Abstract: Three-dimensional polymeric strand netting, wherein a plurality of the polymeric strands are periodically joined together in a regular pattern at bond regions throughout the array, wherein a majority of the polymeric strands are periodically bonded to at least two (three, four, five, six, or more) adjacent polymeric strands, and wherein no polymeric strands are continuously bonded to a polymeric strand. Three-dimensional polymeric strand netting described herein have a variety of uses, including wound care, tapes, filtration, absorbent articles, pest control articles, geotextile applications, water/vapor management in clothing, reinforcement for nonwoven articles, self bulking articles, floor coverings, grip supports, athletic articles, and pattern coated adhesives.

Abstract: A laminate of an at least partially reticulated thermoplastic film joined to an extensible carrier. The reticulated thermoplastic film includes a backing with openings and discrete elements protruding from the first major surface. There are two discrete elements aligned in a first direction abutting opposite ends of any given opening. In a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, there is one discrete element between the given opening and an adjacent opening aligned in the second direction. Each portion of the thermoplastic backing around the given opening is plastically deformed in its lengthwise direction. A method of making a laminate is also disclosed. The method includes stretching a thermoplastic backing having a plurality of discrete elements in the first direction and laminating the backing to an extensible carrier. Subsequently stretching the laminate in a second direction forms a tear in the thermoplastic backing between two adjacent of the discrete elements.

Abstract: Provided acoustic devices include an external housing defining an expansion chamber and a wall extending through and partitioning the expansion chamber into a central chamber and a peripheral chamber adjacent the central chamber, wherein an inlet and outlet communicate with the central chamber, and wherein the wall includes a plurality of apertures formed therethrough to allow air movement to and from the central and expansion chambers, the plurality of apertures sized to provide an average flow resistance ranging from 100 MKS Rayls to 5000 MKS Rayls. The acoustic devices advantageously show significant sound attenuation while streamlining air flow to reduce pressure drop across the expansion chamber.

Abstract: Method and extrusion die (1030) for producing a three-dimensional polymeric strand netting, wherein a plurality of the polymeric strands (1070a, 1070b, 1070c) are periodically joined together in a regular pattern at bond regions throughout the array, wherein a majority of the polymeric strands (1070a, 1070b, 1070c) are periodically bonded to at least two (three, four, five, six, or more) adjacent polymeric strands, and wherein no polymeric strands are continuously bonded to a polymeric strand. Three-dimensional polymeric strand netting described herein have a variety of uses, including wound care, tapes, filtration, absorbent articles, pest control articles, geotextile applications, water/vapor management in clothing, reinforcement for nonwoven articles, self bulking articles, floor coverings, grip supports, athletic articles, and pattern coated adhesives.

Abstract: A film having first and second segments alternating across the film's width direction. The second segments are more elastic than the first segments, and a force required to stretch the second segments is less than a force required to stretch the first segments. At least some of the first segments have apertures through their thicknesses, and a percentage of area of the first segments occupied by the apertures is greater than a percentage of area occupied by any apertures that may extend through the second segments. Laminates and absorbent articles including such films are also disclosed. A method of making the film is also described.

Abstract: A film having first and second segments alternating across the film's width direction. The second segments are more elastic than the first segments. The first segments absorb light at a selected wavelength to a greater extent than the second segments. At least some of the first segments have apertures through their thicknesses, and a percentage of area of the first segments occupied by the apertures is greater than a percentage of area occupied by any apertures that may extend through the second segments. Laminates and absorbent articles including such films are also disclosed. A method of making the film is also described. The method includes forming apertures in at least some of the first segments using a laser at the selected wavelength. The first segments have a sufficient absorbance of light at the selected wavelength to form apertures through their thicknesses.

Abstract: A laminate of an at least partially reticulated thermoplastic film joined to an extensible carrier. The reticulated thermoplastic film includes a backing with openings and discrete elements protruding from the first major surface. There are two discrete elements aligned in a first direction abutting opposite ends of any given opening. In a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, there is one discrete element between the given opening and an adjacent opening aligned in the second direction. Each portion of the thermoplastic backing around the given opening is plastically deformed in its lengthwise direction. A method of making a laminate is also disclosed. The method includes stretching a thermoplastic backing having a plurality of discrete elements in the first direction and laminating the backing to an extensible carrier. Subsequently stretching the laminate in a second direction forms a tear in the thermoplastic backing between two adjacent of the discrete elements.

Abstract: A film having first and second segments arranged along the film's width direction. The second segments are more elastic than the first segments. The first segments can include a polymer and a diluent that is miscible with the polymer at a temperature above a melting temperature of the polymer but that phase separates from the polymer at a temperature below a crystallization temperature of the polymer, or the first segments can include at least one of a beta-nucleating agent or thermally induced phase separation caused by a diluent. Laminates and absorbent articles including such films are also disclosed. A method of making the film is also described.

Abstract: Polymeric layer having first and second, generally opposed major surfaces, comprising an array of openings extending between the first and second major surfaces. The polymeric layers are useful, for example, as components in personal care garments such as diapers and feminine hygiene products. They can also be useful for filtering (including liquid filtering) and acoustic applications.

Abstract: Composite polymeric comprising, in order, first, second, and third polymeric layers. The first layer is compositionally different than the second layer. The third layer is compositionally different than the second layer. The second layer comprises an array of void spaces therein, but not through the first and second major surfaces. The void spaces each have a series of areas through the void spaces ranging from minimum to maximum areas. The minimum area is not adjacent to either the first or third layer. Methods for making the composite polymeric layers are also disclosed. Polymeric layers described herein are useful, for example, as components in personal care garments such as diapers and feminine hygiene products. They can also be useful for filtering (including liquid filtering) and acoustic applications.

Abstract: Netting comprising an array of polymeric strands, wherein the polymeric strands are periodically joined together at bond regions throughout the array, with at least two polymeric strands having a different height or color. Nettings described herein have a variety of uses, including wound care, tapes, filtration, absorbent articles, pest control articles, geotextile applications, water/vapor management in clothing, reinforcement for non-woven articles, self bulking articles, floor coverings, grip supports, athletic articles, and pattern coated adhesives.

Abstract: Sheets comprising co-extruded multi-component arrays that exhibit chromatically variable appearance dependent upon observation angle. Also, methods and apparatus for making such sheets and methods for using such sheets.

Abstract: A method of making extensible web laminates comprising a multilayer film and at least one web layer and the use of such extensible web laminates in personal care articles. The method generally includes activating the multilayer film in a first direction by stretching at least a portion of the multilayer film past the elastic deformation limit of the skin layers and recovering the skin layers with the elastomeric core layer to produce a multilayer film that is elastic in the first direction. The activated multilayer film is subsequently stretched beyond the deformation limit of the skin layers in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. At least one web layer is applied to the multilayer film while in the stretched state. The multilayer film is then recovered to produce an extensible web laminate.

Abstract: Polymeric layers (50) comprising an array of openings (56) extending between the first and second major surfaces (52, 54), wherein the openings (60) each have a series of areas through the openings from the first and second major surfaces ranging from minimum to maximum areas. There is a total area and a total open area for each of the first and second major surfaces, wherein the total open area for each of the first and second major surfaces is not greater than 50 percent of the total area of the respective major surface. For at least a majority of the openings (56), the minimum area is not at either major surface. Methods for making the polymeric layers are also disclosed. Polymeric layers are useful, for example, as components in personal care garments such as diapers and feminine hygiene products and medical skin applications where breathability is desired. They can also be useful for filtering (including liquid filtering) and acoustic applications.

Abstract: Polymeric layers (50) comprising an array of blind openings (56) extending into the first major surface (52, 10111, 11211), but not through the second major surfaces (54, 10112, 11212). The blind openings each have a series of areas through the openings from the first major surface towards the second major surfaces ranging from minimum to maximum areas, where for at least a majority of the blind openings the minimum area is not at the first major surface. At least a portion of the first major surface comprises a first material and extends up to, but not into the second major surface. At least a portion of the second major surface comprises a second, different material. Methods for making the polymeric layers are also disclosed. Polymeric layers are useful, for example, as components in personal care garments such as diapers and feminine hygiene products. They can also be useful for filtering (including liquid filtering) and acoustic applications.

Abstract: A graft co-polymer is provided comprising a vinyl polymeric backbone with grafts of siloxane monomers and monomers containing an anchoring group. Such co-polymers are well suited for coating metal molds. The siloxane groups provide release to the metal mold, while the anchoring groups provide durability to the coating. The durability and release characteristics may be varied by the number of grafts of each monomer and the molecular weight of the siloxane moiety. The co-polymers may be coated from water or organic solvents.

Abstract: Method of making at least two distinct, separate polymeric films. Embodiments of polymeric multilayer film described herein are useful, for example, for filtration or acoustic absorption.

Abstract: Polymeric multilayer film having first and second generally opposed major surfaces, adjacent first and second layers that are separable from each other, and an array of indentations extending into the first and second layers. Polymeric multilayer film having first and second generally opposed major surfaces, an array of openings extending between the first and second major surfaces, and at least first and second adjacent layers that are separable from each other, wherein the openings each have a series of areas through the openings from the first and second major surfaces ranging from minimum to maximum areas, and wherein the minimum area is not at at least one of the major surface. Embodiments of polymeric multilayer film described herein are useful, for example, for filtration and acoustic absorption.

Abstract: Netting (100) comprising an array of polymeric strands (121, 122) periodically joined together at bond regions (113) throughout the array, and methods and dies for making the same. Nettings described herein have a variety of uses, including wound care and other medical applications, filtration, absorbent articles, pest control articles, and geotextile applications.

Abstract: A method of making a mechanical fastening net. The method includes providing a net having strands of polymer and open areas between the strands of polymer and molding a portion of the polymer in the strands of the net into upstanding posts to form the mechanical fastening net. A mechanical fastening net that includes a polymeric backing, a plurality of openings in the polymeric backing, and upstanding posts on at least one of the first or second major surface of the polymeric backing is also disclosed. The polymeric backing has a range of thicknesses ranging from minimum to maximum thickness, and for at least a portion of the polymeric backing, the minimum thickness of the polymeric backing is where it abuts one of the openings.