Abstract: A process for bonding a first sheet of non-woven plexifilamentary polymeric material to a second sheet of compatible, thermoplastic, polymeric material by applying at least one stream of hot polymeric material to the second sheet of polymeric material to form a narrow continuous bead and after a time sufficient to allow the hot polymeric material of the bead to begin to fuse the first sheet of plexifilamentary polymeric material, simultaneously cooling and deforming the bead so that it permeates the first sheet of plexifilamentary polymeric material and so that its edges extend beyond the region where the polymer has permeated the first sheet of plexifilamentary polymeric material. The hot-melt polymer bonds the two sheets together in the region where it permeates the plexifilamentary material, and forms a continuous bond between the superposed layers. The structure may then be slit through the bead to form a porous tube which is particularly useful as an irrigation tubing.

Abstract: Flexible tubing, particularly suitable for irrigation purposes, consists of a plurality of superposed, elongated, flexible strips, heat sealed along their longitudinal edges and is substantially flat when empty. At least one of said strips is thermoplastic and at least one has a permeable, fibrous structure and is preferably formed from a non-woven fabric such as spun-bonded polyethylene fiber.