Abstract: Breathable barrier fabrics are made by sizing a substrate, made of bonded fibers forming void spaces therein, with a film-forming material that fills the voids of the substrate to form a solid film between the fibers. The resulting non-porous breathable material provides a high strength fabric which is permeable to water vapor, such as body moisture, but impermeable to air and aqueous liquids. The non-porous breathable barrier fabric acts as a barrier against wind, dust or other airborne contaminants, e.g. bacteria, viruses, pesticides, etc., as well as against aqueous liquids such as blood. Alternatively, porous barrier fabrics can be made by incorporating air into the film-forming filler material to obtain greater comfort at lowered barrier qualities. The barrier fabrics of the invention are suitable for industrial, hospital and other protective covering uses.

Abstract: A nonwoven laminate, having a barrier property, is made of at least one thermoplastic fiber layer bonded with a wet-laid fabric layer, made of a uniform distribution of cellulose fibers, polymeric fibers, and a binder, which is treated with a water-repellent finish. Alternatively, the wet-laid fabric layer can be made without the addition of any binders to form a tissue-type core fabric layer. In a preferred form, spunbond polyester fiber layers are ultrasonically bonded on each side of a wet-laid barrier fabric made of about 20% eucalyptus pulp, 45% staple polyester fibers of 1.5 denier, and 35% polyester fibers of finer denier of about 0.6 denier, which is bonded with an acrylic latex binder and treated with a water-repellent finish that includes a fluorocarbon compound. The resulting laminate has a desired drapability and soft hand.

Abstract: An apparatus and related process for entangling a staple fibrous web which employs divergent fluid jets. The web is advanced through an entangling station on a conveying means which supports an entangling member having a symmetrical pattern of fluid pervious void areas. The divergent jet sprays which are disposed above the entangling member direct a continuous curtain of fluid onto the web, coacting with the entangling member to entangle web fibers into a coherent lattice structure. The divergent jet sprays are provided by nozzles having wide orifice diameters which accommodate less complex fluid recirculation and filtration systems than employed in prior art columnar jet processes.

Abstract: A non-woven fabric is formed from a reticulated foam combined with at least one layer of a nonwoven web. This unbonded composite fabric is then entangled together by passing it under jets of water, which are under high pressure. The resulting fabric structure has stiff foam protrusions, exiting the nonwoven fabric to function as bristles.

Abstract: An aerated latex microsized single ply hydroentangled fabric wherein a latex mixture is aerated by an Oakes foamer, and then applied to a fabric by a knife-over-roll applicator whereby the latex is worked below the surface of said fabric. The thusly sized fabric is then dried by passing it through an oven. The present invention enables the acquisition of sufficient hydrophobicity in the fabric so as to be a bacterial barrier while preserving therein comfort, drapeability, air permeability, flexibility, and hand. In addition to preserving the above properties, microsizing does not detract from sterilizability of the fabric.