Fiberweb North America, Inc.

Bba Nonwovens Simpsonville, Inc.

James River Corporation of Virginia

Thomas E Quantrille

Jared A Austin

Scott L Gessner

Barry DeWayne Meece

David Dudley Newkirk

Harold Edward Thomas

William Fowells

J Darrell Gillespie

G Stanley Zimmerman

James H Manning

Joseph H Miller

A nonwoven web of multipolymer fibers is described that is unidirectionally stretched and permanently elongated at ambient conditions and exhibits a substantial increase in tensile strength in the stretch direction. The ratio of tensile strength of the web in the direction of fiber orientation to the tensile strength in the other direction is at least about 10:1. The ratio of elongation at peak load in a direction transverse to the direction of fiber orientation is at least about 6:1. The multipolymer fibers normally are a blend of polyethylene and a polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer, one of which is a dominant phase and one of which is a dispersed phase. A third component having elastomeric properties that is at least partially miscible with one or both of the other components is included in some blends. The nonwoven webs are stretchable well beyond their initial dimensions in the direction perpendicular to the stretch direction and are especially useful in laminates with elastomeric members for use in disposable absorbent articles to impart elasticity thereto.

Undirectionally cold stretched nonwoven webs of multipolymer fibers for stretch fabrics and disposable absorbent articles containing them

The present invention provides a composite nonwoven fabric with a superior combination of extensibility, tensile properties and abrasion resistance. The composite nonwoven fabric ( ) comprises at least one layer containing multipolymer fibers, with a plurality of bonds bonding the fibers together to form a coherent extensible nonwoven web ( ). This coherent extensible nonwoven web ( ) has a Taber surface abrasion value (rubber wheel) of greater than 10 cycles and an elongation at peak load in at least one of the machine direction or the cross-machine direction of at least 70%. A second extensible layer ( ) is laminated to this coherent extensible nonwoven web ( ).

Extensible composite nonwoven fabrics

Process stable nonwoven fabric

The invention provides elastic fabrics which exhibit low extensibility in the machine direction and have substantial elastic properties in the cross-machine direction. The fabrics of the invention include an elastic layer and a fibrous layer which are combined together. The fibrous layer is composed of a plurality of thermally activated binder fibers or filaments oriented substantially in the machine-direction of the fibrous web. The fabrics of the invention can be manufactured and processed more readily than fabrics which are elastic in both the machine direction and the cross-machine direction.

Composite nonwoven fabrics

The invention provides composite elastic nonwoven fabrics and the process of making them. The composite elastic fabrics of the invention include an elastomeric net and at least one fibrous web including binder fibers and which is intimately hydroentangled with the elastomeric net. At least a portion of the binder fibers in the hydroentangled fibrous web have been thermally activated thereby bonding the hydro-entangled web into a coherent, substantially unitary structure encompassing the elastomeric net.

Composite elastic nonwoven fabric

A nonwoven fibrous web is disclosed having high wet tensile strength when packed in a preservative liquid load, yet which breaks up under mild agitation conditions in a wet environment such as by the flushing action of a toilet. The wiper includes a nonwoven web made of a special blend of cellulosic fibers held together only by friction and naturally occurring hydrogen bonding. No binder is necessary to hold together the fibers. Derivatization of the fibers is not necessary for their breakapartability. The nonwoven fibrous web is produced by subjecting a wet-laid web of cellulosic fibers to hydroentanglement and drying the web without addition of a bonding agent.

Hydroentangled disintegratable fabric

Growing community of inventors

Simpsonville, SC, United States of America

Thomas E Quantrille