Abstract: A composition for forming an elastomeric article is disclosed. The composition includes an elastomeric material and a film leveler, where the film leveler is present in an amount of from about 0.05% to about 5.0% by mass of the composition.

Abstract: Antimicrobial nonwoven webs are provided which have odor control properties in addition to antibacterial properties, and which can be used in personal care absorbent articles. The nonwoven webs are treated with a stable halogenated polystyrene hydantoin which does not release halogen during storage or use of the absorbent article. The halogen atoms are attached to the amide nitrogen atoms in the polystyrene hydantoin, and are not attached to the imide nitrogen atoms.

Abstract: An absorbent swimwear garment having an antimicrobial agent based on hydantoin chemistry for the purpose of eliminating or reducing the level of bacteria in swim water. During initial product use, the absorbent swimwear garment is able to contain urine and bowel movements, similar to ordinary diapers and training pants. When the swimwear garment is submersed in swim water, particularly chlorinated or brominated water, the antimicrobial agent is stabilized and is thereby able to eliminate E. coli and other fecal bacteria from the swim water.

Abstract: A method for producing super fine meltblown fibers increases the length of the meltblown jet thermal core to increase the dwell time of the extruded thermoplastic polymer within the jet thermal core. Through use of the method it is practical to use low viscosity resins and further to provide meltblown nonwovens with superior barrier properties to the passage of fluids and particularly gases. The method further provides a useful means for blooming internal additives to the surface of the fibers.

Abstract: A method of preparing a sterilized nonwoven web, which method includes providing a nonwoven web; coating the nonwoven web with from about 0.005 to about 3 percent by weight, based on the weight of the web, of an antistatic agent; and exposing the coated nonwoven web to an oxidizing gas plasma. The antistatic agent is adapted to be free of a malodor after exposure of the coated nonwoven web to the oxidizing gas plasma. The antistatic agent may be further adapted to provide a sterilized nonwoven web having a hydrohead value as measured by Method 5514 of Federal Test Method Standard No. 191A which is at least 50 percent of the hydrohead value of the coated nonwoven web before exposure to the oxidizing gas plasma. The antistatic agent also may be adapted to provide a sterilized nonwoven web having a surface resistivity in ohms which is lower than the surface resistivity in ohms of the coated nonwoven web before exposure of the coated nonwoven web to the oxidizing gas plasma.

Abstract: A thermoplastic layer material has at least one odor-reducing surface which is wettable to aqueous liquids and capable of controlling a wide variety of malodors. The thermoplastic layer material is treated with a surfactant-modified chelating agent prepared by mixing or chemically reacting an odor-control chelating agent with a surfactant-producing compound. The layer material thus treated can be used in a wide variety of personal care and medical absorbent products, as well as other applications.

Abstract: A treated layer material has at least one hydrophilic, odor-absorbing surface which is wettable to aqueous liquids and capable of controlling a wide variety of malodors. The layer material is treated with a hydrophilic surfactant-modified odor control agent prepared by mixing or chemically reacting a hydrophobic odor control agent with a surfactant or surfactant-producing compound. The layer material thus treated can be used in a wide variety of personal care and medical absorbent products, as well as other applications.

Abstract: A thermoplastic porous water-permeable layer material has at least one odor-reducing surface which is wettable to aqueous liquids and capable of controlling a wide variety of malodors. The thermoplastic water-permeable layer material is treated with a surfactant-modified cyclodextrin prepared by mixing or chemically reacting a cyclodextrin-based odor absorbing material with a surfactant-producing compound. The layer material thus treated can be used in a wide variety of personal care and medical absorbent products, as well as other applications.

Abstract: A wettable article consisting of an article with a hydrophobic surface having a coating which includes a surface free energy modifier and a surface-active agent. The hydrophobic surface may include a hydrophobic polymer. The surface free energy modifier has a surface free energy greater than that of the surface of the article, but less than the surface tension of an aqueous liquid to which the wettable coated article may be exposed. The surface free energy modifier desirably is present in an amount sufficient to substantially cover the surface of the article. The surface-active agent is present in an amount effective to lower the surface tension of the liquid to a value which is greater than the surface free energy of the surface of the article and equal to or less than the surface free energy of the surface free energy modifier. The article desirably is a film or a fibrous web, such as a nonwoven web. Methods of preparing the wettable article also are described.

Abstract: A nonwoven web treated with a hydrophilic surfactant having high polydispersity results in a fabric having fast wetting which is durable to multiple fluid insults and to fabric aging during storage. The treated nonwoven fabric can be used in a wide variety of applications including, without limitation, absorbent applications.

Abstract: Nonwoven webs prepared from a blend of polymer and a migrating internal additive are heat treated only in selected regions to cause surface migration of the additive in those regions. The nonwoven webs have a desired property attributed to the additive in the selective regions. Regions surrounding the selected regions are not heat treated, and are either devoid of the desired property, or manifest the property to a lesser extent than in the heat treated regions.

Abstract: A wettable article consisting of an article with a hydrophobic surface having a coating which includes a surface free energy modifier and a surface-active agent. The hydrophobic surface may include a hydrophobic polymer. The surface free energy modifier has a surface free energy greater than that of the surface of the article, but less than the surface tension of an aqueous liquid to which the wettable coated article may be exposed. The surface free energy modifier desirably is present in an amount sufficient to substantially cover the surface of the article. The surface-active agent is present in an amount effective to lower the surface tension of the liquid to a value which is greater than the surface free energy of the surface of the article and equal to or less than the surface free energy of the surface free energy modifier. The article desirably is a film or a fibrous web, such as a nonwoven web. Methods of preparing the wettable article also are described.

Abstract: A permeable, liquid flow control material composed of: 1) a permeable sheet having a plurality of individual exposed surfaces, at least a portion of which have a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes/cm; and 2) amphiphilic proteins adsorbed onto at least some individual exposed surfaces to define a gradient distribution of amphiphilic protein coating along at least one dimension of the permeable sheet so that the adsorbed amphiphilic protein coating provides controlled wettability along at least one dimension of the liquid flow control material. Desirably, the liquid flow control material is substantially free of fugitive amphiphilic proteins. The material may be used as a permeable, bodyside cover material for absorbent personal care products.

Abstract: A fibrous web having a length, a width and a thickness, with at least about 50 percent of the fibers aligned in a direction generally perpendicular to the length and width of the web. The web defines a plurality of spaced-apart gaps, each having a top and a bottom, and each of the gaps extends from one surface of the web at least about 50 percent through the thickness of the web. The density of a portion of the web defining the bottom of the gap is greater than the density of a portion of the web defining the top of the gap. The portion of the web which defines the top of the gap may be composed substantially of terminal ends of the fibers. In addition, the portion of the web which defines the bottom of the gap may be composed substantially of continuous fibers. The fibrous web may be a meltblown nonwoven web or a neck-stretched, meltblown nonwoven web.

Abstract: Proteins are applied to a polymeric article by contacting the polymeric article with a protein and exposing the contacted polymeric article to a frequency with a sufficient power dissipation for a sufficient period of time. A frequency range for applying proteins to a polymeric article is between about 5 kHz to about 40 kHz with a minimum power dissipated of about 1 watt. As a result, polymeric articles so treated exhibit improved water wettability, proteins may be applied to the polymeric articles very rapidly and more uniformly than by other methods, and polymeric articles having selected zones of wettability may be produced.