Abstract: An absorbent elastic laminate includes an elastic backing layer and a flexible thermoplastic absorbent foam layer. The flexible absorbent foam layer gathers when the laminate is in the relaxed state, permitting the elastic backing and the overall laminate to exhibit elastic stretch and recovery properties. The absorbent elastic laminate is useful in a wide variety of personal care absorbent articles, medical absorbent articles and absorbent wiping articles.

Abstract: Multicomponent polymeric strands including a polymer blend of a butene polymer, a polyolefin other than butene, and up to 10% by weight of ethylene in polymeric form. The blend is in one side or the sheath of the multi-component strands. Fabric made with such strands is also disclosed and has enhanced softness properties. Composite materials including the foregoing fabric bonded to both sides of an inner meltblown layer and garments and other articles made with the fabric are also disclosed.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric is provided which has good barrier properties, softness and breathability. A linear low density polyethylene is used in a meltblown layer in this invention to provide barrier properties comparable to polypropylene. The meltblown layer may be used in a multilayer laminate and the other layers may be comprised of bicomponent fibers. The fabric may be used in, for example, diapers, feminine hygiene products, adult incontinence products, wound dressings, bandages, sterilization wraps, surgical gowns and drapes and wipers.

Abstract: There is provided a laminate of nonwoven fabrics for barrier applications which has improved ratios of barrier and strength to weight, of softness to strength and of vapor transmission to barrier. The laminate has a meltblown layer sandwiched between spunbond layers to produce an SMS laminate. The meltblown and spunbond layers may have between 0.1 to 2.0 weight percent of a fluorocarbon and the meltblown layer preferably between 5 and 20 weight percent polybutylene. The laminate also may have pigments if desired. Such laminates are useful for garments.

Abstract: Single and multicomponent polymeric strands including a blend of a melt-extrudable polyolefin and a heterophasic polypropylene composition. The heterophasic polypropylene composition includes three polymers and is normally not melt-spinable into strands by itself. In the multicomponent strands, the blend is in one side or the sheath. Fabric made with such strands is also disclosed and has improved combinations of strength, abrasion resistance, and softness properties. Composite materials including the foregoing fabric bonded to both sides of an inner meltblown layer are also disclosed. In addition, garments made with the fabric are disclosed.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric made with multicomponent polymeric strands includes a blend of a polyolefin and elastomeric thermoplastic material in one side or the sheath of the multicomponent polymeric strands. The fabric has improved abrasion resistance and comparable strength and softness properties. The thermoplastic elastomeric copolymer is preferably A-B-A' block copolymer wherein A and A' are each a thermoplastic endblock which includes a styrenic moiety and wherein B is an elastomeric poly(ethylene-butylene) mid block. Composite materials including such multicomponent material bonded to both sides of an inner meltblown layer are also disclosed.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric made with multicomponent polymeric strands includes a blend of a polyolefin and elastomeric thermoplastic material in one side or the sheath of the multicomponent polymeric strands. The fabric has improved abrasion resistance and comparable strength and softness properties. The thermoplastic elastomeric copolymer is preferably A-B-A' block copolymer wherein A and A' are each a thermoplastic endblock which includes a styrenic moiety and wherein B is an elastomeric poly(ethylene-butylene) mid block. Composite materials including such multicomponent material bonded to both sides of an inner meltblown layer are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a surgical stockinette for covering and encasing a body extremity such as an armor leg to isolate and protect the extremity during surgery. The stockinette has a generally tubular-shape and is made from a composite material defining a length and a width with the length being longer than the width. The stockinette defines an interior surface and an exterior surface with the tubular-shaped structure defining an open end and a closed end separated by the length. The interior and exterior surfaces are joined circumferentially to one another along substantially the entire length of the tubular-shaped structure. The interior surface is formed from a fibrous material and the overall structure is liquid impervious and circumferentially expandable from a first circumference to a second and larger circumference. Due to the materials and nature of construction, the stockinette of the present invention provides a form-fitting design which is easy to don and remove.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric made with multicomponent polymeric strands includes a blend of a polyolefin and ethylene alkyl acrylate in one side or the sheath of the multicomponent polymeric strands. The fabric has improved abrasion resistance, strength, toughness and softness properties. Composite materials including such multicomponent material bonded to both sides of an inner meltblown layer are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thermal retaining fabric laminate which can be used as a hot or cold pack to impart heated or cooled treatment liquids to the skin of a user. The laminate consists in sequence of a skin contact layer for absorbing, holding, and delivering the treatment liquid, a nonporous or low porous first barrier layer, a reservoir layer for absorbing and holding heat retention liquid, and a nonporous second barrier layer. The laminate has an open edge. The barrier layers serve to inhibit the release of vapor while the fabric laminate is in contact with the skin of a user thereby decreasing heat loss resulting from evaporation and increasing the time that the fabric laminate retains its heat. In one embodiment, the first barrier layer between the skin contact layer and the reservoir layer is of low porosity which when the fabric laminate is heated rapidly allows for the escape of vapor so that the vapor pressure created in the reservoir layer will not delaminate the fabric laminate.

Abstract: A stitchboard material including an elastomeric nonwoven fibrous web, e.g., an elastomeric web of meltblown fibers, and method of forming the material, is disclosed. The material, including the elastomeric web, is stretchable and has breathability, and avoids holes through the material at the location where the stitches pass through the material. The elastomeric web can be used in combination with elongatable or gatherable webs of fibrous material to provide stitchbonded stretchable composite fabrics having desired stretch and surface characteristics, and breathability, useful as fabric for wearing apparel (e.g., stretch corduroy) or other textile uses such as draperies and other home furnishings.