Abstract: An absorbent elastic laminate includes an elastic backing layer and a flexible thermoplastic absorbent foam layer. The flexible absorbent foam layer gathers when the laminate is in the relaxed state, permitting the elastic backing and the overall laminate to exhibit elastic stretch and recovery properties. The absorbent elastic laminate is useful in a wide variety of personal care absorbent articles, medical absorbent articles and absorbent wiping articles.

Abstract: An efficient, in-line method for forming an elastic laminate is provided. To form the laminate, a polymer composition containing an elastomeric polymer is extruded as a film. In one embodiment, the film is uniaxially oriented in the machine direction (“MD”), or optionally, biaxially oriented in the machine direction and the cross-machine direction (“CD”). Regardless, the elastic film is then laminated to a nonwoven web material. Prior to lamination, the percent stretch of the nonwoven web material is generally no more than 25% when 500 grams-force is applied per 3 inches of the material in either the cross-machine or machine direction. Such a relatively inextensible nonwoven web material may restrict the overall extensibility of the laminate. Thus, to improve extensibility, the resulting laminate is mechanically stretched in the cross-machine and/or machine directions.

Abstract: A breathable, elastic film/support layer laminate includes a thermoplastic elastomer film sheet of a thermoplastic elastomer and a filled semi crystalline predominantly linear polymer. The film includes between about 25 and 70 weight percent filler, between about 5 and 30 by weight percent semi-crystalline linear polymer, and between about 15 and 60 by weight percent elastomeric polymer. The filler is closely associated with the semi-crystalline linear polymer. The film demonstrates a load loss value at a 50 percent elongation of less than 50 percent, and a breathability of greater than 100 g/m2/24 hours and is laminated to a nonwoven layer.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer film includes a thermoplastic elastomer and a filled semi crystalline predominantly linear polymer. The film includes between about 25 and 70 weight percent filler, between about 5 and 30 by weight percent semi-crystalline linear polymer, and between about 15 and 60 by weight elastomer. The filler is closely associated with the semi-crystalline linear polymer. The elastic film demonstrates a load loss value at a 50 percent elongation of less than about 50 percent, and a breathability of greater than about 100 g/m2/24 hours.