Melt-blown Nonwoven Fabric Patents (Class 442/400)
  • Publication number: 20110130063
    Abstract: Provided are a spinning apparatus capable of stably spinning fibers having a small fiber diameter with a high productivity, an apparatus comprising the same for manufacturing a nonwoven fabric, a process for manufacturing a nonwoven fabric using the nonwoven fabric manufacturing apparatus, and a nonwoven fabric produced by the process. The spinning apparatus of the present invention comprises one or more exits for extruding liquid, which are capable of extruding a spinning liquid, and one or more exits for ejecting gas, which extend linearly and are located upstream of each of the exits for extruding liquid and which are capable of ejecting a gas, wherein a shearing force by the gas and its accompanying airstream can be single-linearly exerted on the spinning liquid extruded. The apparatus of the present invention for manufacturing a nonwoven fabric comprises a fibers collection means as well as the spinning apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: JAPAN VILENE COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuko MATSUBAYASHI, Masahiro AMAGASA, Yukio KOJIMA, Kenji KIMURA
  • Patent number: 7947613
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a low-density substrate, which has an optimized pore volume distribution. The optimized pore volume distribution allows the substrate to hold at least 50 percent of its cumulative volume within pores with a radius size of about 110 to 250 microns. The optimized pore volume distribution can also be characterized by having a dry fibrous web that absorbs less than 20 percent of the cumulative volume of the fibrous web at a pore radius of 75 microns. The optimized pore volume distribution of the substrate enables it to controllably release a fluid composition effectively onto a surface. The basis weight of the substrate is about 80 to 20 gsm and the density of the substrate is below 0.1 g/cc. The substrate may be a pre-loaded wipe, which is either moistened by a consumer prior to use or moistened prior to packaging. The composition loaded onto the substrate may contain dry and/or liquid compositions preferably for cleaning hard or soft surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: The Clorox Company
    Inventors: William Ouellette, Nikhil Dani, Richard Suk
  • Patent number: 7938908
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fiber including unmodified and/or modified starch and a crosslinking agent, and a web employing such a fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Valerie Ann Bailey, Larry Neil Mackey, Paul Dennis Trokhan
  • Patent number: 7935646
    Abstract: Disclosed is a nonwoven web material (10) comprising thermoplastic fibers or filaments and a method of manufacture thereof. The web material has properties desirable for use on machinery having conventional heat sealing stations (26). Also, disclosed is a nonwoven infusion web material comprising thermoplastic fibers or filaments and a method of manufacture thereof. The infusion web material has properties desirable for use in making infusion packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Ahlstrom Nonwovens LLC
    Inventors: Helen Viazmensky, John M. Allen, Richard T. Giovannoni
  • Publication number: 20110092931
    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: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Scott Ellery George, Daniel William Klosiewicz, Kab Sik Seo, Coralie McKenna Fleenor, Allen Lynn Crain
  • Patent number: 7927690
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a nonwoven fabric which is excellent in the heat resistance and the chemical resistance, of which the fiber diameter is small, which is excellent in the strength and of which the maximum pore diameter is small. A nonwoven fabric made of an ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, characterized in that the nonwoven fabric is mutually fused continuous fibers of an ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer which has a melt viscosity of from higher than 100 to 1,500 Pa·s at 240° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Daisuke Taguchi, Ken Iruya, Seigo Kotera
  • Publication number: 20110076907
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus, process, and product allowing for the manufacture of non-woven fluoropolymers, perfluoropolymers, and high temperature engineering resin filaments obtained from low melt index polymers. The fibers have continuous structural integrity created by using a heated duct that provides for maintaining an elevated filament temperature during filament draw down. The apparatus allows for entanglement and melt bonding of the fluoropolymers perfluoropolymers, and high temperature engineering resin filaments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Charles A. Glew, David Braun, Simon Philip Slack
  • Patent number: 7902096
    Abstract: A porous monocomponent nonwoven web contains a bimodal mass fraction/fiber size mixture of intermingled continuous microfibers and larger size fibers of the same polymeric composition. There are at least five times as many microfibers as larger size fibers, and a histogram of the mass fraction of fibers vs. fiber size exhibits a larger size fiber mode greater than 10 ?m. The web may be made by flowing fiber-forming material through a die cavity having larger size orifices and at least five times as many smaller size orifices to form filaments, attenuating the filaments into fibers and collecting the attenuated fibers to form the nonwoven web. The web is especially well suited to the manufacture of self-supporting three dimensional articles such as molded cup-shaped respirators and pleated air filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John M. Brandner, William J. Kopecky, Seyed A. Angadjivand, James E. Springett, Timothy J. Lindquist
  • Patent number: 7902094
    Abstract: Disclosed are water-dispersible fibers derived from sulfopolyesters having a Tg of at least 25° C. The fibers may contain a single sulfopolyester or a blend of a sulfopolyester with a water-dispersible or water-nondispersible polymer. Also disclosed are multicomponent fibers comprising a water dispersible sulfopolyester having a Tg of at least 57° C. and a water non-dispersible polymer. The multicomponent fibers may be used to produce microdenier fibers. Fibrous articles may be produced from the water-dispersible fibers, multicomponent fibers, and microdenier fibers. The fibrous articles include water-dispersible and microdenier nonwoven webs, fabrics, and multilayered articles such as wipes, gauze, tissue, diapers, panty liners, sanitary napkins, bandages, and surgical dressings. Also disclosed is a process for water-dispersible fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and microdenier webs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: William Alston Haile, Scott Ellery George, Wesley Raymond Hale, Waylon Lewellyn Jenkins
  • Patent number: 7892993
    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: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Scott Ellery George, Daniel William Klosiewicz, Kab Sik Seo, Coralie McKenna Fleenor, Allen Lynn Crain
  • Publication number: 20110021104
    Abstract: Amphoteric polymer composite nanoparticles are added into the polymer grains of synthetic fibers. The synthetic fibers are woven to form a textile capable of adjusting pH value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: TAIWAN TEXTILE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jia-Peng Lin, Pui-Leng Lai, Wan-Ling Lu, Ding-Han Huang, Chao-Huei Liu, Chun-Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 7863206
    Abstract: Nonwoven fabrics and methods for making the same are described, wherein the fabrics comprise two or more propylene-based elastomers in combination with one or more propylene-based thermoplastic polymers. Specifically, the first propylene-based elastomer comprises at least 7% by weight ethylene or non-propylene alpha-olefin units, the second propylene-based elastomer comprises less than 7% by weight ethylene or non-propylene alpha-olefin units, the first and second propylene-based elastomers each have a heat of fusion less than 80 J/g, and the propylene-based thermoplastic polymer has a heat of fusion greater than 80 J/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Harrington, Smita Kacker, Vetkav Rajagopalan Eswaran
  • Publication number: 20100330861
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrophobic additive for use with fabric, fiber, and film. One aspect of the present invention comprises a master batch composition for use in preparing a non-woven fabric in order to increase the hydrophobicity of the non-woven fabric. In one embodiment, the master batch composition includes a polymer and a lipid ester. The lipid ester comprises from 10 wt. % to 40 wt. % of the master batch. The fabric, when including the master batch composition, has a contact angle ranging from 100° to 125° when measured according to test method ASTM D2578.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: TECHMER PM, LLC
    Inventor: Ebrahim Mor
  • Publication number: 20100323575
    Abstract: A biodegradable fiber for use in forming a nonwoven web is provided. The fiber is formed from a thermoplastic composition comprising at least one polylactic acid in an amount from about 75 wt. % to about 99 wt. % and at least one polyether copolymer in an amount from about 1 wt. % to about 25 wt. %, wherein the polyether copolymer contains from about 40 mol. % to about 95 mol. % of a repeating unit (A) having the following formula. wherein, x is an integer from 1 to 250, the polyether copolymer further containing from about 5 mol. % to about 60 mol. % of 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. Such polyether copolymers have been found to improve a variety of characteristics of the resulting thermoplastic composition, including its ability to be melt processed into fibers and webs, as well as its sensitivity to moisture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Aimin He, Vasily A. Topolkaraev
  • Patent number: 7846855
    Abstract: A nonwoven fabric containing a polyvinyl butyral fiber is provided. In particular, continuous fiber nonwoven fabrics, such as a melt-blown nonwoven fabric and a spunbonded nonwoven fabric, are preferred. By laminating a plurality of layers via an adhering layer made of such a nonwoven fabric and then heating, a laminate is obtained by a simple process. In particular, an interior material in which an inorganic fiber layer, a foam layer and a surface material layer are adhered together via the aforementioned type of adhering layers is a desirable embodiment. Such an interior material is excellent in rigidity, sound absorbency and thermal deformation resistance, and therefore is useful as an interior material to be used for cars, railway vehicles, vessels, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignees: Kuraray Co., Ltd., Kuraray Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Harada, Soichi Obata, Hideo Hayashi, Yasurou Araida, Tomoaki Kimura, Martin Steuer
  • Patent number: 7820573
    Abstract: A fibrous blanket material is provided having a first fibrous layer selected from a group of fibers consisting of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, fiberglass, natural fibers, nylon, rayon and blends thereof and a layer of meltblown polypropylene fibers. In an alternative embodiment the blanket may also include a second fibrous layer made of the same material as the first layer where the layer of meltblown polypropylene fibers is sandwiched between the two fibrous layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: OCV Intellectual Capital, LLC,
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Tilton
  • Publication number: 20100252047
    Abstract: A method of making a fluorinated fibrous web, which method includes providing a nonwoven web 22 that contains polymeric fibers, creating a plasma that contains fluorine atoms at a first location 14, and contacting the nonwoven web with products from the plasma at a second location 26 remote from the first location 14. The method avoids exposure of the web to the plasma and hence expands the manufacturing processing window. Webs so fluorinated have a different C3F4H+ to C2F5+ ratio when compared to locally fluorinated webs having similar levels of surface fluorination. The remote fluorinated webs can be subsequently charged electrically to provide a good performing electret filter 40 suitable for use in an air purifying respirator 30. Webs fluorinated in accordance with this invention also may exhibit good performance even after being “aged” at high temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Seth M. Kirk, Marvin E. Jones, Steven J. Pachuta, Andrew W. Chen, William P. Klinzing, Patrick J. Sager
  • Patent number: 7807591
    Abstract: A nonwoven fibrous web comprising a matrix of continuous meltspun fibers bonded to a coherent self-sustaining form, and separately prepared microfibers dispersed among the meltspun fibers. The microfibers may have median diameters less than one or two micrometers. A method for preparing such a nonwoven fibrous web comprises establishing a stream of continuous oriented meltspun fibers having a longitudinal axis, establishing a stream of meltblown microfibers that exit a meltblowing die at a point near the stream of meltspun fibers, the meltblown stream being aimed to merge with the meltspun stream and having a longitudinal axis that forms an angle of between 0 and 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the meltspun stream, capturing the meltblown fibers in the stream of meltspun fibers, and collecting the merged stream as a web on a collector spaced near the intersection point of the meltspun and meltblown streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, John D. Stelter, Timothy J. Lindquist
  • Publication number: 20100233523
    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: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Seong-Mu Jo, Dong-Young Kim, Byung-Doo Chin
  • Publication number: 20100233927
    Abstract: The present invention relates to as-spun fibers and filaments comprising a nucleated metallocene polypropylene. Said fibers and filaments are characterized by improved mechanical properties. The present invention also relates to nonwovens made with such fibers and filaments and to a process for making such fibers and filaments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Total Petrochemicals Research Feluy
    Inventors: Alain Standaert, Guillaume Pavy, Hugues Haubruge, Olivier Lhost
  • Patent number: 7790641
    Abstract: The invention provides a sheet material comprising bicomponent filaments having first and second polymer components that are arranged in substantially distinct zones within the filaments, with the first polymer component formed of a relatively lower melting polymer and the second component formed of a relatively higher melting polymer. The filaments of the nonwoven fabric layer are densely arranged and compacted against one another to form smooth, substantially nonporous opposite outer surfaces, and the nonwoven fabric layer are calendered such that the lower melting sheath polymer is fused to the contacting surface portions of adjacent filaments to impart strength and coherency to the nonwoven fabric layer. The sheet material has excellent breathability and liquid barrier properties and may be useful in house wrap, medical garments, and envelope applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Fiberweb, Inc.
    Inventors: John Frank Baker, Jr., Gregory W. Farell, Shannon Schoppman
  • Publication number: 20100159779
    Abstract: The invention provides a conductive powder composite including a bamboo charcoal powder pre-processed with a pulverizing procedure and a refining procedure of 900 to 1500° C. and a conductive carbon black powder, wherein the bamboo charcoal powder and the conductive carbon black powder are blended by a high speed mechanical granulating machine to form the conductive powder composite. The conductive powder composite can simultaneously and effectively improve the poor conductivity of the bamboo charcoal powder and the embrittlement characteristic of the conductive carbon black powder in the conventional technology. The invention also provides a conductive masterbatch and a fabrication method thereof, and a multifunctional antistatic non-woven fabric and a fabrication method thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: TAIWAN TEXTILE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: WEI-JEN LAI, SHENG-SHAN CHANG
  • Publication number: 20100159778
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an article suitable for attachment to the skin of a user, the article including a compressible material and a means for attaching the compressible material to skin, wherein the compressible material has Compressibility under a 1.4 kilopascal load greater than about 14 percent, and further wherein the compressible material has an Initial Shear Modulus in a first direction less than about 200 kilopascals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Janis W. Hughes, Bryon P. Day, Russell F. Ross, Lisa M. Sanabria
  • Publication number: 20100159777
    Abstract: A thermoplastic starch for use in a melt-processed composition (e.g., fiber, nonwoven web, etc.) is provided. The thermoplastic starch contains an enzymatically debranched starch and a plasticizer. By selectively controlling certain parameters of the enzymatic modification process (e.g., temperature, enzyme and starch concentrations, reaction time, isolation method, etc.), the present inventors have discovered that a native starch may be hydrolyzed in a highly efficient manner to form compositions having a comparably lower weight average molecular weight and viscosity, which are particularly suitable for use in the formation of thermoplastic starches for use in melt processing applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: James H. Wang, Bo Shi
  • Patent number: 7737061
    Abstract: This invention relates to polyolefin compositions. In particular, the invention pertains to elastic polymer compositions that can be more easily processed on cast film lines, extrusion lamination or coating lines due to improved resistance to draw resonance. The compositions of the present invention preferably comprise an elastomeric polyolefin resin and a high pressure low density type resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Andy C. Chang, Ronald J. Weeks, Hong Peng, Antonios K. Doufas, Yunwa W. Cheung
  • Publication number: 20100129628
    Abstract: A non-woven web, comprising one or more polymeric fibers, wherein the number-average fiber diameter distribution of said one or more polymeric fibers conforms to a Johnson unbounded distribution. Non-woven webs comprising such polymeric fibers are rendered with mean-flow pore size and porosity desirable for specific filtration applications such as hepafiltration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventor: PATRICK HENRY YOUNG
  • Publication number: 20100119788
    Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging material for corrosible metallic objects, comprised of a plastic film forming a package outer surface, an inner layer, and an adhesive layer bonding the plastic film to the inner layer, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a volatile corrosion inhibitor and the inner layer has a high permeability for the corrosion inhibitor on the package outer surface as compared to the plastic film. According to the invention the adhesive layer is formed by a chemically binding reaction adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Tilo Wachs, Josef Leuders, Juergen Triebert
  • Patent number: 7713894
    Abstract: A process of preparing an elastic thermally bonded nonwoven web, whereby the process is characterized by the following steps: (i) providing a thermally bonded nonwoven precursor web containing thermoplastic fibers, (ii) subjecting the precursor web of step (i) to a drawing treatment in a machine direction at a drawing rate of from 45 to 70%, and a strain rate within a range of from 1000 to 2400%/min at a temperature between the softening point and the melting point of the fibers for preparing the elastic thermally bonded nonwoven web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: E.I. Dupont De Nemours and Company
    Inventors: De-Sheng Tsai, Te-Hsin Tsai
  • Patent number: 7696109
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a low-density substrate, which has an optimized pore volume distribution. The optimized pore volume distribution allows the substrate to hold at least 50 percent of its cumulative volume within pores with a radius size of about 110 to 250 microns. The optimized pore volume distribution can also be characterized by having a dry fibrous web that absorbs less than 20 percent of the cumulative volume of the fibrous web at a pore radius of 75 microns. The optimized pore volume distribution of the substrate enables it to controllably release a fluid composition effectively onto a surface. The basis weight of the substrate is about 80 to 20 gsm and the density of the substrate is below 0.1 g/cc. The substrate may be a pre-loaded wipe, which is either moistened by a consumer prior to use or moistened prior to packaging. The composition loaded onto the substrate may contain dry and/or liquid compositions preferably for cleaning hard or soft surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: The Clorox Company
    Inventors: William Ouellette, Nikhil Dani, Richard Suk
  • Patent number: 7687416
    Abstract: An arrangement for producing a fibrous mat from a heated die source wherein the produced mat includes a first layered, preselected fiber portion of substantially straight fibers produced by directing such fibers directly to a collector source and a second layered preselected fiber portion of substantially curled fibers produced by diverting and exerting an external vortically creative curling force thereon before reaching the collector source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: AAF-McQuay Inc.
    Inventor: Kyung Choi
  • Patent number: 7674730
    Abstract: Nonwoven fabric includes thermoplastic elastomer fiber and thermoplastic polyolefin fiber. A variation of b-value appearing in laboratory color specifying system before and after irradiation of the thermoplastic elastomer fiber with 5000 KJ/m2 of UV radiation is 20 or higher, a variation of b-value appearing in the laboratory color specifying system before and after irradiation of the nonwoven fabric with 5000 KJ/m2 of UV radiation is 10 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Mitsuno, Hirotomo Mukai, Hiroki Goda
  • Publication number: 20100048081
    Abstract: A method for forming a biodegradable polyester suitable for use in fibers is provided. Specifically, a biodegradable polyester is melt processed at a controlled water content to initiate a hydrolysis reaction. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the hydroxyl groups present in water are capable of attacking the ester linkage of the polyester, thereby leading to chain scission or “depolymerization” of the polyester molecule into one or more shorter ester chains. By selectively controlling the reaction conditions (e.g., water content, temperature, shear rate, etc.), a hydrolytically degraded polyester may be achieved that has a molecular weight lower than the starting polymer. Such lower molecular weight polymers have a higher melt flow rate and lower apparent viscosity, which are useful in a wide variety of fiber forming applications, such as in the meltblowing of nonwoven webs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Vasily A. Topolkaraev, Gregory J. Wideman, Ross T. Kaufman, Alan E. Wright, Jeffrey J. Krueger, Jayant Chakravarty
  • Publication number: 20100048082
    Abstract: A method for forming a biodegradable polylactic acid suitable for use in fibers is provided. Specifically, a polylactic acid is melt processed at a controlled water content to initiate a hydrolysis reaction. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the hydroxyl groups present in water are capable of attacking the ester linkage of polylactic acids, thereby leading to chain scission or “depolymerization” of the polylactic acid molecule into one or more shorter ester chains. The shorter chains may include polylactic acids, as well as minor portions of lactic acid monomers or oligomers, and combinations of any of the foregoing. By selectively controlling the hydrolysis conditions (e.g., moisture and polymer concentrations, temperature, shear rate, etc.), a hydrolytically degraded polylactic acid may be achieved that has a molecular weight lower than the starting polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Vasily A. Topolkaraev, Gregory J. Wideman, Ross T. Kaufman, Alan E. Wright, Jeffrey J. Krueger, Jayant Chakravarty
  • Publication number: 20100029162
    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: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Sudhin Datta, Derek Thurman, Chia Yung Cheng, Kuangyao B. Peng
  • Patent number: 7655582
    Abstract: The present invention provides polypropylene blends for use in the production of fibers and fabrics. The polypropylene blends according to the current invention comprise from about 85 to about 95 percent by weight of a propylene homopolymer and from about 5 to about 15 percent by weight of an ethylene/propylene random copolymer having an ethylene content of about 7 percent by weight or less. The overall ethylene content of the blends according to the present invention is about 1 percent by weight or less. Polypropylene blends according to the current invention provide lower bonding temperatures and wider bonding windows without the increased smoke generation associated with high solubles homopolymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sunoco Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Kimberly M. McLoughlin, Sehyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20090311937
    Abstract: A method for forming a biodegradable polylactic acid suitable for use in fibers is provided. In one embodiment, for example, a polylactic acid is melt blended with an alcohol to initiate an alcoholysis reaction that results in a polylactic acid 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 polylactic acid may be achieved that has a molecular weight lower than the starting polylactic acid. 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: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Aimin He, James H. Wang
  • Publication number: 20090312731
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a product selected from the group consisting of filter products, disposable absorbent products, wipe products and structural and/or reinforcement products characterized in that the product is made of or includes a nonwoven web made by a melt-blowing process employing a cellulose solution in N-methyl-morpholine (NMMO).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: LENZING AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas Steindl, Mirko Einzmann, Shayda Rahbaran, Josef Schmidtbauer, Bernhard Voglauer
  • Publication number: 20090305594
    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: ?C2H4O?x ??(A) wherein, x is an integer from 1 to 250, the polyether copolymer further containing a repeating unit (B) having the following formula: ?CnH2nO?y ??(B) wherein, n is an integer from 3 to 20; and y is an integer from 1 to 150.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Aimin He, Vasily A. Topolkaraev, Alan E. Wright, Gregory J. Wideman
  • Patent number: 7618907
    Abstract: A fibrous blanket material is provided having a first fibrous layer selected from a group of fibers consisting of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, fiberglass, natural fibers, nylon, rayon and blends thereof and a layer of meltblown polypropylene fibers. In an alternative embodiment the blanket may also include a second fibrous layer made of the same material as the first layer where the layer of meltblown polypropylene fibers is sandwiched between the two fibrous layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Tilton
  • Publication number: 20090264040
    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: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: ETHICON, INC.
    Inventors: Modesto Erneta, Dennis D. JAMIOLKOWSKI, Jianguo Jack ZHOU, Sasa ANDJELIC
  • Publication number: 20090258561
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cellulose carbamate spinning solution, the cellulose carbamate being dissolved in an ionic liquid. The invention relates furthermore to a method for the production of nonwovens in which the cellulose carbamate spinning solution is pressed through the holes of a nozzle bar and stretched by a multiple by means of an air flow. The formed fibre curtain is laid on a perforated conveyer belt, washed and dried. Likewise, the invention relates to nonwovens of this type and also the use thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Horst Ebeling, Hans-Peter Fink
  • Patent number: 7601657
    Abstract: An elastic laminate capable of being rolled for storage and unwound from a roll when needed for use, includes an elastic layer selected from the group consisting of an array of continuous filament strands, an array of continuous filament strands with meltblown deposited on the continuous filament strands, and a film; a gatherable facing layer bonded to only one side of the elastic layer; and either an adhesive that demonstrates a relatively short open time deposited between the elastic layer and facing layer, or such adhesive and a postbonding adhesive or nonblocking agent, or a nonblocking agent layer deposited on the elastic layer on a side opposite to the facing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Peiguang Zhou, James Russell Fitts, Jr., Greg Nicholas Geiser, Gregory K. Hall, Raymond Jeffrey May, Mark Michael Mleziva, Charles John Morell, Wing-Chak Ng, Thomas Harold Roessler, Bryan James Stadelman, Howard Martin Welch, Robert David Wright
  • Publication number: 20090233049
    Abstract: A coform nonwoven web that contains a matrix of meltblown fibers and an absorbent material is provided. The meltblown fibers are formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains at least one propylene/?-olefin copolymer of a certain monomer content, density, melt flow rate, etc. The selection of a specific type of propylene/?-olefin copolymer provides the resulting composition with improved thermal properties for forming a coform web. For example, the thermoplastic composition crystallizes at a relatively slow rate, thereby allowing the fibers to remain slightly tacky during formation. This tackiness may provide a variety of benefits, such as enhancing the ability of the meltblown fibers to adhere to the absorbent material during formation of the coform web. In certain embodiments, the coform web may also be imparted with texture using a three-dimensional forming surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: David M. Jackson, Michael A. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20090226690
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a nonwoven fabric which is excellent in the heat resistance and the chemical resistance, of which the fiber diameter is small, which is excellent in the strength and of which the maximum pore diameter is small. A nonwoven fabric made of an ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, characterized in that the nonwoven fabric is mutually fused continuous fibers of an ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer which has a melt viscosity of from higher than 100 to 1,500 Pa˜s at 240° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Daisuke Taguchi, Ken Iruya, Seigo Kotera
  • Publication number: 20090203281
    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: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Aimin He, James H. Wang
  • Publication number: 20090186189
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of a hydroentangled product comprising cellulose fibers, which includes the steps of (a) extruding a solution comprising cellulose dissolved in an aqueous tertiary amine-oxide through a spinneret into an air gap, thereby forming filaments (b) drawing said filaments by means of a gaseous stream (c) collecting and precipitating said filaments in order to form a web (d) bonding said web by means of a hydroentanglement process (e) contacting said filaments in the air gap with a medium which at least partially coagulates the filaments. Furthermore, the invention relates to products obtainable by said products, and uses thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: Lenzing Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Pat White, Haio Harms, Malcolm Hayhurst
  • Publication number: 20090186548
    Abstract: A hybrid composite fabric garment includes a first fabric portion and a second fabric portion. The first fabric portion includes a first inner fabric layer, a first outer fabric layer, and a first barrier layer disposed therebetween. The first barrier includes a first nonwoven membrane and has a first predetermined air permeability. The second fabric portion includes a second inner fabric layer, a second outer fabric layer, and a second barrier layer disposed therebetween. The second barrier layer includes a second nonwoven membrane and has a second predetermined air permeability substantially greater than the first predetermined air permeability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Moshe Rock, Gadalia Vainer, Douglas Lumb, James Zeiba, Shawn Flavin
  • Publication number: 20090149099
    Abstract: An aliphatic copolyester is provided. The aliphatic copolyester is prepared by polymerization of a first compound having formula I, a second compound having formula II, and a lactide, wherein a is 10-230, b, d and e have a ratio of 10-35:10-35:80-30, c is 1-4, and f is 1-10. The invention also provides a method of preparing the aliphatic copolyester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Tun-Fun Way, Jiun-Jy Chen, Lien Tai Chen, Kelly Teng, Jui-Yu Lin
  • Publication number: 20090123700
    Abstract: A garment includes a breathable composite fabric between outer and inner fabric layers. The breathable composite fabric comprises two nanofiber web layers and a porous fluid drainage layer disposed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Jill A. Conley, Robert Anthony Marin
  • Publication number: 20090093178
    Abstract: The invention proposes a composite textile material for NRBC applications, comprising a first material capable of providing a physical barrier to the penetration of microorganisms and a second material capable of trapping, by absorption and/or adsorption, said microorganisms stopped by said first material and article of protection made of said material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: PAUL BOYE TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventor: Jacques Boye