Melt-blown Nonwoven Fabric Patents (Class 442/400)
  • Patent number: 11802358
    Abstract: Nonwoven fabrics suitable for a wide variety of applications (e.g., healthcare, filtration, industrial, packaging, etc.) are provided. In one aspect, the nonwoven fabric includes a plurality of segmented fibers. Each of the plurality of segmented fibers may comprise a fiber axis and a plurality of alternating larger diameter and smaller diameter segments along the fiber axis. The plurality of segmented fibers may be substantially aligned in a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: AVINTIV SPECIALTY MATERIALS INC.
    Inventors: Rongguo Zhao, Nyle Bishop
  • Patent number: 11745439
    Abstract: A flexible, self-supporting hybrid veil that is permeable to liquid and gas. The hybrid veil includes: (a) intermingled, randomly arranged fibres in the form of a nonwoven structure; (b) particles dispersed throughout the nonwoven structure, wherein a majority of the particles are penetrating through the thickness of the nonwoven structure; and (c) a polymeric or resinous binder present throughout the veil. Such hybrid veil can be incorporated into composite laminates, prepregs, fabrics and fibrous preforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: CYTEC INDUSTRIES INC.
    Inventors: Carmelo Luca Restuccia, Robert Blackburn
  • Patent number: 11654647
    Abstract: A method for the manufacturing of three-dimensional (3D) preforms and composite structures having non-planar surfaces and flanges such that the fibrous or composite material used for shaping the final 3D structure has the necessary length and surface area to conform to the desired contours of the molding tool without wrinkling. The manufacturing method begins with the formation of an intermediate preform blank by automated placement of fiber tapes or prepreg tapes, followed by shaping the blank on a molding tool with 3D contours to form the final 3D structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: CYTEC INDUSTRIES INC.
    Inventors: Robert Parkinson, Johannes Wolf Georg Treiber, Sebastien Luc Greber
  • Patent number: 11639242
    Abstract: A packaging for sterile packaging application includes: a single layer nonwoven fabric obtained from a nonwoven, the nonwoven including meltblown polymer fibers having an average fiber diameter between 2 ?m to 10 ?m and a standard deviation of the fiber diameter of at least 100%. The nonwoven is thermally bonded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: CARL FREUNDENBERG KG
    Inventors: Arun Prasad Venugopal, Nicolas Bernhard, Thomas Hofbauer, Klaus-Dietmar Wagner
  • Patent number: 11401371
    Abstract: A copolymerized saturated polyester resin is formed by polycondensation of an acid component and an alcohol component. The acid component contains (a-1) 90 to 99% by mole of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid or a C1-2 alkyl ester thereof and (a-2) 0.5 to 2% by mole of a trifunctional or higher functional carboxylic acid or an anhydride thereof. The alcohol component contains (b-1) 45 to 80% by mole of an alicyclic polyhydric alcohol and (b-2) 20 to 55% by mole of an aliphatic polyhydric alcohol having a C1-3 alkyl side chain. A coating composition containing the copolymerized saturated polyester resin shows excellent corrosion resistance and chemical resistance. A coating film formed from the coating composition shows excellent processability and resin solubility, and is useful for coating a can and pre-coated metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: SK CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyung-Gon Kim, Jong-Ki Sim, Soon-Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 11377530
    Abstract: A bonding method for joining two structural parts using a curable adhesive layer having a fibrous veil embedded therein. The fibrous veil carries a polymeric binder, which is in a solid phase at room temperature (20° C.-25° C.) and is capable of dissolving into the adhesive composition during curing thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: CYTEC INDUSTRIES INC.
    Inventors: Leonard Macadams, Dalip K. Kohli
  • Patent number: 11105018
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a dimensionally stable melt blown nonwoven fibrous web. The process includes forming a multiplicity of melt blown fibers by passing a molten stream including molecules of at least one thermoplastic semi-crystalline (co)polymer through at least one orifice of a melt-blowing die, subjecting at least a portion of the melt blown fibers to a controlled in-flight heat treatment operation at a temperature below a melting temperature of the at least one thermoplastic semi-crystalline (co)polymer immediately upon exiting from the at least one orifice, and collecting at least some of the melt blown fibers subjected to the controlled in-flight heat treatment operation on a collector to form a non-woven fibrous structure. The nonwoven fibrous structure exhibits a Shrinkage less than a Shrinkage measured on an identically-prepared structure including only fibers not subjected to the controlled in-flight heat treatment operation, and generally less than 15%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel J. Zillig, Sachin Talwar, Randy L. Christiansen, Michael D. Romano, Eric M. Moore, Pamela A. Percha, Liming Song, Myles L. Brostrom, Michael D. Swan
  • Patent number: 10843420
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite material (10) comprising a layer of electrically conductive material (12) being provided on both sides with a lightweight fibrous veil (14), each veil (14) being coated on its surface remote from the electrically conductive material layer (12) with a curable thermosetting resin matrix material (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: HEXCEL COMPOSITES LIMITED
    Inventors: John Elilis, Fiona Binks, Lara Jabbour, Marco Arcidiacono
  • Patent number: 10575916
    Abstract: A surfactant treatment is provided that can result in a sterilization wrap that can have a bacterial filtration efficiency of at least 94 percent as determined according to ASTM F2101. The surfactant treatment includes a surfactant consisting essentially of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Wrapping packs in a wrap treated with said surfactant treatment in an amount ranging from greater than 0 to 2 weight percent based on the dry weight of the wrap results in the production of fewer wet packs after steam sterilization compared to when packs are wrapped with an identical wrap without said surfactant treatment. A sterilization wrap comprising a nonwoven fabric and a dried residue surfactant treatment that is essentially free of silicon, potassium, phosphorus, and sulfur is also provided, where wrapping packs to be sterilized in the surfactant treated wrap reduces the occurrence of wet packs after steam sterilization compared using an untreated wrap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: O&M Halyard, Inc.
    Inventors: Catherine J. Turnbow, Roger B. Quincy, III, Anthony Stephen Spencer
  • Patent number: 9533136
    Abstract: The present application provides a device and methods of making and using these devices. The devices comprise porous caps and porous vents made from sintered porous polymeric media comprising plastic particles, elastomeric particles or a combination thereof. These devices are used with medical devices or components thereof to provide ease of use, resistance to infection, sterilization and venting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Porex Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Midgette, GuoQiang Mao, Avi Robbins, Jack Chan
  • Patent number: 9296151
    Abstract: In a method of producing a stretchable sheet using a pair of gear rolls each having a plurality of teeth arranged on a circumference thereof, a raw sheet is drawn by passing the raw sheet through a gap between the pair of gear rolls. The raw sheet contains a plurality of types of fibers, and has a plurality of recessed sections formed by pressing. The recessed sections are formed collinearly at least along the drawing direction at a predetermined formation pitch in the drawing direction. An arrangement pitch of the teeth in the drawing direction is greater than the formation pitch and smaller than twice the formation pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Ishikawa, Jun Okuda, Taishi Nakamura, Akihisa Shiomi
  • Patent number: 9018112
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a nonwoven fabric comprising within the range of from 50 to 99 wt %, by weight of the composition, of a reactor grade propylene-?-olefin copolymer possessing within the range of from 5 to 35 wt %, by weight of the copolymer, of units derived from one or more of ethylene and/or C4 to C12 ?-olefins; a melt flow rate (230° C./2.16 kg) within the range of from 500 to 7500 g/10 min; and a weight average molecular weight of less than 200,000; and a second polypropylene having a melting point, Tm, of greater than 110° C. and a melt flow rate (230° C./2.16 kg) within the range of from 20 to 7500 g/10 min; wherein the fabric has a CD Elongation value of greater than 50% (measuring the fabric of 35 g/m2 basis weight). The fabric described herein can be used in structures comprising one or more layers of the fabric described herein, and can include any number of other fabric layers made from other materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemicals Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Sudhin Datta, Derek Thurman, Chia Yung Cheng, Kuangyao B. Peng
  • Patent number: 8999867
    Abstract: Melt-blown fiber having an average diameter of not more than 5.0 ?m, said fiber comprises at least 85 wt.-% of a propylene copolymer, wherein •said melt blown fiber and/or said propylene copolymer has/have a melt flow rate MFR2 (230° C.) measured according to ISO 1133 of at least 200 g/10 min, •said propylene copolymer has a comonomer content of 0.5 to 5.5 wt.-%, the comonmers are ethylene and/or at least one C4 to C20 ?-olefin selected from the group consisting of 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-heptene, and 1-octene, •the propylene copolymer has <2,1> regiodefects of not more than 0.4 mol.-% determined by 13C-spectroscopy, and •said melt blown fiber and/or said propylene copolymer fulfill(s) the equation (1). wherein Tm [° C.] is the melting temperature [given in ° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Borealis AG
    Inventors: Henk Van Paridon, Bert Broeders, Wilhelmus henricus Adolf Sars, Joachim Fiebig, Nina Ackermans
  • Patent number: 8980772
    Abstract: A barrier fabric with a nano-fibrous layer for mechanical retention of organic substances formed by a sandwich structure containing a basic material from unwoven fabric of “spunbond” type with areal weight of 15 to 50 g/m2 to which at least one nano-fibrous layer is arranged, selected from hydrophilic polymer, a hydrophobic polymer, or in the case of double-layer arrangement, a combination of the hydrophilic polymer in one layer and the hydrophobic polymer in the other layer. The nano-fibrous layer is equipped with a protective covering layer, and the individual layers of the sandwich are connected to each other. The nano-fibrous layer has an organic polymer material with areal weight of 0.05 to 0.3 g/m2 and thickness from 90 to 150 nm. The covering layer is selected from an unwoven fabric of “spunbond” type, “meltblown” type, cotton textile and/or a mixture of cotton and polyester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ceska Vcela s.r.o.
    Inventor: Miroslav Kubin
  • Patent number: 8962127
    Abstract: An ultrathin, porous, and mechanically stable nonwoven fabric, a method for manufacturing the fabric, and the fabric's use are described. A nonwoven fabric is described having a thickness of less than 30 ?m, which is chemically and/or thermally bonded, whose maximum tensile load in at least one direction is at least 15 N/5 cm, whose stretching in this direction at maximum tensile load is 35% at the most, and which has a porosity of at least 25%. This nonwoven fabric may be used as a separator material or as a carrier material for diaphragms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Peter Kritzer, Raoul Farer, Guenter Frey, Michael Appelgruen, Rolf-Peter Schwoebel
  • Publication number: 20150044926
    Abstract: The invention concerns a hygiene product comprising at least one layer of a nonwoven wherein the nonwoven layer comprises man-made cellulosic fibers wherein the layer or the layers has or have a rewet value of equal to or less than 30% and a liquid strike through time of equal to or less than 6 seconds for the use in disposable hygiene products, such as diapers, feminine pads and incontinence products or in wet wipes like toilet wipes, facial wipes, cosmetic wipes, baby wipes and sanitary wipes for cleaning and disinfection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Shayda Rahbaran, Bianca Schachtner
  • Patent number: 8932704
    Abstract: Dimensionally stable nonwoven fibrous webs include a multiplicity of continuous fibers formed from one or more thermoplastic polyesters and polypropylene in an amount greater than 0% and no more than 10% by weight of the web. The webs have at least one dimension which decreases by no greater than 10% in the plane of the web when heated to a temperature above a glass transition temperature of the fibers. A spunbond process may be used to produce substantially continuous fibers that exhibit molecular orientation. A meltblown process may be used to produce discontinuous fibers that do not exhibit molecular orientation. Antishrinkage and antistatic additives are also added to the fibrous webs. The webs may be used as articles for filtration, sound absorption, thermal insulation, surface cleaning, cellular growth support, drug delivery, personal hygiene, medical apparel, or wound dressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Francis E. Porbeni, Chetan P. Jariwala, Mahfuza B. Ali, Matthew T. Scholz
  • Patent number: 8927443
    Abstract: A biodegradable nonwoven laminate is provided. The laminate comprises a spunbond layer formed from substantially continuous filaments that contain a first aliphatic polyester having a melting point of from about 50° C. to about 160° C. The meltblown layer is formed from microfibers that contain a second aliphatic polyester having a melting point of from about 50° C. to about 160° C. The first aliphatic polyester, the second aliphatic polyester, or both have an apparent viscosity of from about 20 to about 215 Pascal-seconds, as determined at a temperature of 160° C. and a shear rate of 1000 sec-1. The first aliphatic polyester may be the same or different than the second aliphatic polyester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jayant Chakravarty, Vasily Topolkaraev, Ross T. Kaufman, Stephen Avedis Baratian, Jared L. Martin
  • Publication number: 20150004866
    Abstract: Durable hydrophilic compositions comprising aliphatic polyester, an anionic surfactant, and in some embodiments, a carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: MATTHEW T. SCHOLZ, FRANCIS E. PORBENI
  • Patent number: 8906815
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to composite nonwoven fibrous webs including a population of sub-micrometer fibers having a median diameter less than one micrometer (?m), and a population of microfibers having a median diameter of at least 1 ?m. At least, one of the fiber populations is oriented, and each composite nonwoven fibrous web has a thickness and exhibits a Solidity of less than 10%. The disclosure also relates to methods of making composite nonwoven fibrous webs, and articles including composite nonwoven fibrous webs made according to the methods. In exemplary applications, the articles may be used as gas filtration articles, liquid filtration articles, sound absorption articles, surface cleaning articles, cellular growth support articles, drug delivery articles, personal hygiene articles, or wound dressing articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Eric M. Moore, Michael R. Berrigan
  • Publication number: 20140316362
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a new composite material comprising melt blown fiber based on a propylene copolymer and a fibrous substrate material, a process for the preparation of such a composite material, articles made therefrom as well as to the use of the propylene copolymer for the preparation of such a composite material or article and the use of the propylene copolymer for reducing the hot air volume during a melt blowing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Joachim Fiebig, Wilhelmus Henricus Adolf Sars, Heinz Wimmer, Henk Van Paridon
  • Publication number: 20140315462
    Abstract: A method for forming a fiber is provided. The method comprises supplying at least one aromatic polyester to a melt processing device and modifying the aromatic polyester with at least one polyether copolymer within the device to form a thermoplastic composition having a melt flow rate that is greater than the melt flow rate of the aromatic polyester. The polyether copolymer contains a repeating unit (A) having the following formula: wherein, x is an integer from 1 to 250, a the polyether copolymer further containing a repeating unit (B) having the following formula: wherein, n is an integer from 3 to 20; and y is an integer from 1 to 150.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Aimin He, Vasily A. Topolkaraev, Alan E. Wright, Gregory J. Wideman
  • Patent number: 8828895
    Abstract: Web material for production of tea bags and the like made of a nonwoven network of PLA fibers in mono-component and/or bi-component forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Nonwoven Network LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Foss, Jean-Marie Turra
  • Patent number: 8815432
    Abstract: A heat-resisting ultrafine fibrous separator of the present invention is prepared by an electrospinning process, formed of ultrafine fibers of heat-resisting polymer resin having a melting point more than 1800 C or not having the melting point, or ultrafine fibers of polymer resin capable of swelling in an electrolyte, together with the ultrafine fibers of heat-resisting polymer resin. Also, polyolefine fine particles providing a shutdown function are dispersed in the heat-resisting resin or the polymer resin capable of swelling in the electrolyte. The heat-resisting ultrafine fibrous separator of the present invention has the shutdown function, low thermal contraction, thermal endurance, excellent ionic conductivity and excellent adhesive property with an electrode, so a battery having excellent cycling characteristics, and having high-energy density and high capacity can be prepared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Seong-Mu Jo, Dong-Young Kim, Byung-Doo Chin
  • Publication number: 20140227552
    Abstract: A thermal insulation structure including a fabric layer and a dual-layer infrared radiation reflective metal coating disposed on a surface of the fabric layer. The dual-layer infrared radiation reflective metal coating includes a first coating layer directly applied on to the surface of the fabric layer, and, a second coating layer applied on to the first coating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: SK PLANET CO., LTD
    Inventors: Albert Pui Sang Lau, Lee Cheung Lau, Manas Kumar Sarkar, Jintu Fan
  • Patent number: 8802229
    Abstract: Meltblown lyocell fibers incorporating polyolefinic hydrophobic polymers are disclosed. The polymer is distributed fairly uniformly within the fiber and exists as approximately one to two micron diameter domains. The fibers have a high hemicellulose level, show reduced water retention values and have varying diameters depending on processing conditions. The fibers have a brightness of at least 60.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser NR Company
    Inventor: Mengkui Luo
  • Patent number: 8790449
    Abstract: Electret webs are presented which include a blend of a thermoplastic resin and a charge-enhancing additive. The charge-enhancing additives include a heterocyclic imide material which is free of fluorinated groups. The webs prepared from the blends may be in the form of films or non-woven fibrous webs. Non-woven microfiber webs are useful as filtration media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Fuming B. Li, John M. Sebastian, Marvin E. Jones, Daniel A. Japuntich
  • Patent number: 8764904
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fiber having starch and a high polymer, and a web employing such a fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Valerie Ann Bailey, Larry Neil Mackey, Paul Dennis Trokhan
  • Publication number: 20140155854
    Abstract: This invention relates to polypropylene fibers and fabrics containing polypropylene fibers, the fibers comprising propylene polymers comprising at least 50 mol % propylene, said polymers having: a) a melt flow rate (MFR, ASTM 1238, 230° C., 2.16 kg) of about 10 dg/min to about 25 dg/min; b) a dimensionless Stress Ratio/Loss Tangent Index R2 [defined by Eq. (8)] at 190° C. from about 1.5 to about 30; c) an onset temperature of crystallization under flow, Tc,rheol, (as determined by SAOS rheology, 190° C., 1° C./min, where said polymer has 0 wt % nucleating agent present), of at least about 123° C.; d) an average meso run length determined by 13C NMR of at least about 55 or higher; and e) optionally, a loss tangent, tan ?, [defined by Eq. (2)] at an angular frequency of 0.1 rad/s at 190° C. from about 14 to about 70.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicants: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Jeanne Marie MacDonald, Antonios K. Doufas, Jerome Sarrazin, William Michael Ferry, Rahul Ravindra Kulkarni, Derek Wade Thurman, Cynthia Ann Mitchell, Detlef Frey, Peter Schlag, Hans-Georg Geus, Claudio Cinquemani
  • Patent number: 8741083
    Abstract: A method for producing an elastically stretchable laminate having at least three layers, the method including the steps of: a) producing a first laminate having a first non-elastic fibrous nonwoven web and an elastic film; b) activating the first laminate by incremental stretching in at least one activation direction to render the first laminate elastically stretchable; c) stretching the activated first laminate to 10-200% in the activation direction; and d) laminating the stretched first laminate to a second non-elastic nonwoven web. An elastically stretchable laminate produced in accordance with the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Margareta Wennerbäck, Jan Wästlund-Karlsson, Elisabeth Lakso
  • Patent number: 8679992
    Abstract: An elastic composite formed from a laminate that contains an elastic film and a lightweight nonwoven facing having a low strength in the cross-machine direction (“CD”) is provided. Due to the low strength of the facing, it is desirable that the elastic film have a sufficient thickness and weight to enhance the strength of the resulting composite. Unfortunately, the ability to join an elastic film to such a lightweight nonwoven facing becomes increasingly difficult as the thickness of the film increases. In this regard, the present inventors have discovered that a second laminate may be employed in the elastic composite that is formed from a thermoplastic film and nonwoven facing to impart increased strength to the composite. The film and facing of the second laminate may be formed from the same or different materials than the film and facing of the first laminate. Regardless, the laminates are positioned so that the elastic and thermoplastic films are in a face-to-face relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: James Austin, Oomman P. Thomas, Stephen C. Meyer, Howard M. Welch, Jose A. Siqueira
  • Publication number: 20140080377
    Abstract: Crosslinking systems suitable for use in a polymer melt composition wherein the polymer melt composition comprises a hydroxyl polymer; polymeric structures made from such polymer melt compositions; and processes/methods related thereto are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen Wayne HEINZMAN, Linda EVERS SMITH, Gregory Charles GORDON, Larry Neil MACKEY, John Gerhard MICHAEL, Mark Ryan RICHARDS
  • Patent number: 8668975
    Abstract: An in situ compositionally modulated meltspun fabric and method for making the same. The meltspun fabric has at least one layer comprising a plurality of discrete regions of fiber. At least two discrete regions of fiber are inelastic or extensible and at least one discrete region of fiber is elastic or extensible. The layer is compositionally modulated in the cross direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventor: Alistair D. Westwood
  • Publication number: 20140065914
    Abstract: A method for forming a biodegradable aliphatic-aromatic copolyester suitable for use in fibers is provided. In one embodiment, for example, an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester is melt blended with an alcohol to initiate an alcoholysis reaction that results in a copolyester having one or more hydroxyalkyl or alkyl terminal groups. By selectively controlling the alcoholysis conditions (e.g., alcohol and copolymer concentrations, catalysts, temperature, etc.), a modified aliphatic-aromatic copolyester may be achieved that has a molecular weight lower than the starting aliphatic-aromatic polymer. Such lower molecular weight polymers also have the combination of a higher melt flow index and lower apparent viscosity, which is useful in a wide variety of fiber forming applications, such as in the meltblowing of nonwoven webs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: James H. Wang, Aimin He
  • Patent number: 8658548
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a nonwoven fabric comprising a support web and a fibrous barrier web, having a hydrohead of at least about 145 cm and a Frazier permeability of at least about 0.3 m3/m2-min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Michael Allen Bryner
  • Patent number: 8652977
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heat-resistant nonwoven fabric wherein the nonwoven fabric is formed from a poly(phenylene sulfide) fiber, and 30% by weight or more of the poly(phenylene sulfide) fiber has a crystallinity of 25 to 50%. Moreover, the properties of the heat-resistant nonwoven fabric can be further improved by making the nonwoven fabric have a multilayer structure in which layers composed of a poly(phenylene sulfide) filamentary fiber and layers composed of a poly(phenylene sulfide) fine fiber are stacked and integrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Fibers Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Shimizu, Masahiko Maeda
  • Publication number: 20140024279
    Abstract: A dimensionally stable bonded nonwoven fibrous web formed by extruding melt blown fibers of a polymeric material, collecting the melt blown fibers as an initial nonwoven fibrous web, and annealing the initial nonwoven fibrous web with a controlled heating and cooling operation, is described. The bonded nonwoven fibrous web shrinkage is typically less than 4 percent relative to the initial nonwoven fibrous web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael R. Berrigan, John D. Stelter, Ruth A. Ebbens, Sian F. Fennessey
  • Publication number: 20130344764
    Abstract: A method for forming a biodegradable aliphatic polyester suitable for use in fibers is provided. In one embodiment, for example, an aliphatic polyester is melt blended with an alcohol to initiate an alcoholysis reaction that results in a polyester having one or more hydroxyalkyl or alkyl terminal groups. By selectively controlling the alcoholysis conditions (e.g., alcohol and polymer concentrations, catalysts, temperature, etc.), a modified aliphatic polyester may be achieved that has a molecular weight lower than the starting aliphatic polyester. Such lower molecular weight polymers also have the combination of a higher melt flow index and lower apparent viscosity, which is useful in a wide variety of fiber forming applications, such as in the meltblowing of nonwoven webs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Aimin He, James H. Wang
  • Patent number: 8613795
    Abstract: Electret webs are presented which include a blend of a thermoplastic resin and a charge-enhancing additive. The charge-enhancing additives include N-substituted amino carbocyclic aromatic materials. The webs prepared from the blends may be in the form of films or non-woven fibrous webs. Non-woven microfiber webs are useful as filtration media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Fuming B. Li, Feng Bai, John M. Sebastian, Marvin E. Jones
  • Publication number: 20130327006
    Abstract: Melt-blown fiber comprising a terpolymer of propylene, ethylene and a C4 to C10 ?-olefin, wherein further said melt blown fiber and/or said terpolymer has/have a melt flow rate MFR25 (230° C.) of at least 300 g/10 min, the amount of propylene in said terpolymer is at least 90.0 wt.-%, the weight ratio of ethylene and a-olefin within said terpolymer is 1/100 to below 1/1, and the terpolymer has <2,1> regiodefects of below 0.4 mol.-%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Henk Van Paridon, Antti Tynys, Joachim Fiebig, Matthew Parkinson
  • Patent number: 8603281
    Abstract: An elastic composite formed from a lightweight nonwoven facing that has a low degree of strength in the cross-machine direction (“CD”) is provided. Through selective control over certain parameters of the materials employed in the composite and the formation process, the present inventors have discovered that such low strength and lightweight facings may be readily laminated to an elastic film without significantly damaging their integrity. For example, in one embodiment, the elastic film may possess a multi-layered construction that includes an elastomeric elastic layer positioned adjacent to a strength-enhancing thermoplastic layer. The polymer content and thickness of the thermoplastic layer are generally selected to impart additional strength and integrity to the film. Likewise, the polymer content of the elastic layer may also be selected so that the film possesses a sufficient tack for adhering to the facing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard M. Welch, James Austin, Lisa Sanabria, Jose A. Siqueira, Wing-Chak Ng, Bryan D. Haynes, Oomman P. Thomas, Iris V. Schumacher, Christopher Laslie, Stephen C. Meyer
  • Patent number: 8598052
    Abstract: A highly air-permeable and water-resistance sheet according to the present invention includes a hydrophobic non-woven fabric layer having 100 mm H2O or more of water pressure resistance and a fine cellulose fiber layer layered on the hydrophobic non-woven fabric layer, and a water repellent layer is layered on either surface of the highly air-permeable and water-resistance sheet. A highly air-permeable and water-resistance sheet composite according to the present invention includes the highly air-permeable and water resistance sheet and another non-woven fabric layered onto the water-repellant layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Daio Paper Corporation
    Inventors: Migaku Suzuki, Akira Kawase
  • Patent number: 8592329
    Abstract: Methods for enhancing one or more physical properties of wet-laid or dry-laid fiber mats, such as a glass fiber, cellulosic or polymeric fiber mats are disclosed and fiber mats made according to such processes. Certain embodiments of the methods involve vibrational compression of a wet-laid or dry-laid fiber mat. In some embodiments the methods produce a fiber mat having increased apparent density and/or tensile strength as compared to a mat that has not been vibrationally compressed. Exemplar fiber mats suitable for use in the disclosed methods include, for example, glass, polyolefin, ethylene terephthalate, or cellulose fibers, or mixtures thereof. Glass, cellulosic or polymeric fiber mats that are structurally improved by the disclosed methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hollingsworth & Vose Company
    Inventors: Larry K. Coon, George Zguris, Patrick Svoboda
  • Patent number: 8557374
    Abstract: Disclosed are multicomponent fibers derived from a blend of a sulfopolyester with a water non-dispersible polymer wherein the as-spun denier is less than about 6 and wherein the water dispersible sulfopolyester exhibits a melt viscosity of less than 12,000 poise measured at 240° C. at a strain rate of 1 rad/sec, and wherein the sulfopolyester comprising less than about 25 mole % of residues of at least one sulfomonomer, based on the total moles of diacid or diol residues. The multicomponent fiber is capable of being drawn at a relatively high fiber speed, particularly at least about 2000 m/min, and may be used to produce microdenier fibers. Fibrous articles may be produced from the multicomponent fibers and microdenier fibers. Also disclosed is a process for multicomponent fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and microdenier webs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Scott Ellery George, Daniel William Klosiewicz, Kab Sik Seo, Coralie McKenna Fleenor, Allen Lynn Crain
  • Patent number: 8552142
    Abstract: Copolymers exhibiting the following combinations of properties, including without limitation, ?-caprolactone in an amount ranging from about 12 to about 70 mole percent, glycolide in an amount ranging from about 30 to about 88 mole percent, crystallinity ranging from about 10 to about 50% as measured by WAXD or about 10 to about 50 J/g as measured by DSC, and an inherent viscosity ranging from about 0.5 to about 1.45 dL/g as measured in a 0.1 g/dl solution of HFIP at 25° C.; a method for melt blowing such copolymers and nonwoven constructs produced therefrom are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Modesto Erneta, Dennis D. Jamiolkowski, Jianguo J. Zhou, Sasa Andjelic
  • Publication number: 20130244527
    Abstract: Disclosed are technical fibers and yarns made with partially aromatic polyamides and non-halogenated flame retardant additives. Fabrics made from such fibers and yarns demonstrate superior flame retardancy over traditional flame retardant nylon 6,6 fabrics. Further, the disclosed fibers and yarns, when blended with other flame retardant fibers, do not demonstrate the dangerous “scaffolding effect” common with flame retardant nylon 6,6 blended fabrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: INVISTA North America S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Deborah M. Sarzotti, Thomas E. Schmitt, Andrew W. Briggs
  • Publication number: 20130237111
    Abstract: Fabricated articles are disclosed which comprise a polypropylene impact copolymer. The propylene impact copolymer composition comprises from 60 to 90 percent by weight of the impact copolymer composition of a matrix phase, which can be a homopolymer polypropylene or random polypropylene copolymer having from 0.1 to 7 mol percent of units derived from ethylene or C4-C10 alpha olefins. The propylene impact copolymer composition also comprises from 10 to 40 percent by weight of the impact copolymer composition of a dispersed phase, which comprises a propylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having from 6 to 40 mol percent of units derived from ethylene or C4-C10 alpha olefins, wherein the dispersed phase has a comonomer content which is greater than the comonomer content in the matrix phase. The propylene impact copolymer composition is further characterized by having the ratio of the matrix MFR to the dispersed phase MFR being 1.2 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: BRASKEM AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Alechia Crown, Gert Claasen, Jacquelyn Degroot, Thor Gudmundsson, Charles Crosby, Li-Min Tau, John Kaarto
  • Publication number: 20130212993
    Abstract: Melt-blown fiber (MBF) comprising a propylene copolymer (PP), wherein the melt-blown fiber (MBF) and/or the propylene copolymer (PP) has/have (a) a melt flow rate MFR2 (230° C.) measured according to ISO 1133 of at least 300 g/10 min, (b) a comonomer content of 1.5 to 6.0 wt.-%, the comonomers are ethylene and/or at least one C4 to C12 ?-olefin, (c) <2,1> regiodefects of more than 0.4 mol.-% determined by 13C-NMR spectroscopy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Antti Tynys, Joachim Fiebig
  • Patent number: 8512569
    Abstract: Fluid filtration articles, including composite nonwoven fibrous webs, and methods of making and using such articles as gas or liquid filtration elements. The articles include a population of coarse microfibers having a population median diameter of at least 1 micrometer (?m) formed as a first layer, and a population of fine fibers having a population median diameter less than 10 ?m formed as a second layer adjoining the first layer. At least one of the fiber populations may be oriented. In one implementation, the coarse microfibers and fine fibers are polymeric, the coarse microfibers have a population median diameter of at least 10 ?m, and the fine fibers have a population median diameter less than 10 ?m. In another implementation, the population of fine fibers has a population median diameter less than 1 ?m. Optionally, one or both of the first and second layers may include particulates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bradley W. Eaton, Michael R. Berrigan, William J. Feil, III
  • Patent number: 8501642
    Abstract: This invention provides compound solutions, emulsions and gels excellent in homogeneous dispersibility and long-term dispersion stability and also excellent in the properties as cosmetics, using disarranged nanofibers not limited in either form or polymer, widely applicable and small in the irregularity of single fiber diameter. This invention also provides a method for producing them. Furthermore, this invention provides synthetic papers composed of fibers, small in pore area and uniform in pore size, using disarranged nanofibers, and also provides a method for producing them. This invention provides compound solutions, emulsions, gels and synthetic papers containing disarranged nanofibers of 1 to 500 nm in number average diameter and 60% or more in the sum Pa of single fiber ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Naruse, Takeo Matsunase, Takashi Ochi, Kakuji Murakami, Shuichi Nonaka