Microfiber articles from multi-layer substrates
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsRobert S. Kody, Mario A. Perez, John W. Longabach, Kimberley D. Klepzig, John M. Sebastian, Terry R. Hobbs, Matthew J. Michel, Timothy J. Lindquist, Ravi K. Sura
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described are microfiber articles and methods and intermediates for their production, the microfiber articles being preferably produced from co-extruded multi-layer films, and the articles having a multi-layer construction that allows selection of the different layers to have different properties such that the article can have a desired combination of properties.
Claims44
A multi-layer film comprising microfibers.
A multi-layer microfiber article comprising at least one microfiber layer and a non-microfiber layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene, a polyethylene, a styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer, a polyurethane, a fluoropolymer, poly(butylene), poly(isoprene), a nylon, and an adhesive.
A co-extruded, oriented, multi-layer film comprising one or more microfiber-forming layers.
A two-layer co-extruded film comprising one or two microfiber-forming layers.
A multi-layer microfiber article comprising a first microfiber layer at a surface of the article, and second microfiber layer adjacent to the first microfiber-layer, wherein areas of the surface are microfibrillated to form microfibers of only the first layer, and areas of the surface are microfibrillated through the first layer to form microfibers of the second layer.
A method of producing a microfiber-forming multi-layer film, the method comprising
- providing an oriented film,
- casting a polymeric film onto the oriented film to produce a multi-layer film,
- orienting the multi-layer film to produce a multi-layer film having one or more layers that can be microfibrillated to produce microfibers.
A method of producing a microfiber article, the method comprising:
- providing a multi-layer film comprising at least one microfiber-forming layer, and
- microfibrillating the microfiber-forming layer to form microfibers.
A method of producing a microfibrillated article, the method comprising
- co-extruding a multi-layer film,
- orienting the film,
- and microfibrillating the layer to form microfibers from the layer.
A method of producing a microfibrillated article, the method comprising
- providing an oriented film,
- casting a polymeric film onto the oriented film to produce a multi-layer film,
- orienting the multi-layer film to produce a multi-layer film having one or more layers that can be microfibrillated to produce microfibers,
- and microfibrillating the layer to form microfibers from the layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.