Abstract: Described herein are fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and other nonwoven articles comprising a blend of at least one propylene-based elastomer and an impact copolymer. The impact copolymer is a reactor blend and comprises a propylene homopolymer component and a copolymer component, where the copolymer component comprises less than about 55 wt % ethylene-derived units, based on the weight of the copolymer component.

Abstract: Described herein are propylene-based polymer compositions that comprise a reactor blend of a first polymer component and a second polymer component. The first polymer component has an ethylene content of from greater than 12 to less than 19 wt % ethylene, and the second polymer component has an ethylene content of from greater than 4 to less than 10 wt % ethylene. Preferably, the ethylene content of the first and second polymer components satisfy the formula: ?1.7143R1+29.771?R2??1.9167R1+37.25. The propylene-based polymer compositions are particularly useful for forming meltspun nonwoven compositions that exhibit a desirable balance of retractive force and permanent set.

Abstract: Described herein are fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and other nonwoven articles comprising a blend of at least one propylene-based elastomer and a broad molecular weight polypropylene or a broad molecular weight impact copolymer. The broad molecular weight polypropylene has a molecular weight distribution (MWD) of greater than 4.5. The impact copolymer is a reactor blend and comprises a propylene homopolymer component and a copolymer component, where the propylene homopolymer component has a molecular weight distribution (MWD) of greater than 4.5.

Abstract: Provided are multi-beam meltblowing apparatuses having a ridged collecting surface, methods for making multilayer meltblown composites using such apparatuses, and multilayer meltblown composites made therefrom. Also provided are a multilayer composite comprising an elastic layer and at least one ridged layer and a method for making the multilayer composite.

Abstract: The invention relates to an heat-activated fabric comprising a polymer blend of 70 to 100 wt % of a polymer blend component and 0 to 30 wt % of a propylene polymer, wherein the polymer blend component comprises a first propylene-based polymer, wherein the first propylene-based polymer is a homopolymer of propylene or a copolymer of propylene and ethylene or a C4 to C10 alpha-olefin and a second propylene-based polymer, wherein the second propylene-based polymer is a homopolymer of propylene or a copolymer of propylene and ethylene or a C4 to C10 alpha-olefin, wherein the second propylene-based polymer is different than the first propylene-based polymer and wherein the polymer blend component has a MFR of greater than or equal to 20 g/10 min to less than 10,000 g/10 min; and wherein the propylene polymer has a MFR of greater than or equal to 20 g/10 min to less than 5,000 g/10 min.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fiber comprising a blend of 10-50 wt % of a polymer blend modifier and 50-90 wt % of a propylene-based elastomer; 5-50 wt % of a propylene-modifier and 50-95 wt % of a propylene-based elastomer; and 5-35 wt % of a polymer blend modifier and 65-95 wt % of a propylene-modifier. The polymer blend modifier has a first propylene-based polymer and a different second propylene-based polymer that is a propylene homopolymer or a copolymer of propylene and ethylene and a C4 to C10 alpha-olefin. The propylene-modifier is a propylene homopolymer or a copolymer of propylene with 0.5-4 wt % ethylene or C4 to C10 alpha-olefins. The propylene-based elastomer is propylene and 5-25 wt % of one or more C2 to C4-C12 alpha-olefins and has a triad tacticity greater than 90% and a heat of fusion less than 75 J/g.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fiber comprising a blend of 10-50 wt % of a polymer blend modifier and 50-90 wt % of a propylene-based elastomer; 5-50 wt % of a propylene-modifier and 50-95 wt % of a propylene-based elastomer; and 5-35 wt % of a polymer blend modifier and 65-95 wt % of a propylene-modifier. The polymer blend modifier has a first propylene-based polymer and a different second propylene-based polymer that is a propylene homopolymer or a copolymer of propylene and ethylene and a C4 to C10 alpha-olefin. The propylene-modifier is a propylene homopolymer or a copolymer of propylene with 0.5-4 wt % ethylene or C4 to C10 alpha-olefins. The propylene-based elastomer is propylene and 5-25 wt % of one or more C2 to C4-C12 alpha-olefins and has a triad tacticity greater than 90% and a heat of fusion less than 75 J/g.

Abstract: The invention relates to an heat-activated fabric comprising a polymer blend of 70 to 100 wt % of a polymer blend component and 0 to 30 wt % of a propylene polymer, wherein the polymer blend component comprises a first propylene-based polymer, wherein the first propylene-based polymer is a homopolymer of propylene or a copolymer of propylene and ethylene or a C4 to C10 alpha-olefin and a second propylene-based polymer, wherein the second propylene-based polymer is a homopolymer of propylene or a copolymer of propylene and ethylene or a C4 to C10 alpha-olefin, wherein the second propylene-based polymer is different than the first propylene-based polymer and wherein the polymer blend component has a MFR of greater than or equal to 20 g/10 min to less than 10,000 g/10 min; and wherein the propylene polymer has a MFR of greater than or equal to 20 g/10 min to less than 5,000 g/10 min.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing spunbond fibers comprising melt blending a polypropylene having a melt flow rate (230/2.16) of from 10 to 30 dg/min with a peroxide visbreaker such that the resulting melt flow rate of the visbroken polypropylene is from 50 to 100 dg/min; melt extruding the visbroken polypropylene through a die block such that filaments of the visbroken polypropylene being produced are exposed to a cabin pressure of from 4500 to 7000 Pa; and forming fibers of from less than 6.0 denier. Nonwoven fabrics and multiple-layer structures can be made from the fibers described herein that are useful for filtering and absorption related articles.

Abstract: Multilayer meltblown composites, articles made therefrom, and methods for making same. One method can include meltblowing a first material to form a first meltblown layer; meltblowing a second material to form a second meltblown layer; and meltblowing a third material to form a third meltblown layer, wherein each material is the same or different, each material includes at least one resin having a MFR of about 2,000 dg/min or less, as measured by ASTM D1238, 2.16 kg, 230° C., and at least one of the first, second, and third materials comprises an elastomer having a recovery of at least 70% after 100% deformation, as determined by ASTM D412.

Abstract: Described herein are fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and other nonwoven articles comprising a blend of at least one propylene-based elastomer and a broad molecular weight polypropylene or a broad molecular weight impact copolymer. The broad molecular weight polypropylene has a molecular weight distribution (MWD) of greater than 4.5. The impact copolymer is a reactor blend and comprises a propylene homopolymer component and a copolymer component, where the propylene homopolymer component has a molecular weight distribution (MWD) of greater than 4.5.

Abstract: Described herein are fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and other nonwoven articles comprising a blend of at least one propylene-based elastomer and an impact copolymer. The impact copolymer is a reactor blend and comprises a propylene homopolymer component and a copolymer component, where the copolymer component comprises less than about 55 wt % ethylene-derived units, based on the weight of the copolymer component.

Abstract: Propylene-based polymer compositions are provided comprising propylene and from about 5 wt % to about 20 wt % of one or more C2 and/or C4-C12 ?-olefins. The polymer compositions have a triad tacticity greater than about 90%, a heat of fusion less than about 75 J/g, and a melt flow rate (MFR) greater than or equal to about 25 g/10 min (230° C., 2.16 kg). Further, the polymer compositions are reactor grade compositions comprising a reactor blend of a first polymer and a second polymer, preferably where both of the first and second polymers are prepared using the same catalyst system. Meltspun nonwoven fabrics, such as meltblown or spunbond fabrics, comprising such polymer compositions are also provided, as well as processes for forming the nonwoven fabrics.

Abstract: Described herein are propylene-based polymer compositions that comprise a reactor blend of a first polymer component and a second polymer component. The first polymer component has an ethylene content of from greater than 12 to less than 19 wt % ethylene, and the second polymer component has an ethylene content of from greater than 4 to less than 10 wt % ethylene. Preferably, the ethylene content of the first and second polymer components satisfy the formula: ?1.7143R1+29.771?R2??1.9167R1+37.25. The propylene-based polymer compositions are particularly useful for forming meltspun nonwoven compositions that exhibit a desirable balance of retractive force and permanent set.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a spunbond fiber of visbroken polypropylene having an Mw/Mn of from 3.5 to 7.0, an Mz/Mw of from greater than 2.0 and a melt flow rate (230/2.16) of from 50 to 100 dg/min. Also disclosed is a process for producing spunbond fibers comprising melt blending a polypropylene having a melt flow rate (230/2.16) of from 10 to 30 dg/min with a peroxide visbreaker such that the resulting melt flow rate of the visbroken polypropylene is from 50 to 100 dg/min; melt extruding the visbroken polypropylene through a die block such that filaments of the visbroken polypropylene being produced are exposed to a cabin pressure of from 4500 to 7000 Pa; and forming fibers of from less than 6.0 denier. Nonwoven fabrics and multiple-layer structures can be made from the fibers described herein that are useful for filtering and absorption related articles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing spunbond fibers comprising melt blending a polypropylene having a melt flow rate (230/2.16) of from 10 to 30 dg/min with a peroxide visbreaker such that the resulting melt flow rate of the visbroken polypropylene is from 50 to 100 dg/min; melt extruding the visbroken polypropylene through a die block such that filaments of the visbroken polypropylene being produced are exposed to a cabin pressure of from 4500 to 7000 Pa; and forming fibers of from less than 6.0 denier. Nonwoven fabrics and multiple-layer structures can be made from the fibers described herein that are useful for filtering and absorption related articles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bicomponent polymer fibers, and to processes for forming those fibers. Bicomponent polymer fibers are described, having a core comprising a core polymer and a sheath comprising a sheath polymer, wherein the sheath polymer is a polyolefin having an Mw less than about 65,000 g/mol. The core polymer has an Mw at least about 20,000 g/mol greater than the Mw of the sheath polymer. Processes for forming bicomponent fibers are also described, comprising (i) forming a molten blend of a core polymer and a sheath polymer; (ii) extruding the molten polymer blend using an extrusion die having a length to diameter ratio greater than or equal to about 10 and under shear conditions sufficient to drive the sheath polymer to the die wall; and (iii) forming meltblown fibers having a core comprising the core polymer and a sheath comprising the sheath polymer.

Abstract: Propylene-based polymer compositions are provided comprising propylene and from about 5 wt % to about 20 wt % of one or more C2 and/or C4-C12 ?-olefins. The polymer compositions have a triad tacticity greater than about 90%, a heat of fusion less than about 75 J/g, and a melt flow rate (MFR) greater than or equal to about 25 g/10 min (230° C., 2.16 kg). Further, the polymer compositions are reactor grade compositions comprising a reactor blend of a first polymer and a second polymer, preferably where both of the first and second polymers are prepared using the same catalyst system. Meltspun nonwoven fabrics, such as meltblown or spunbond fabrics, comprising such polymer compositions are also provided, as well as processes for forming the nonwoven fabrics.

Abstract: Propylene-based polymer compositions are provided comprising propylene and from about 5 wt % to about 20 wt % of one or more C2 and/or C4-C12 ?-olefins. The polymer compositions have a triad tacticity greater than about 90%, a heat of fusion less than about 75 J/g, and a melt flow rate (MFR) greater than or equal to about 25 g/10 min (230° C., 2.16 kg). Further, the polymer compositions are reactor grade compositions comprising a reactor blend of a first polymer and a second polymer, preferably where both of the first and second polymers are prepared using the same catalyst system. Meltspun nonwoven fabrics, such as meltblown or spunbond fabrics, comprising such polymer compositions are also provided, as well as processes for forming the nonwoven fabrics.

Abstract: Propylene-based polymer compositions are provided comprising propylene and from about 5 wt % to about 20 wt % of one or more C2 and/or C4-C12 ?-olefins. The polymer compositions have a triad tacticity greater than about 90%, a heat of fusion less than about 75 J/g, and a melt flow rate (MFR) greater than or equal to about 25 g/10 min (230° C., 2.16 kg). Further, the polymer compositions are reactor grade compositions comprising a reactor blend of a first polymer and a second polymer, preferably where both of the first and second polymers are prepared using the same catalyst system. Meltspun nonwoven fabrics, such as meltblown or spunbond fabrics, comprising such polymer compositions are also provided, as well as processes for forming the nonwoven fabrics.