Abstract: An article, including disposable articles and durable articles, includes one or more shaped thermoplastic members, which can be at least partially impregnated into one or more fibrous substrates forming a composite material of the article having regions of breathability, elasticity, and/or stiffening to provide desired functions of the article. The shaped thermoplastic members have a profiled thickness and/or basis weight providing variation in material properties. A percent variation of the profiled thickness of the thermoplastic member can vary from about 5% to about 95%. A process for manufacturing the composite material of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: An article, including disposable articles and durable articles, includes one or more shaped thermoplastic members, which can be at least partially impregnated into one or more fibrous substrates forming a composite material of the article having regions of breathability, elasticity, and/or stiffening to provide desired functions of the article. The shaped thermoplastic members have a profiled thickness and/or basis weight providing variation in material properties. A percent variation of the profiled thickness of the thermoplastic member can vary from about 5% to about 95%. A process for manufacturing the composite material of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: Coated polymeric sheet comprising polymer substrate a cross-linked polymer, wherein the coating is characterized by:A. being smooth, having a surface roughness not greater than 0.05 nanometers R.sub.a, except that;B. in the otherwise smooth surface, a multiplicity of depressions having depth ranging from 1 to 90% of the thickness of the coating.Backside coatings (containing carbon black in the cross-linked polymer) for magnetic recording tapes benefit from this invention by improved winding characteristics. The concept described is a replacement for rough random surface texture, formerly used in backside coatings, with a controlled surface texture. The process disclosed can also be used to make alphanumeric symbols on the pigment binder coating.

Abstract: Coated polymeric sheet comprising polymer substrate a cross-linked polymer, wherein the coating is characterized by:A. As being smooth, having a surface roughness not greater than 0.05 nanometers R.sub.a, except that;B. in the otherwise smooth surface, a multiplicity of depressions having depth ranging from 1 to 90% of the thickness of the coating.Backside coatings (containing carbon black in the cross-linked polymer) for magnetic recording tapes benefit from this invention by improved winding characteristics. The concept described is a replacement for rough random surface texture, formerly used in backside coatings, with a controlled surface texture. The process disclosed can also be used to make alphanumeric symbols on the pigment binder coating.

Abstract: A method of depositing a magnetic recording media coating onto a substrate, wherein the coating is substantially free of Benard Cells, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a dispersion comprising a polymeric binder, a pigment, and a solvent; (b) coating the dispersion onto a surface of the substrate; (c) drying the dispersion; (d) calculating values comprising .mu., .beta., and d representing the viscosity, temperature gradient, and wet caliper of the dispersion, respectively; and (e) during the course of carrying out steps (a), (b), and (c), maintaining the ratio ##EQU1## below a threshold value sufficient to substantially prevent the formation of Benard Cells in the magnetic recording media coating.