Abstract: A latent elastic laminate material, and methods of making latent elastic laminate materials. The laminate includes a latent polymer, which itself may or may not possess latent elasticity, that is applied to at least one elastic member while the elastic member is in a stretched configuration. The elastic member, at least partially covered with the latent polymer, is attached to at least one substrate. The amount of latent polymer applied to the elastic member may provide enough force to overcome a retractive force of the elastic member when the latent polymer is at a temperature below a softening point of the latent polymer, yet the amount of latent polymer may be small enough to allow the laminate to retract into an elastic, gathered structure when the laminate is heated to a softening point of the latent polymer. The laminate may be incorporated into a variety of articles including personal care garments and cleaning cloths.

Abstract: An apparatus for making an elastic laminate including a crosslinked elastic layer formed of an elastic copolymer includes a die for extruding a layer of crosslinkable elastic copolymer, at least one roll for conveying the elastic layer, a supply source for providing at least one nonwoven web, a lamination nip for laminating at least one nonwoven web to the elastic layer, a processing unit for crosslinking the elastic layer and a winder for collecting the elastic laminate. The crosslinkable elastic copolymer may be a crosslinkable elastic styrenic block copolymer, a crosslinkable semi-crystalline polyolefin plastomer, or a crosslinkable propylene-ethylene copolymer. The crosslinkable elastic layer may be extruded in the form of a plurality of parallel filaments such as by a filament die. The processing unit may be positioned between the at least one roll and the lamination nip or may be positioned between the lamination nip and the winder.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing elastic composite laminates. The laminates contain elastic filaments that are stretched and laminated to at least one facing material. The continuous filaments are laminated to the facing material using a starved slot coat process. The starved slot coat process provides various benefits and advantages including the production of laminates having improved properties.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to elastic webs, such as elastic films and elastomeric fibrous meltblown or spunbond webs which may include elastomeric fibers and/or elastomeric continuous filaments. The elastic webs include an elastomeric block copolymer and an amorphous polyolefin plastomer wax. The elastic webs may include a tackifier, but desirably they do not. The elastic webs of the present invention may display hysteresis values and/or immediate set values upon elongation and retraction less than the hysteresis values and immediate set values of previously known elastic webs of similar basis weight. The elastic webs may display tension values upon elongation less than tension values displayed by previously known elastic webs of similar basis weight. The present invention is also directed to elastic laminate structures comprising at least one layer of an elastic web adhesively bonded to one or more other webs, such as, for instance a woven or nonwoven web.

Abstract: An elastic laminate having topographical features and a method of making an elastic laminate that includes topographical features is described. The elastic laminate includes a plurality of elastic strands made up of an elastomeric adhesive composition to provide topographical features that can withstand compression. In one particularly desirable embodiment the elastic laminate is treated so that the laminate is fluid permeable. Such laminates are useful as intake layers in personal care products, for example bodyside liners in diapers.

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.