Abstract: A process for drying/heat-treating nonwoven webs in which the web is partially dried under tension in a first drying zone and further heat treated under low tension or in a substantially tensionless state a second drying zone. The process significantly reduces the occurrence of stretch-type defects in the nonwoven webs.

Abstract: A process for drying/heat-treating nonwoven webs in which the web is partially dried under tension in a first drying zone and further heat treated under low tension or in a substantially tensionless state a second drying zone. The process significantly reduces the occurrence of stretch-type defects in the nonwoven webs.

Abstract: A process for drying/heat-treating nonwoven webs in which the web is partially dried under tension in a first drying zone and further heat treated under low tension or in a substantially tensionless state a second drying zone. The process significantly reduces the occurrence of stretch-type defects in the nonwoven webs.

Abstract: A process for drying/heat-treating nonwoven webs in which the web is partially dried under tension in a first drying zone and further heat treated under low tension or in a substantially tensionless state a second drying zone. The process significantly reduces the occurrence of stretch-type defects in the nonwoven webs.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a draw jet for drawing thermoplastic polymer filaments including a drawing slot defined by an entrance member including a converging passageway communicating with a continuing passageway, terminating at an outlet portion, a drawing member including an inlet portion having a drawing gap width of about 2.0 to about 10 mm communicating with the outlet portion of the entrance member, and at least one air nozzle for directing high speed air onto the filaments in a downstream direction positioned between the outlet portion of the entrance member and the inlet portion of the drawing member, and with a nozzle gap width wherein the gap ratio of the drawing gap width to the combined width of all of the nozzle gaps is from about 1.0 to about 10.

Abstract: The invention relates to nonwoven fabrics containing polymeric multiple component fibers which include a core component and a plurality of wing components attached to the core. The polymeric core component has an elasticity that is greater than the elasticity of at least one of the wing polymeric components. The fibers assume a spiral twist configuration in which the plurality of wings substantially spiral about the core. In a preferred embodiment, the nonwoven fabrics have elastic stretch and recovery properties with a textile-like hand.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for forming a plurality of multi-layered filaments from multiple thermoplastic synthetic polymers and an apparatus containing a melt spinning beam which comprises multiple polymer inlet passages each communicating with separate multiple coat hanger distribution manifolds, separate filters connected downstream of each coat hanger distribution manifold, a combining manifold connected downstream of said filters and spinneret orifices connected downstream of said combining manifold for spinning of said multi-layered filaments.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for making a nonwoven sheet of substantially continuous melt spun fibers by extruding melt spinnable polymer containing at least 30% by weight low IV poly(ethylene terephthalate), drawing the extruded fiber filaments at a rate of at least 6000 m/min, laying the fiber filaments down on a collection surface, and bonding the fiber filaments together to form a nonwoven sheet. The invention further provides a nonwoven sheet comprised of at least 30% by weight poly(ethylene terephthalate) having an intrinsic viscosity of less than 0.62 dl/g, where the sheet has a basis weight of less than 125 g/m2, and a grab tensile strength of at least 0.7 N/(g/m2).

Abstract: A process for preparing nonwoven webs comprising multiple component continuous filaments having high levels of three-dimensional helical crimp utilizing draw rolls to provide a high degree of orientation to each of the polymeric components by mechanically drawing the filaments under conditions wherein the polymeric components remain substantially amorphous and a stretchable nonwoven web comprising multiple component, continuous filaments having high levels of three-dimensional helical crimp.

Abstract: A process for forming multiple component meltblown webs in which a poor-spinning polymer is co-spun with a good-spinning polymer in a meltblowing process using high throughput and short die-to-collector distances.

Abstract: A method for preparing multiple component spunbond nonwoven fabrics in which the individual polymer components are extruded from separate orifices and contacted and fused after extrusion to form multiple component filaments that are drawn, quenched, and collected to form a spunbond web. The method is especially suitable for forming multiple component spunbond webs in which the different polymeric components have significantly different viscosities, for example in forming nonwoven webs comprising multiple component filaments having three-dimensional helical crimp.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a draw jet for drawing thermoplastic polymer filaments comprising a drawing slot defined by an entrance member comprising a converging passageway communicating with a continuing passageway, terminating at an outlet portion, a drawing member comprising an inlet portion having a drawing gap width of about 2.0 to about 10 mm communicating with said outlet portion of said entrance member, and at least one air nozzle for directing high speed air onto said filaments in a downstream direction positioned between said outlet portion of said entrance member and said inlet portion of said drawing member, and with a nozzle gap width wherein the gap ratio of said drawing gap width to the combined width of all of said nozzle gaps is from about 1.0 to about 10.

Abstract: A spunbond nonwoven fabric is provided which is formed from continuous multiple component filaments which include a polyester component and a polyethylene component. The polyethylene component is a blend of high density polyethylene and a first linear low density polyethylene. The spunbond filaments are preferably formed in a sheath-core configuration with the polyester component in the core and the polyethylene component in the sheath. Composite sheets are provided which include the multiple component spunbond layer and a meltblown layer, wherein the meltblown fibers include a second linear low density polyethylene. The linear low density polyethylenes are preferably formed by polymerization of ethylene with an alpha-olefin co-monomer, where the same co-monomer is used in each of the first and second linear low density polyethylenes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for forming a plurality of multi-layered filaments from multiple thermoplastic synthetic polymers and an apparatus containing a melt spinning beam comprising an orthogonal beam having disposed within said beam multiple polymer inlet passages each communicating with separate multiple coat hanger distribution manifolds, separate filters connected downstream of each coat hanger distribution manifold, a spinneret connected downstream of said filters with separate polymer flow passages communicating with separate exit orifices for spinning of said multi-layered filaments.

Abstract: A durable lightweight rigid transparent envelope that is slightly curved in shape from top to bottom and attaches to automobile windows via suction cups in order to hold and display a variety of double-sided thin flexible lightweight message sheets, which are highly color-contrasted, light-reflective and contain large font character size messages in order to facilitate visual communication between automobile operators, passengers and pedestrians at distances normally encountered on streets and highways. A selected message can be displayed in the envelope through the envelope's transparent front side when it is attached to the inside of an automobile window, or a selected message can be displayed through the envelope's transparent back side while the envelope is attached to the outside of an automobile window by the same means.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for forming a plurality of multi-layered filaments from multiple thermoplastic synthetic polymers and an apparatus containing a melt spinning beam which comprises multiple polymer inlet passages each communicating with separate multiple coat hanger distribution manifolds, separate filters connected downstream of each coat hanger distribution manifold, a combining manifold connected downstream of said filters and spinneret orifices connected downstream of said combining manifold for spinning of said multi-layered filaments.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a multiple component meltblown web comprised of at least 95% by weight of meltblown fibers having an average effective diameter of less than 10 microns, said multiple component meltblown web comprised of a first polymer component and a second polymer component distinct from said first polymer component, said first polymer component being comprised of from 1% to 99% by weight of a first polymer and from 99% to 1% by weight of a second polymer.

Abstract: A process for forming a multiple component meltblown fiber comprising extruding a first distinct melt-processable polymer through a first extrusion orifice, simultaneously extruding a second distinct melt-processable polymer through a second extrusion orifice, fusing said first and second melt-processable polymers into an extruded composite filament after extrusion, and pneumatically attenuating said extruded composite filament with jets of high velocity gas so as to form said multiple component meltblown fiber.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for improving web pinning and uniformity in a fibrous web forming operation. The improvements are achieved by imposing an auxiliary electrostatic field above the fibrous web as it is pinned along a moving collection surface. An auxiliary electrostatic field enhancing plate is positioned above the web and collection surface and downstream of the laydown position where the web initially is deposited on the collection surface. The plate enhances the electrostatic field in the region above the collection surface and thereby increases the web pinning forces. When the invention is applied to a flash-spinning process where trifluorochloromethane is used as the fluid medium, an auxiliary electrostatic field of between about 2 and 80 kV/cm, preferably between about 10 and 60 kV/cm, is applied by the plate.