Abstract: The present invention provides a natural fiber knit-like multi-layer composite containing at least one layer of a nonwoven fiber web and at least one layer of an elastomeric material, wherein the nonwoven web layer is joined to the elastic layer at spaced-apart locations and is gathered between said spaced-apart locations. The nonwoven fiber web is fabricated from multicomponent conjugate fibers or filaments that contain at least one polyolefin, and is a spunbond fiber web, staple fiber web or hydroentangled web. The composite exhibits soft, cloth-like texture of natural fiber knits as well as highly useful elastic properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite elastic necked-bonded material including at least one necked material joined to at least one elastic sheet. The composite elastic necked-bonded material is stretchable in a direction generally parallel to the direction of constriction or necking of the necked material. Also disclosed is a method of producing a composite elastic necked-bonded material by extruding a film of substantially molten elastomer through a die tip; depositing the extruded elastomeric film onto a tensioned, necked material within from about 0.1 to about 1 second of exiting the die tip to form a multilayer material; and then immediately applying pressure to the multilayer material to bond the tensioned, necked material to the elastomeric film.

Abstract: Disclosed is an elastic nonwoven web containing a coherent matrix of fibers formed from an extrudable blend composed of an elastomeric A-B-A-B tetrablock copolymer where A is a thermoplastic polymer block and where B is an isoprene monomer unit hydrogenated to substantially a poly(ethylene-propylene) monomer unit. The elastic nonwoven web adapted to have an elastic modulus of less than about 1.25 which is locally constant during elongation of the web up to about 250 percent. The elastic nonwoven web may also include at least one type of nonelastic fibers and/or particulate materials distributed within or on the matrix of elastomeric fibers. The elastic nonwoven web may be incorporated into a multilayer material and/or may be a component of a composite elastic material in which the elastic web is joined to a gatherable layer at spaced apart locations so that the gatherable layer is gathered between the spaced-apart locations.