Abstract: A laminate material formed of an elastomeric polymer sheet and a nonwoven fabric sheet. The sheets are passed through a niproll assembly during lamination, one of the niprolls having a series of embossing points protruding therefrom, and the other niproll being substantially flat. The embossing points press selective areas of the preferably molten polymer sheet into the fabric sheet, encapsulating the fabric fibers and bonding thereto. The resulting material has points of bonding where penetration has occurred and areas of nonpenetration, providing adherence of the two sheets while permitting independent movement of the fibers and elastic properties. Preferably, a release agent is added to the elastomeric polymer to reduce the possibility of the elastomer layer sticking to the nonwoven layer when the laminate is wound onto a supply roll.

Abstract: A soft, breathable elastic laminate of an elastic film loaded with a filler having a particle size suitable for pore formation and stretched in at least two directions to form a plurality of micropores bonded to a nonwoven web. In accordance with one embodiment, the elastic film is water vapor impermeable prior to being stretched.