Abstract: Method to produce a nonwoven needled fabric in which the needled fabric includes 15-30% of low melt nylon 6 and nylon 12 fusible fibers to aid in holding the nonwoven fabric together when passed through an oven to melt the fusible fibers and then allow them to cool and bind the fabric together.

Abstract: A multi-layered structure having improved liquid barrier properties is provided. The multi-layered structure includes a porous hydrophobic layer and a spacing layer adjacent to and in juxtaposition with the porous hydrophobic layer. The function of the spacing layer is to provide sufficient channels for a liquid while supporting all or substantially all of a compressive pressure exerted against the spacing layer. As such, when the spacing layer is contacted with a liquid, such as water, saline or a bodily fluid such as blood, and subjected to a compressive pressure, of at least 2 psi, applied generally perpendicularly to the spacing layer, the channels are available within the bulk of the spacing layer for such liquid to flow therein or therebetween, while all or substantially all of the compressive pressure is supported by the spacing layer. In this way, the liquid in contact with the spacing layer flows into these channels without passing through the porous hydrophobic layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are multicomponent fibers wherein at least one component forms an exposed surface on at least a portion of the multicomponent fiber which will permit thermal bonding of the multicomponent fiber to other fibers. The multicomponent fibers comprise two poly(lactic acid) polymers with different L:D ratios which provide biodegradable properties to the multicomponent fiber yet which allow the multicomponent fiber to be easily processed. The multicomponent fiber is useful in making nonwoven structures that may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric for a liner of a floppy disk is characterized by a binder which is applied to the fibers of the nonwoven fabric. The binder comprises (a) an emulsion obtainable from a polymerizable unsaturated monomer having a functional group and other polymerizable unsaturated monomers capable of undergoing copolymerization with said polymerizable unsaturated monomer, and (b) a melamine compound having a methylol group.

Abstract: There is provided a fully elastic, breathable, barrier fabric comprising a nonwoven web layer of fibers, where the web has a hydrohead of at least 4 mbar, a basis weight of less than 68 gsm and which is made from an elastic polyolefin. If the fabric is a laminate it may be an SMS, SBL or NBL laminate. This fabric is particularly well suited to use as a containment flap for personal care products such as diapers, incontinence products and feminine hygiene products and in infection control products. The fabric may also be used as a liner in personal care products.

Abstract: There is provided a fabric produced by a spunbond or a meltblown apparatus, wherein the apparatus has a pneumatic chamber having at least one wall containing a plurality of spaced protrusions. Preferably, both opposing walls contain protrusions aligned in staggered angled rows and the rows on one wall are angled opposite the rows on the opposing wall, thereby causing controlled lateral flow near the chamber walls. This lateral flow exhibits drag on the fibers, imparting rotational energy to the fibers. The fibers are imparted with rotational energy derived from the lateral component of the two turbulent airflow fields that oppose one another, and have a tendency to twist and crimp. Fabrics so produced have improved loft, drape, and feel and may be useable as a loop material for hook-and-loop type fasteners.

Abstract: A moisture-permeable waterproof fabric comprising a textile fabric and, provided on at least one surface of said textile fabric, a resin film comprising a polyurethane resin produced by reacting an isocyanate with a polyol and a chain extender and having a glass transition temperature in the range of from -20.degree. to 20.degree. C. and an ethylene oxide unit content of at least 7.0 mol/kg. The moisture-permeable waterproof fabric is produced by coating at least one surface of a textile fabric with a solution of a resin in a polar organic solvent, the resin comprising a polyurethane resin, and subjecting the coating to wet solidification in a coagulation bath to form a film, or coating a release paper with a solution of a resin in a polar organic solvent, the resin comprising a polyurethane resin, to form a resin film and adhering the resin film on at least one surface of a textile fabric.

Abstract: A biodegradable filament nonwoven fabric comprising a nonwoven web made up of filaments, each filament comprising a high melting point component composed of a first aliphatic polyester having biodegradability and a low melting point component composed of a second aliphatic polyester having biodegradability with a melting point lower than that of the high melting point component, the nonwoven web processed to a predetermined nonwoven fabric configuration. At least one of the high melting point component and the low melting point component is arranged in a plurality of divisions within the cross section of the filament. Both the high melting point component and the low melting point component extend continuously in the axial direction of the filament and are exposed on the surface of the filament. A method for manufacturing the biodegradable filament nonwoven fabric is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Contaminants are removed from a surface being prepared to receive a finish coating or a treatment. Solvent is applied manually to the surface with carrier sheets dispensed from reclosable packages where the solvent is contained along with a plurality of quarter-folded carrier sheets formed from non-woven material. The packages can be grounded to reduce the incidence of static electrical build-up.

Abstract: A drinking straw that purifies water by forced movement of water through the straw. The straw is composed of: 1) a filter plug made of a fibrous structure, the filter plug having sides, a first end, a second end, and a firmness sufficient to avoid collapse of the fibrous structure under a specified pressure drop; 2) a water purification material integrated in the fibrous structure; and 3) a liquid impervious wrapper covering the sides of the filter plug, the wrapper defining openings at the first and second ends of the filter plug.

Abstract: A multi-layer material for use in incontinence products comprises a base layer comprising a needled felt containing not less than 50% by weight polyester fiber, wherein the surface regions of the felt are denser than the central region thereof, which remains substantially unneedled. In addition, a second, multi-ply, layer is provided by a unitary fabric comprising two outer plies of knitted polyester fiber fabric with a ply of monofilament polyester accommodated therebetween. In order to prevent strike-through, furthermore, a barrier layer, e.g. of a polyurethane coated fabric, is also provided, as is also a fourth, skin-contact, layer with a nap finish to provide a comfortable "feel" to the product. Incontinence products made from this material exhibit good absorbency, little or no strike-through and a dry skin effect.

Abstract: The invention relates to a barrier layer resisting the transmission of oxygen for multi-layer barrier film characterized in that it is made of a transparent copolyamide comprising three components. The first component is hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid. The second component is hexamethylenediamine and azelaic acid, hexamethylenediamine and sebacic acid, and mixtures thereof. The third component is hexamethylene-diamine and isophthalic acid, hexamethylenediamine and terephthalic acid, and mixtures thereof. The total of all components is 100 mol %, and the ratio of the barrier effects in the barrier layer with respect to carbon dioxide and oxygen is at least 3:1.

Abstract: There is provided a laminate material having stretchability and recovery, breathability and barrier properties, and being made from a nonwoven elastomeric web having at least one web of textile material discontinuously adhesively bonded to each side thereof. The laminate material is free of an elastomeric film, the elastomeric web is substantially flat when the laminate is unstretched, and the nonwoven elastomeric web provides recovery to the laminate. The nonwoven elastomeric web is preferably a web of meltblown elastomeric fibers and the other webs may be knits, wovens or scrim materials. These laminates are well suited for infection control products, personal care products and garments.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forming a nonwoven fiber web containing a pore size gradient resulting in enhanced wicking properties. A first method utilizes a conventionally formed web having an average pore size and comprises selectively contacting the web with a heat source to shrink the fibers in selected areas. The smaller pore sizes have greater wicking ability. A second method utilizes a novel apparatus and comprises forming a nonwoven fiber web having zones of fibers, each zone having generally an average set of fiber structure and/or composition, the zones preferably overlapping. The zones of fibers are exposed to a heat source, which shrinks the fibers according to their denier and composition.The apparatus uses a conventional meltblown or spunbond system and provides a plurality of resin sources which feed resin to a plurality of meltblowing dies. Each die produces fibers of a particular denier and/or composition which forms zones in a web collected on a collecting belt.

Abstract: According to the invention, it includes conductive pigments constituted by a substrate (chosen from the group including micas, talcum, kaolin, bentonites, montmorillionites or glass particles) which has a basic lamellar-type structure coated with an electroconductive layer of tin oxide doped with antimony. On at least one face, the sheet has a layer containing at least the conductive pigments having a basic lamellar-type structure and at least one hydrosoluble binder.Application as decorative paper for laminates.

Abstract: A composite nonwoven material comprises at least one layer (2) of a carded voile of hydrophobic thermoplastic fibers, the said fibers being partially disoriented in at least a proportion of the thickness of the voile so that a proportion of the said fibers has an angular orientation in relation to the main plane of the fibers of the said voile, and a layer (3) made of voile of nonwoven of noncarded type of hydrophobic thermo-plastic fibers, the fibers of at least one of the layers being chosen from fibers with a low melting point, two-component fibers, mixtures of such fibers with fibers of high melting point and fibers mixed with a binder or one face of the voile of one of the layers is coated with a binder, the layers being joined together by heat-melting.

Abstract: Absorbent laminates include an oriented, fluid-pervious plastic substrate bonded to a nonwoven absorbent member. The nonwoven absorbent member includes bi-component fibers having a heat-softenable outer skin, said heat-softenable outer skin being heat-softenable at a temperature lower than the melting point and shrinking point of the oriented plastic substrate to provide a binder component for the laminate. A fluid-pervious plastic substrate can be adhered to one or both surfaces of the nonwoven absorbent member through bi-component fibers of the nonwoven absorbent member. In absorbent laminates including opposed fluid-pervious outer plastic substrates marginal edges of the laminate can be compression sealed through the bi-component fibers in the intermediate nonwoven absorbent member to seal the edges against the escape of fibers from the laminate. Methods of forming absorbent laminates of this invention also form a part of the present invention.

Abstract: There is provided herein a protective cover made from conjugate fiber nonwoven fabric having a basis weight between about 1 and 8 osy laminated with a film. The conjugate fibers may be in a configuration such as sheath/core, side-by-side and islands in the sea and may be formed from polyolefins and polyamides. The preferred fiber embodiments are a side-by-side polypropylene-polyethylene fiber and a sheath/core polyethylene/nylon 6 fiber. The fabric is preferably extrusion coated with a polyethylene film to form the protective cover. The cover is light weight, waterproof and provides sufficient burst and tensile strength so that the cover may be used during transportation of, for example, a boat.

Abstract: A clothing material comprises a first fabric layer connected to a tear-resistant second layer. The second layer includes a plurality of first threads extending generally parallel to one another in a first direction and a plurality of second threads extending generally parallel to one another in a second direction different from the first direction. The threads all extend substantially in a common plane. The first threads are all connected to each of the second threads at cross-over points between the first threads and the second threads. A third layer of fabric is attached to the second layer of the material on a side thereof opposite the first layer. The threads of the intermediate, tear-resistant layer may be interconnected by a plurality of connecting thread segments tied in knots about the cross-over points.

Abstract: An orientable in situ expandable layer comprisinga) a blend of incompatible, in situ-expandable thermoplastic particles and a thermosettable matrix resin for the in situ-expandable thermoplastic particles which blend has the capacity of expansion in height, width and length directions andb) other insoluble and matrix-resin incompatible solid particles uniformly incorporating throughout the resin matrix, which other insoluble and matrix-resin incompatible solid particles have (i) an aspect ratio of length/width greater than 1, that defines a longitudinal axis (length) of the particles which longitudinal axis is not greater than about one inch (2.54 cm.), and (ii) thermal stability at the temperature of expansion of the resin and insolubility in the resin, and (iii) an orientation in the thermosettable resin of their length in one or two directions.Moldable compositions and methods of making the compositions and molded article from the compositions are disclosed.