Abstract: An oil-resistant elastic laminate including an elastomeric sheet laminated to one or more nonwoven facing sheets with an oil-insensitive adhesive applied to a surface of the elastomeric sheet and/or the facing sheet(s), an oil-insensitive adhesive incorporated within the elastomeric sheet, and/or an oil-insensitive adhesive incorporated within the nonwoven facing sheet(s). The invention further includes methods of making oil-resistant elastic laminates.

Abstract: A process for temporarily stabilizing an extensible material while incorporating the material into a garment, or while performing any other converting process on the material. The stabilizing process includes the step of selectively bonding regions of the extensible material to provide a bonded material having restricted extensibility. The bonded material can be put through a converting process, such as winding the bonded material onto a roll, spooling the bonded material, slitting the bonded material, laminating the bonded material, or incorporating the bonded material into a garment. After the bonding material has gone through the converting process, the bonded regions can be removed from the bonded material.

Abstract: A process for temporarily stabilizing an extensible material while incorporating the material into a garment, or while performing any other converting process on the material. The stabilizing process includes the step of selectively bonding regions of the extensible material to provide a bonded material having restricted extensibility. The bonded material can be put through a converting process, such as winding the bonded material onto a roll, spooling the bonded material, slitting the bonded material, laminating the bonded material, or incorporating the bonded material into a garment. After the bonding material has gone through the converting process, the bonded regions can be removed from the bonded material.

Abstract: A method of producing a creep resistant composite elastic material wherein an elastic fibrous web is bonded to at least one gatherable layer to form a composite elastic material is provided. By passing the composite elastic material into a nip formed between an anvil calender roller and a point un-bonded calender roller, wherein the point un-bonded calender roller has recessed areas in the surface of said roller, a material which is creep resistant, dimensionally stable, and has inherent latency, is formed.

Abstract: A method of producing a creep resistant composite elastic material wherein an elastic fibrous web is bonded to at least one gatherable layer to form a composite elastic material is provided. By passing the composite elastic material into a nip formed between an anvil calender roller and a point un-bonded calender roller, wherein the point un-bonded calender roller has recessed areas in the surface of said roller, a material which is creep resistant, dimensionally stable, and has inherent latency, is formed.

Abstract: A method for producing a stretch-thinned elastic article having dimensional stability over time and at elevated temperatures in which a thermoplastic block copolymer is melt-processed into a stretchable article such as a film or fiber. The article is then conditioned at an elevated temperature greater than or equal to a glass transition temperature (Tg) of a hard phase of the thermoplastic block copolymer. The article is stretch-thinned at the elevated temperature to a desired percentage stretch, forming a stretch-thinned article, after which it is cooled to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the hard phase of the thermoplastic block copolymer. Films produced by this method are suitable for use in durable and disposable articles including personal care articles such as diapers, incontinence wear, training pants, and feminine care articles, as well as wound dressings, wipes, towels, napkins, and protective apparel.

Abstract: A method for producing a stretch-thinned elastic article having dimensional stability over time and at elevated temperatures in which a thermoplastic block copolymer is melt-processed into a stretchable article such as a film or fiber. The article is then conditioned at an elevated temperature greater than or equal to a glass transition temperature (Tg) of a hard phase of the thermoplastic block copolymer. The article is stretch-thinned at the elevated temperature to a desired percentage stretch, forming a stretch-thinned article, after which it is cooled to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the hard phase of the thermoplastic block copolymer. Films produced by this method are suitable for use in durable and disposable articles including personal care articles such as diapers, incontinence wear, training pants, and feminine care articles, as well as wound dressings, wipes, towels, napkins, and protective apparel.

Abstract: A method of producing a creep resistant composite elastic material wherein an elastic fibrous web is bonded to at least one gatherable layer to form a composite elastic material is provided. By passing the composite elastic material into a nip formed between an anvil calender roller and a point un-bonded calender roller, wherein the point un-bonded calender roller has recessed areas in the surface of said roller, a material which is creep resistant, dimensionally stable, and has inherent latency, is formed.

Abstract: Transversely stretchable elastic laminated fabric with cloth-like facings was made by a two-step process. In the first step an inelastic laminate was made by continuously extruding an elastomer sheet between two plies of a fibrous sheet and joining the plies by applying pressure on them between a closed gap niproll assembly. Two longitudinal slits were made into the laminate. Then the rolls of inelastic laminate so made were taken to an oven and the laminate was unwound and pulled through the oven at an elevated temperature, while tension on the web was increased until the slits necked. The necked laminate was wound up on a takeup roll. When samples were unwound, surprisingly they did not grow in width, and they showed good CD-elasticity (elongation and springback). Breathability of the laminate was superior to the laminate formed using an open niproll assembly gap.