven webs of the present are prepared from a polymer blend having from about 65% by weight to about 99% by weight of a biodegradable aliphatic polyester polymer and from about 1% by weight to about 35% by weight of a second polymer selected from the group consisting of a polymer having a lower melting point than the biodegradable aliphatic polyester polymer, a polymer having a lower molecular weight than the biodegradable aliphatic polyester polymer and mixtures thereof. Surprisingly, the nonwoven webs of the present invention have a tear strength greater than the tear strength of a nonwoven web prepared from the biodegradable aliphatic polyester polymer alone. In addition, other properties of the resulting nonwoven web, such as the tensile strength and energy to break, are not adversely affected, by the addition of the second polymer, in ways that make the resulting nonwoven web unusable for its intended purpose.

High strength nonwoven web from a biodegradable aliphatic polyester

A technique for incorporating a liquid additive into a nonwoven web is disclosed. Specifically, the liquid additive is loaded into filler particles to form a 'dry liquid concentrate', i.e., pulverulent granular solid or powder loaded with the liquid additive. The incorporation of the liquid additive into dry liquid concentrates provides a variety of benefits. For example, prior to extrusion, the dry liquid concentrates generally retain the properties of filler particles from which they are formed as the liquid remains isolated. In this manner, a higher level of the liquid additive may be compounded with a melt-extrudable base composition without adversely affecting the extrusion process. Only upon extrusion of the composition will a significant portion of the liquid additive be released to provide the desired properties to the resulting nonwoven web.

Technique for incorporating a liquid additive into a nonwoven web

A breathable viral barrier film, viral barrier laminate and surgical articles including the film or laminate are provided. The film has viral barrier properties in the presence of low surface tension liquids, as well as in the presence of aqueous liquids. The film includes a core layer surrounded by two skin layers. The core layer includes a polymer matrix, filler particles, and at least 0.5% by weight of a selected fluorochemical. The film is bonded to one or more nonwoven webs to provide laminates useful in surgical articles.

Breathable film and fabric having liquid and viral barrier

There is provided herein a multilayer laminate comprised of a layer of a film and a layer of a nonwoven fabric. The film is made from polymers and has as one surface a semi-crystalline/amorphous or &ldquo;heterophasic&rdquo; polymer, an optional inner, less expensive, filler type polymer, and as the other surface, a polymer with a lower coefficient of friction. The nonwoven fabric may be a spunbond or meltblown fabric, preferably spunbond and preferably also including a heterophasic polymer. The film and nonwoven components are bonded together using thermal point bonding preferably while the film is stretched at least 5 percent. Such a laminate may be made into a personal care product like a diaper, training pant, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence product, and feminine hygiene product.

Nonwoven-film laminates

A breathable microporous film is prepared by extruding a film comprising about 30 to 70% by weight of a thermoplastic polymer, about 30 to 70% by weight of filler particles having an average particle size less than about 10 microns and about 100 to 1000 PPM of a mono-functional hindered phenol, such as .alpha.-tocopherol, and then sufficiently stretching the filled film in at least one direction thereby creating a fine pore network therein and a water vapor transmission rate in excess of 300 g/m.sup.2 /24 hours.

Stretched-filled microporous films and methods of making the same

There is provided herein a multilayer laminate comprised of a layer of a film and a layer of a nonwoven fabric. The film is made from polymers and has as one surface a semi-crystalline/amorphous or 'heterophasic' polymer, an optional inner, less expensive, filler type polymer, and as the other surface, a polymer with a lower coefficient of friction. The nonwoven fabric may be a spunbond or meltblown fabric, preferably spunbond and preferably also including a heterophasic polymer. The film and nonwoven components are bonded together using thermal point bonding preferably while the film is stretched at least 5 percent. Such a laminate may be made into a personal care product like a diaper, training pant, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence product, and feminine hygiene product.

Growing community of inventors

Duluth, GA, United States of America

Steven R Stopper