Abstract: Films and methods for cutting or perforating webs including films are disclosed. The films can include a polymer and a plurality of particles. The plurality of particles can include absorbent filler particles and void generating filler particles. The absorbent filler particles can provide between about 1% to about 40% by weight of the film. The void generating filler particles can provide between about 10% to about 40% by weight of the film. The absorbent filler particles can be a different particle than the void generating particles. The film can also include a plurality of voids.

Abstract: Described herein are modified thermoplastic polyurethanes, methods of reactively extruding the modified thermoplastic polyurethanes, and methods of using the modified thermoplastic polyurethanes. The modified thermoplastic polyurethanes are micro-crosslinked through reaction with a functional polyolefin, have significantly improved tensile strength and elongation compared to unmodified thermoplastic polyurethanes, and may be extruded.

Abstract: Described herein are modified thermoplastic polyurethanes, methods of reactively extruding the modified thermoplastic polyurethanes, and methods of using the modified thermoplastic polyurethanes. The modified thermoplastic polyurethanes are mi-cro-crosslinked through reaction with a functional polyolefin, have significantly improved tensile strength and elongation compared to unmodified thermoplastic polyurethanes, and may be extruded.

Abstract: A laminate includes a core structure having a first surface and a second surface, the core structure including an elastic core layer and a plastic core layer, wherein the elastic core layer is one of a film, a plurality of strands, and a plurality of strips, and wherein the plastic core layer is one of a film layer, a plurality of strands, and a plurality of strips, the plastic core structure reinforcing the core layer in the machine direction, and a nonwoven first facing layer affixed to the first surface.

Abstract: A substrate has an elastomeric film having surfaces and a nonwoven web having fibers, wherein a plurality of fibers is partially embedded in one surface of the film. In addition, a substrate has an elastomeric film and a nonwoven web having fibers, wherein a plurality of fibers is partially embedded in one surface of the film, and wherein the substrate is essentially free of adhesives and film-based microfibers. A method for making a film/nonwoven composite includes providing an elastomeric film traveling in a machine direction; providing a nonwoven web traveling in the machine direction in face-to-face contact with the film, wherein the nonwoven web includes fibers; and impinging the elastomeric film with hydro jets such that at least some of the fibers become embedded in the film.

Abstract: Methods and systems for cutting or perforating webs are disclosed. A method of cutting or perforating a web can include providing a web including a film. The film can include a polyolefin polymer and a plurality of particles. The film can include a width and length defining a surface. The method can further include stretching the film to provide a stretched film. Stretching the film can provide a plurality of voids in the stretched film. The method can additionally include providing a laser assembly. The method can include directing abeam of light from the laser assembly upon the surface of the web to cut or perforate the web in at least one location.

Abstract: Improved skin-adhesive compositions for bonding a substrate, such as an absorbent article, to skin are disclosed. More particularly, the skin-adhesive composition has an improved, yet gentle, adhesion to the skin of a user, while maintaining strong, effective bonding to various inanimate, non-skin substrates. In one embodiment, the skin-adhesive composition can provide one or more skin benefit agents to the user. The skin-adhesive composition may applied to an absorbent article, such as a panty-liner, sanitary napkin, or an incontinence article, for directly adhering the article to the skin of a user.

Abstract: A thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer film includes a continuous phase that includes a thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer and a nanoinclusion additive dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains, wherein each discrete domain is elongated with a long axis, wherein the axes are aligned in the machine direction (MD) when the film is relaxed, and wherein the axes are aligned in the cross direction (CD) when the film is stretched in the CD. Also, an article includes the thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer film.

Abstract: Methods and systems for cutting or perforating webs are disclosed. A method of cutting or perforating a web can include providing a web including a film. The film can include a polyolefin polymer and a plurality of particles. The film can include a width and length defining a surface. The method can further include stretching the film to provide a stretched film. Stretching the film can provide a plurality of voids in the stretched film. The method can additionally include providing a laser assembly. The method can include directing abeam of light from the laser assembly upon the surface of the web to cut or perforate the web in at least one location.

Abstract: Polylactic acid fibers formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains polylactic acid and a polymeric toughening additive are provided. The present inventors have discovered that the specific nature of the components and process by which they are blended may be carefully controlled to achieve a composition having desirable morphological features. More particularly, the toughening additive can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous phase of the polylactic acid. These domains have a particular size, shape, and distribution such that upon fiber drawing, they absorb energy and become elongated. This allows the resulting composition to exhibit a more pliable and softer behavior than the otherwise rigid polylactic acid. Through selective control over the components and method employed, the present inventors have discovered that the resulting fibers may thus exhibit good mechanical properties, both during and after melt spinning.

Abstract: A signal device includes a signal composite made with a coextruded film having at least two layers, a polymer skin layer and a stimulation layer. The stimulation layer includes a cooling agent and a polymer binder. The stimulation layer may be about 50 to 98 percent by weight of the signal composite. The signal device may be used in an absorbent article to provide a cooling sensation after a body-fluid insult has taken place.

Abstract: A laminate having a cross-machine direction (CD) and a machine direction (MD) includes a core structure having a first surface and a second surface, an elastic net that is elastic in the CD, and a plastic film; and a nonwoven first facing layer affixed to the first surface. A method for producing a laminate includes providing an elastic net layer and a plastic film layer, wherein the elastic net layer is elastic in the CD; stretching the elastic net layer in the CD to less than 100 percent stretch; affixing the plastic film layer to the elastic net layer to form an elastic web having a first surface and a second surface; relaxing the elastic web; affixing a fibrous nonwoven web to the first surface of the elastic web to form a composite nonwoven elastic web; and activating the composite nonwoven elastic web.

Abstract: A leg gasket for a disposable absorbent article includes a laminate having a core structure with a first surface and a second surface, the core structure including an elastic core layer and a plastic core layer, wherein the elastic core layer is one of a film, a plurality of strands, and a plurality of strips, wherein the plastic core layer is one of a film layer, a plurality of strands, and a plurality of strips, and wherein at least one of the elastic and plastic core layers is a film; and a nonwoven first facing layer affixed to the first surface. Also, a disposable absorbent article includes a chassis including an absorbent structure and the leg gasket described above.

Abstract: A thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer film includes a continuous phase that includes a thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer and a nanoinclusion additive dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains, wherein each discrete domain is elongated with a long axis, wherein the axes are aligned in the machine direction (MD) when the film is relaxed, and wherein the axes are aligned in the cross direction (CD) when the film is stretched in the CD. Also, an article includes the thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer film.

Abstract: A method for making an absorbent article includes the steps of applying a layer of adhesive composition to a stretchable substrate and applying a layer of particulate superabsorbent material to the stretchable substrate, whereby the adhesive composition holds the superabsorbent material on the substrate.

Abstract: Stretchable elastic laminates having an improved cloth-like appearance, as well as methods of preparing the laminates, are disclosed herein. Particularly, the present disclosure is directed to methods of preparing tissue-elastic laminates with uniform tissue fractures as the laminate is stretched 50%, or even 100%, or more in at least one of the machine direction (MD) or cross direction (CD).

Abstract: A laminate includes a core structure having a first surface and a second surface, the core structure including an elastic core layer and a plastic core layer, wherein the elastic core layer is one of a film, a plurality of strands, and a plurality of strips, and wherein the plastic core layer is one of a film layer, a plurality of strands, and a plurality of strips, the plastic core structure reinforcing the core layer in the machine direction, and a nonwoven first facing layer affixed to the first surface.

Abstract: An extruded water-soluble article is made from homogeneous material that includes a water-soluble polymer having an extrusion temperature of 50 to 150° C. This relatively low extrusion temperature is compatible with actives that would otherwise be destroyed in a high temperature extrusion process. The article further includes between 0.1% to 50% by weight of an active agent.

Abstract: A substrate has an elastomeric film having surfaces and a nonwoven web having fibers, wherein a plurality of fibers is partially embedded in one surface of the film. In addition, a substrate has an elastomeric film and a nonwoven web having fibers, wherein a plurality of fibers is partially embedded in one surface of the film, and wherein the substrate is essentially free of adhesives and film-based microfibers. A method for making a film/nonwoven composite includes providing an elastomeric film traveling in a machine direction; providing a nonwoven web traveling in the machine direction in face-to-face contact with the film, wherein the nonwoven web includes fibers; and impinging the elastomeric film with hydro jets such that at least some of the fibers become embedded in the film.

Abstract: Stronger elastic laminates having an improved microtextured appearance, as well as methods of preparing the laminates, are disclosed herein. Particularly, the present disclosure is directed to multilayered elastic laminates including at least one thermoplastic elastomeric film layer and at least one plastic layer coextruded together, stretched and then relaxed. The prepared laminates have enhanced overall strength and elasticity.