Multilayered elastic laminates with enhanced strength and elasticity and methods of making thereof
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsWanDuk Lee, Peiguang Zhou, Davis Dang Hoang Nhan, Alphonse Carl DeMarco
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Abstract
Stronger elastic laminates, as well as methods of preparing the laminates, are disclosed herein. Particularly, the present disclosure is directed to multilayered elastic laminates including a thermoplastic elastomeric film layer and a plastic layer coextruded together, and further, a facing material laminated to the thermoplastic elastomeric film layer. The laminates are stretched and then relaxed. The prepared laminates have enhanced overall strength and elasticity while having a soft, cloth-like feel, and are prepared at a lower cost.
Claims20
A multilayered elastic laminate comprising:
- a first thermoplastic elastomeric film layer having a permanent set of less than 40% after 150% elongation, the thermoplastic elastomeric film comprising a polyolefin-based thermoplastic elastomer and a styrenic block copolymer;
- a first plastic layer affixed to a first surface of the thermoplastic elastomeric film layer, the plastic layer having a permanent set at least 50% greater than the permanent set of the elastomeric film layer, and
- a facing material affixed to a second surface of the thermoplastic elastomeric film layer.
A method for preparing an elastic laminate, the method comprising:
- coextruding at least one thermoplastic elastomeric film layer with at least one plastic layer at a first surface of the at least one thermoplastic elastomeric film layer, and
- laminating at least one facing material to a second surface of the at least one thermoplastic elastomeric film layer to prepare the elastic laminate, the first thermoplastic film layer having a permanent set of less than 40% after 150% elongation and comprising a polyolefin-based thermoplastic elastomer and a styrenic block copolymer, the plastic layer having a permanent set at least 50% greater than the permanent set of the elastomeric film layer, and wherein the plastic layer comprises one of a semi-crystalline or amorphous polymer;
- stretching the elastic laminate in one or both of the machine direction or cross direction;
- and
- relaxing the stretched elastic laminate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.