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: A structured surface, which includes a thermoplastic backing sheet and a first upstanding element, is disclosed. The first upstanding element includes multiple, spaced-apart posts and a single cap at the distal ends of the multiple, spaced-apart posts. The structured surface furthermore typically includes a plurality of spaced-apart, upstanding posts with caps on their distal ends, where the ratio of the caps to the posts is less than one-to-one. Also disclosed is a method of making a structured surface. The method includes providing a thermoplastic backing sheet with a plurality of spaced-apart, upstanding posts; and deforming the distal ends to form caps on at least some of the spaced-apart, upstanding posts. At least some of the caps upon forming touch at least one adjacent cap to form a conjoined cap at the distal ends of multiple posts.

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 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 backing around the given opening is plastically deformed in its lengthwise direction and typically has higher stretch-induced molecular orientation at its edge adjacent the given opening than at its midpoint. The openings are often retractable. A method of making a reticulated thermoplastic film is also disclosed. The method includes stretching a thermoplastic backing with a plurality of discrete elements in the first direction. Subsequently stretching the backing in the second direction forms a tear in the backing between two adjacent discrete elements.

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.

Abstract: A film having first segments and second segments arranged across the film's width direction is disclosed. The first and second segments are separated from each other by polymer interfaces. The first segments include a first polymeric composition and the second segments include a second polymeric composition. At least some of the second segments are layered second segments having first and second layers in the film's thickness direction, and one of the first or second layers includes a third polymeric composition different from the second polymeric composition. An extrusion die useful for making the film and a method for making the film using the extrusion die are also disclosed.

Abstract: Nettings and arrays comprising polymeric strands, including dies (1030) and methods to make the same. Nettings and arrays of polymeric strands (1070a,1070b) 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: 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: Netting (1101) comprising an array of polymeric strands (1102,1104), wherein the polymeric strands are periodically joined together at bond regions throughout the array, and wherein at least a plurality (i.e., at least two) of the polymeric strands have a core (1114) of a first polymeric material and a sheath (1103) of a second, different polymeric material. 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 nonwoven articles, self bulking articles, floor coverings, grip supports, athletic articles, and pattern coated adhesives.

Abstract: There is provided a container, comprising: (a) a cover comprising at least one elastomeric layer; and (b) a food component contained within the container, wherein the food component is a liquid food component or a solid food component, and further wherein the solid food component is configured for producing a fluid food product upon contact with a liquid; and wherein the cover is configured for puncturing by at least one liquid transfer device for injection or extraction of the liquid food component or the fluid food product, and further wherein, upon withdrawal of the at least one liquid transfer device from the container, the cover is configured for resealing itself against leakage of any of the liquid, liquid food component, fluid food product, or combinations thereof. There is also provided a container comprising a plunger and spring. There are provided methods of using the aforementioned containers.

Abstract: A film comprising stripes alternating with strands is disclosed. In some embodiments, the strands have a core and a sheath. The core is more elastic than both the sheath and the strands. In some embodiments, the film has an elongation of at least 75 percent, the width of the strands is in a range from 100 micrometers to 750 micrometers, and a portion of each strand forms part of at least one major surface of the film. An extrusion die useful for making the film and a method for making the film using the extrusion die are also disclosed.

Abstract: An incrementally activated laminate that includes an incrementally activated fibrous web and a film having alternating first and second regions and a laminate of the film and an extensible fibrous web. The first region of the film includes a first polymeric composition, and the second regions include an elastic polymeric composition that is more elastic than the first polymeric composition. In the incrementally activated laminate, the distance between midpoints of two first regions separated by one second region is smaller than the activation pitch, and the first regions are not plastically deformed. In the extensible laminate, a tensile elongation at maximum load of the film is up to 250 percent of the tensile elongation at maximum load of the extensible fibrous web. Methods of making the laminates are also described.

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.

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: 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: A structured surface, which includes a thermoplastic backing sheet and a first upstanding element, is disclosed. The first upstanding element includes multiple, spaced-apart posts and a single cap at the distal ends of the multiple, spaced-apart posts. The structured surface furthermore typically includes a plurality of spaced-apart, upstanding posts with caps on their distal ends, where the ratio of the caps to the posts is less than one-to-one. Also disclosed is a method of making a structured surface. The method includes providing a thermoplastic backing sheet with a plurality of spaced-apart, upstanding posts; and deforming the distal ends to form caps on at least some of the spaced-apart, upstanding posts. At least some of the caps upon forming touch at least one adjacent cap to form a conjoined cap at the distal ends of multiple posts.

Abstract: Tamper indicating articles that include a surface-feature image-generating layer and an adhesive layer are described. The surface-feature image-generating layer generates a visible, surface-feature-generated image upon exposure to light. The intensity of the surface-feature-generated image is reduced when taped-over. Single-image and dual-image tamper indicating articles are also described, including buried dual-image and adjacent dual-image tamper indicating articles.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an adhesive article and methods of manufacturing the adhesive article. The adhesive article comprising at least one major surface comprising a microstructured surface, the microstructured surface comprising microstructured elements, the microstructured elements comprising walls and at least one wall has variable height with a maximum height and a minimum height along the wall length.

Abstract: A method of stretching films in which all or a portion of the width of the film is cooled during or just after stretching so as to improve the uniformity of the film. The includes stretching a polymeric film in a tenter that grasps the film with a plurality of clips along the opposing edges of the film and propels the clips to thereby stretch the film. The tenter includes driven clips and idler clips, with at least one idler clip between respective pairs of driven clips. The cooling is done so as to improve the uniformity of the clip spacing relative to the spacing obtained at otherwise identical process conditions without such cooling.

Abstract: A simultaneously biaxially stretched polypropylene film having unique properties is disclosed. The properties result from the unique method of making the film and include: a tensile elongation to break in the first stretch direction of at least 110%; a tensile volumetric energy to break in the first stretch direction of at least 18,000 in-lb/in3; and, a variability in film thickness along the first stretch direction, as measured by the standard deviation relative to the average, of less than 10%.