Kimberly-clark Corporation

Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Terry K Timmons

David Craige Strack

Peter Michailovich Kobylivker

Lin-Sun Woon

Dennis Stein Everhart

Susan Elaine Shawver

Debra Jean McDowall

Lawrence Howell Sawyer

James Russell Fitts, Jr

Kurtis Lee Brown

Dan D Endres

Laura Elizabeth Keck

Alexander J Neeb

Robert David Wright

Rob Lee Jacobs

Eric Scott Kepner

Christopher Dale Fenwick

Jerald T Jascomb

Monica Graciela Varriale

Chad Michael Freese

Norman K Fox

Lori A Morell

Mary L Delucia

William Conn

Steve R Stopper

Warren L Collier, Iv

Debra J Mcdowall

High loft, low density nonwoven webs suitable for use in a variety of applications requiring strong fabric layers are produced by forming substantially continuous, spunbond, crimped, bicomponent fibers of crimpable, e.g., side by side or eccentric sheath/core (A/B) configuration which are unheated prior to collection. The fibers are then heated and cooled in the absence of impeding forces to achieve maximum crimp in the Z-direction and produce a web of lofted material of greater uniformity than attained with comparable material whose fibers are drawn by a heated process. The resultant nonwoven material can then be pattern bonded or laminated for additional strength without interfering with the desired loft of the low density nonwoven. The additionally strengthened nonwoven may then be further processed such as by lamination or the like to further increase its utility.

Strong high loft low density nonwoven webs and laminates thereof

A method of producing a fabric comprising producing fine denier fibers, using either meltblown or spunbond processes, or a combination of the two, followed by crimping, spotbonding using differential bond roll temperatures, and neck-stretching. Fiber having less than or equal to about 1.5 denier is preferred. The bond temperature differential is about 10.degree.-50.degree. F. The mat produced has the unexpected result of improved strength, conformability and reduced stiffness.

Method of forming a fine fiber barrier fabric with improved drape and

A nonwoven fabric is provided which is made from fibers comprising at least two thermoplastic polymers and a compatibilizer. One of the thermoplastic polymers is present as a dominant continuous phase and the other one or more polymers are present as a non-continuous phase or phases. The polymer of the non-continuous phase or phases has a polymer melt temperature less than 30.degree. C. below the polymer melt temperature of the continuous phase. The polymer of the dominant phase may be, for example, polypropylene and the non-continuous phase may be, for example, polyamide. The compatibilizer may be one of several such as zinc ionomers of ethylenemethacrylic acid or modified polypropylene with maleic anhydride. The fibers from which the fabric is made are generally between about 5 and 50 microns in diameter and the non-continuous phase may exist within the continuous phase as fibrils with a cross-sectional area at least 0.1% of the cross-sectional area of the fiber.

Nonwoven fabric formed from alloy fibers

Multicomponent polymeric strands including a polymer blend of a butene polymer, a polyolefin other than butene, and up to 10% by weight of ethylene in polymeric form. The blend is in one side or the sheath of the multi-component strands. Fabric made with such strands is also disclosed and has enhanced softness properties. Composite materials including the foregoing fabric bonded to both sides of an inner meltblown layer and garments and other articles made with the fabric are also disclosed.

Multi-component polymeric strands including a butene polymer and

A nonwoven fabric is provided which has good barrier properties, softness and breathability. A linear low density polyethylene is used in a meltblown layer in this invention to provide barrier properties comparable to polypropylene. The meltblown layer may be used in a multilayer laminate and the other layers may be comprised of bicomponent fibers. The fabric may be used in, for example, diapers, feminine hygiene products, adult incontinence products, wound dressings, bandages, sterilization wraps, surgical gowns and drapes and wipers.

Polyethylene meltblown fabric with barrier properties

There is disclosed a nonwoven web for use as a barrier layer in an SMS fabric laminate. The web is formed at commercially acceptable polymer melt throughputs (greater than 3 PIH) by using a reactor granule polyolefin, preferably polypropylene, that has been modified by the addition of peroxide in amounts ranging from up to 3000 ppm to reduce the molecular weight distribution from an initial molecular weight distribution of from 4.0 to 4.5 Mw/Mn to a range of from 2.2 to 3.5 Mw/Mn. Also the addition of peroxide increases the melt flow rate (lowers viscosity) to a range between 800 up to 5000 gms/10 min at 230.degree. C. The resulting web has an average fiber size of from 1 to 3 microns and pore sizes distributed predominantly in the range from 7 to 12 microns, with a lesser amount of pores from 12 to 25 microns, with virtually no pores greater than 25 microns, and with the peak of the pore size distribution less than 10 microns.

Nonwoven web laminates with improved barrier properties

Method of making nonwoven web with improved barrier properties

Nonwoven web with improved barrier properties

There is disclosed a nonwoven fabric laminate formed from an olefin copolymer, olefin terpolymer, or a blend of olefin polymers. Particularly, the improved fabric laminate is formed from a polymer having a crystallinity of less than 45% and preferably between 31-35% and most preferably about 32%. The fabric laminates formed from layers that are spun-bonded or melt-blown have improved characteristics including higher tear strength, greater tensile energy, greater abrasion resistance, better fabric drape and softness, and less particulate emission. There is also disclosed a low particle emission, sterilizable garment for use in clean rooms, paint rooms, and operating rooms.

Nonwoven fabric laminates

A wetness indicator for an absorbent pad assembly in which the pads have light-transmitting backing sheets. The indicator comprises a water-dispersible or water-soluble coloring agent affixed to a carrier means adjacent the absorbent pad and of sufficient intensity to be readily visible through the backing sheet when the pad is dry but which after being wetted by aqueous body fluids becomes substantially invisible. The coloring agent may be used by itself or with a suitable binder. It may also be used alone or in combination with a permanent color pattern or design which latter remains visible after wetting.

Wetness indicator for absorbent pads

Growing community of inventors

Marietta, GA, United States of America

Terry K Timmons