Abstract: The invention provides a roll assembly including a pair of cylindrical rolls that are positioned in an opposing cooperating relation for receiving a sheet material therebetween. A plurality of projections on at least one of the rolls extending radially outward from a surface thereof and a plurality of corresponding recesses is provided on the other roll. The projections and corresponding recesses are positioned and arranged on the rolls for contacting and engaging a sheet passing between the pair of rolls. The projections each include an outermost surface portion that is positioned for contacting a discrete portion of the sheet and for entering a corresponding recess on the opposite roll. When rolls rotate about their axes, the projections engage the discrete portion of the sheet material which results in the discrete portion entering the recesses with the projections so as to stretch the sheet in multiple directions.

Abstract: A method for producing an elastic nonwoven fabric, comprising: stretching a nonwoven web in the cross machine direction, machine direction, or both directions to reduce the basis weight and/or denier of the nonwoven web to form the elastic nonwoven fabric, wherein the nonwoven web comprises a plurality of multicomponent strands having first and second polymer components longitudinally coextensive along the length of the strands, said first component comprising an elastomeric polymer, and said second polymer component comprising a polymer less elastic than the first polymer component.

Abstract: This invention concerns an elastic multilayer composite, comprising a non-elastic film layer and an elastic nonwoven layer. This invention also concerns a process for manufacturing an elastic multilayer composite, comprising: forming the composite using a non-elastic film layer and an elastic nonwoven layer.

Abstract: This invention concerns an elastic multilayer composite, comprising an elastic film layer sandwiched between a first elastic nonwoven layer and an optional second elastic nonwoven layer, and a process for making the same. The laminate is stabilized via bonding according to either: adhesive bonding between the film and nonwoven layer(s), direct extrusion lamination of the film to one or more nonwoven layer(s), or attachment of the film to one or more of the nonwoven layers at a plurality of points via thermopoint bonding. This invention also concerns a process for manufacturing an elastic multilayer composite, comprising: bonding under neutral tension or substantially neutral tension at least one elastic film layer to at least one elastic nonwoven layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spun-bonded non-woven made of polymer fibers. These polymer fibers have a non-circular cross-section and a low fiber count. The polymer fibers have predominant directions in the spun-bonded non-woven. The spun-bonded non-woven has a high optical and/or physical opacity while having a low mass per unit area.

Abstract: The invention provides a roll assembly including a pair of cylindrical rolls that are positioned in an opposing cooperating relation for receiving a sheet material therebetween. A plurality of projections on at least one of the rolls extending radially outward from a surface thereof and a plurality of corresponding recesses is provided on the other roll. The projections and corresponding recesses are positioned and arranged on the rolls for contacting and engaging a sheet passing between the pair of rolls. The projections each include an outermost surface portion that is positioned for contacting a discrete portion of the sheet and for entering a corresponding recess on the opposite roll. When rolls rotate about their axes, the projections engage the discrete portion of the sheet material which results in the discrete portion entering the recesses with the projections so as to stretch the sheet in multiple directions.

Abstract: An article of clothing made from an elastic nonwoven web, wherein the elastic nonwoven web comprises a plurality of multicomponent strands having first and second polymer components longitudinally coextensive along the length of the strands, said first component comprising an elastomeric polymer, and said second polymer component comprising a polymer less elastic than the first polymer component.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a nonwoven material made of a bicomponent fiber in which the first polymer is a cellulose ester polymer, preferably cellulose acetate, and the second polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides and polyimides. The bicomponent fiber can be either a side-by-side or a core-and-sheath fibers. When core-and-sheath, the cellulose acetate is the sheath polymer. The nonwoven material of the invention can be used to prepare grips, materials for use in absorbent products such as diapers and personal hygiene products, disposable towels and other products. The nonwoven of the invention has particular utility for disposable diaper products due to the superior fluid acquisition, retention and distribution properties of the cellulose ester, yet avoids the high cost of all cellulose acetate fibers by use of a much less expensive second polymer to form part the bicomponent fiber.

Abstract: The invention provides an air opening jet for use in a process for making a rectangular structure made from a tow of fibers, such air opening jet including a housing, an air jet for moving the tow through the housing and opening the tow, and an accumulating chamber that includes at least one, and preferably two, perforated plates located in the path of the moving tow, and an air control arrangement for controlling the flow of air so that the moving tow is urged into engagement with the perforated plates to retard movement of the tow and cause it to properly accumulate in the accumulation chamber. The invention also includes methods for using the air opening jet apparatus to produce multi-tow band products, and products produced by such methods.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a nonwoven material made of a bicomponent fiber in which the first polymer is a cellulose ester polymer, preferably cellulose acetate, and the second polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides and polyimides. The bicomponent fiber can be either a side-by-side or a core-and-sheath fibers. When core-and-sheath, the cellulose acetate is the sheath polymer. The nonwoven material of the invention can be used to prepare grips, materials for use in absorbent products such as diapers and personal hygiene products, disposable towels and other products. The nonwoven of the invention has particular utility for disposable diaper products due to the superior fluid acquisition, retention and distribution properties of the cellulose ester, yet avoids the high cost of all cellulose acetate fibers by use of a much less expensive second polymer to form part the bicomponent fiber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nonwoven fabric of a multilayer construction including a first fibrous web layer which defines one outer surface of the nonwoven fabric and a second fibrous web layer which defines the opposite outer surface of the fabric. The first fibrous web layer comprises bicomponent or biconstituent fibers which include both a relatively higher fusion point first polymer and a lower fusion point second polymer. The second fibrous web layer comprises fibers of the relatively higher fusion point first polymer. A plurality of fusion bonds serve to bond the fibers of the first web and the fibers of the second web to form a coherent multilayer fabric. The first and second fibrous webs may be bonded directly to one another by the fusion bonds. Alternatively, one or more intermediate layers may be located between the outer first and second fibrous webs.

Abstract: A method for providing improved adhesion of a waterborne, inorganic barrier coating to polyolefin substrate is described. The method involves corona-treatment of the substrate and applying a barrier coating composition.The polyolefin substrate is coated with an acrylic primer layer and then an inorganic barrier layer of a copolysilicate of lithium and potassium is applied.