Abstract: A nonwoven composite that has a dimension in a machine direction and a cross-machine direction is provided. The composite comprises a nonwoven facing positioned adjacent to an elastic film. The nonwoven facing contains a spunbond web that is formed by necking a base spunbond web. The base spunbond web includes a plurality of fibers generally oriented in the machine direction and exhibiting a machine direction tensile strength and cross-machine direction tensile strength. The ratio of the machine direction tensile strength to the cross-machine direction tensile strength is about 4:1 or more.

Abstract: A nonwoven composite that has a dimension in a machine direction and a cross-machine direction is provided. The composite comprises a nonwoven facing positioned adjacent to an elastic film. The nonwoven facing contains a spunbond web that is formed by necking a base spunbond web. The base spunbond web includes a plurality of fibers generally oriented in the machine direction and exhibiting a machine direction tensile strength and cross-machine direction tensile strength. The ratio of the machine direction tensile strength to the cross-machine direction tensile strength is about 4:1 or more.

Abstract: A nonwoven composite that has a dimension in a machine direction and a cross-machine direction is provided. The composite comprises a nonwoven facing positioned adjacent to an elastic film. The nonwoven facing contains a spunbond web that is formed by necking a base spunbond web. The base spunbond web includes a plurality of fibers generally oriented in the machine direction and exhibiting a machine direction tensile strength and cross-machine direction tensile strength. The ratio of the machine direction tensile strength to the cross-machine direction tensile strength is about 4:1 or more.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for an apparatus for using a patterned stranded elastic laminate. The stranded elastic laminate is patterned by an anvil roll. The current disclosure also includes a process for making a patterned elastic laminate The patterned elastic laminate provides an aesthetic effect and is visible at least in both the stretched and unstretched states.

Abstract: A latent elastic film laminate is provided including a film predominantly comprising olefin elastomers. The film is stretched and maintained in a stretched state in order to impart the desired level of latent elasticity such that the conditioned film laminate will shrink upon activation, such as by heating. The latent elastic film laminate can be advantageously used in the manufacture of various elasticated articles, including absorbent personal care articles, by activating the latent elasticity after attachment to the article and thereby shirring and elasticizing components to which the film laminate is attached.

Abstract: A latent elastic film laminate is provided including a film predominantly comprising olefin elastomers. The film is stretched and maintained in a stretched state in order to impart the desired level of latent elasticity such that the conditioned film laminate will shrink upon activation, such as by heating. The latent elastic film laminate can be advantageously used in the manufacture of various elasticated articles, including absorbent personal care articles, by activating the latent elasticity after attachment to the article and thereby shining and elasticizing components to which the film laminate is attached.

Abstract: A nonwoven composite that has a dimension in a machine direction and a cross-machine direction is provided. The composite comprises a nonwoven facing positioned adjacent to an elastic film. The nonwoven facing contains a spunbond web that is formed by necking a base spunbond web. The base spunbond web includes a plurality of fibers generally oriented in the machine direction and exhibiting a machine direction tensile strength and cross-machine direction tensile strength. The ratio of the machine direction tensile strength to the cross-machine direction tensile strength is about 4:1 or more.

Abstract: A composite that contains an elastic film laminated to a meltblown facing is provided. During lamination, apertures and discrete bond sites may be concurrently formed in the elastic film. The discrete bond sites may be located proximate (adjacent or near to) a perimeter defined by corresponding apertures formed by displacement of the film. The location of the bond sites adjacent to or near the apertures may enhance the durability of the meltblown facing by strengthening the area surrounding the apertures. Furthermore, the content of the elastic film and the temperature/pressure of lamination may be selected to that the film possesses a sufficient tack for adhering to the facing at regions other than those fused together by the bonding elements of the patterned roll. Such secondary bonding further stabilizes the meltblown facing and renders it suitable for printing. Further, the film is under tension in the machine direction during lamination.

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: A stretch activated disposable article, such as a wipe or mitt, includes an upper material layer, and a lower material layer joined to the upper material layer such that a space is defined between the material layers. A functional element, for example a fluid composition, is stored in the space between the upper and lower material layers and becomes functional upon being exposed through the upper material layer with use of the article. The upper material layer includes a plurality of materially weakened positions along the surface thereof that are configured to part or separate upon stretching of the upper material layer to expose the functional element through the upper material layer.

Abstract: A composite that contains an elastic film laminated to a meltblown facing is provided. During lamination, apertures and discrete bond sites may be concurrently formed in the elastic film. The discrete bond sites may be located proximate (adjacent or near to) a perimeter defined by corresponding apertures formed by displacement of the film. The location of the bond sites adjacent to or near the apertures may enhance the durability of the meltblown facing by strengthening the area surrounding the apertures. Furthermore, the content of the elastic film and the temperature/pressure of lamination may be selected to that the film possesses a sufficient tack for adhering to the facing at regions other than those fused together by the bonding elements of the patterned roll. Such secondary bonding further stabilizes the meltblown facing and renders it suitable for printing. Further, the film is under tension in the machine direction during lamination.

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: In the invention, a method is provided for producing a composite nonwoven fabric. A polymer is extruded into heated continuous filaments, possibly elastic, from the die head to a first chilled roller, wherein the extruder is configured to provide the continuous filaments to the chilled roller in a canted direction that is at a tangent or angle to the surface of the first chilled roller. The filaments are conveyed in a downward direction by way of chilled rollers to a nip. In a next step, the nonwoven web is sprayed with an adhesive and is laminated on the continuous filaments in the nip to form a composite nonwoven fabric. The continuous filaments move vertically downward approximately in line with the lamination process, facilitating automatic re-threading of filaments when they are broken or interrupted in their travel downward onto the chilled rolls.

Abstract: New methods for and patterns of applying meltsprayed materials in single-layer web and laminate constructions so as to control various characteristics in the webs and laminates is provided. The patterns of adhesive produce scrim or cell-like patterns that allow for control of desirable characteristics. For example, the loft of a laminate may be enhanced, as well as strength properties.

Abstract: A stretch edge elastic laminate having a plurality of elastic filaments substantially aligned in a machine direction and forming an elastic zone and at least one stretch edge positioned along a first lateral edge region of the stretch edge elastic laminate forming a first gasket zone. Desirably, an opposing second stretch edge is positioned along a second lateral edge region of the stretch edge elastic laminate to form a second gasket zone. A nonwoven facing material is bonded to at least one side of the elastic layer.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a continuous feed spun bonded laminate having improved elastic properties measured at body temperature. The laminate comprises at least one first and second nonelastic layers between which is sandwiched at least one elastic layer, the elastic layer being comprised of a triblock polystyrene-poly(ethylene/propylene)-polystyrene (“SEPS”) copolymer having a number average molecular weight of about 81,000 g/mol. The weight percent of styrene is approximately 18% and the weight percent of ethylene/propylene is approximately 82%. The molecular weight increase in the EP block, while holding the molecular weight of the styrene block constant, increases the entanglement density, polymer chain persistence length and the relaxation time. The resulting laminate load decay rate and load loss measurements over a period of 12 hours at body temperature showed marked improvement over known CFSBL product.

Abstract: Laminate compositions with significantly improved retention of elastic and mechanical properties such as stress relaxation, permanent set, elongation modulus and hysteresis and modulus at temperatures slightly above body temperature, under actual use conditions, are formed from polymeric materials containing styrene copolymers and polymeric compounds blended with polyphenylene ether.

Abstract: Disclosed is an anisotropic elastomeric nonwoven fibrous web composed of a substantially homogeneous distribution of elastomeric meltblown fibers that are physically aligned along one of the planar dimensions of the web. The anisotropic elastomeric nonwoven web of meltblown fibers has a strength index of at least about 2. Also disclosed is process of making such an anisotropic elastomeric nonwoven web of meltblown fibers as well as a composite elastic material which contains an anisotropic elastomeric nonwoven web of meltblown fibers.