Abstract: Disclosed herein is a repellent-treated, barrier coated nonwoven web. Nonwoven webs with small fiber and pore sizes can often be surface coated with a barrier coating such as latex to form a nonwoven which will act as a barrier to liquids. Surface coating of nonwovens having larger pores and fibers is more difficult as the coating often sinks into the thickness of the nonwoven web. The material of the present invention is a larger fiber/pore nonwoven web which will permit surface coating to form a material which has a good hand and cloth-like feel while also acting as a barrier to liquids. Such a material has a wide variety of applications including, but not limited to, personal care products, surgical drapes and gowns and other applications requiring barrier properties.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a repellent-treated, barrier coated nonwoven web. Nonwoven webs with small fiber and pore sizes can often be surface coated with a barrier coating such as latex to form a nonwoven which will act as a barrier to liquids. Surface coating of nonwovens having larger pores and fibers is more difficult as the coating often sinks into the thickness of the nonwoven web. The material of the present invention is a larger fiber/pore nonwoven web which will permit surface coating to form a material which has a good hand and cloth-like feel while also acting as a barrier to liquids. Such a material has a wide variety of applications including, but not limited to, personal care products, surgical drapes and gowns and other applications requiring barrier properties.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for repulping or reclaiming fibers from latex-impregnated materials such as latex impregnated papers. The process involves treating the latex-impregnated material with an alkali solution for a sufficient period of time to separate the latex polymer from the fibers. This is followed by a washing step to rinse away the latex polymer thereby leaving the reclaimed fibers for subsequent use such as the formation of new paper stock.