Entangled fabrics
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsRalph L. Anderson, Eugenio G. Varona
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Abstract
A fabric that comprises an entangled, creped and optionally stretched nonwoven web is provided. The nonwoven web is formed from splittable multicomponent thermoplastic fibers having individual segments exposed on an outer perimeter thereof. In one embodiment, the splittable multicomponent fibers are continuous spunbonded thermoplastic fibers. For example, in some embodiments, the creped nonwoven web can be hydraulically entangled with a fibrous material that contains cellulosic fibers and optionally synthetic staple fibers.
Claims34
A method for forming a fabric comprising:
- forming a nonwoven web that defines a first surface and a second surface, said nonwoven web comprising splittable multicomponent fibers having individual segments exposed on an outer perimeter thereof,
- adhering said first surface of said nonwoven web to a first creping surface;
- creping said web from said first creping surface;
- and
- thereafter, entangling said creped nonwoven web such that at least a portion of said individual segments become separated from said multicomponent fibers.
A composite fabric comprising a creped nonwoven web entangled with a fibrous material that contains cellulosic fibers, said creped nonwoven web being formed from splittable multicomponent thermoplastic fibers having individual segments exposed on an outer perimeter thereof.
A composite fabric comprising a nonwoven web that contains microfolds imparted by creping, said nonwoven web being formed from continuous spunbonded multicomponent thermoplastic fibers and individual segments separated therefrom, said nonwoven web being integrally entangled with a fibrous material that contains pulp fibers.
A composite fabric as defined in claim 34, wherein said nonwoven web has been stretched by about 25% to about 75% of its initial length.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.