Water vapor permeable, waterproof textile laminate and method for the production thereof

A method for producing a breathable waterproof textile laminate including at least two layers made of planar web material, which are disposed on top of each other and bonded to each other, an open fabric web comprising polymer fiber threads forming a top tier and a film-like, water vapor permeable, waterproof thermoplastic membrane web forming a bottom tier, and the polymer fiber threads of the fabric web comprising raised thread regions, which are held bearing against the membrane web and/or are partially fused with the membrane web, wherein the membrane web has a thickness between 4 and 100 μm and comprises integral fusion areas with the raised thread regions of the fabric web, which form a continuous and/or a discontinuous bond between the fabric web and the membrane web, wherein in the case of the continuous bond, a planar extensive bond is created, in which substantially all the raised thread regions of the fabric web are partially fused with the membrane web, and wherein in the case of the discontinuous bond, a defined bonding grid exists, in which raised thread regions of the fabric web disposed in a spot and/or line pattern are locally partially fused with the membrane web, the method comprising the following steps:

• joining the open fabric web comprising polymer fiber threads with the film-like, water vapor permeable, waterproof thermoplastic membrane web;
• pressing the membrane web against the fabric web;
• applying laser light to the membrane web;
• continuously and/or discontinuously bonding the membrane web to the fabric web by heating the fabric web and/or the membrane web using a laser transmission welding method, wherein the application of laser light to the membrane web or to the fabric web depends on whether the fabric web and/or the membrane web comprise dyes absorbing laser light, until the membrane web has become plastified, and pressing the raised thread regions of the polymer fiber threads of the fabric web against the membrane web by pressing the fabric web and the membrane web against each other, forming integral fusion areas between the membrane web and the fabric web;
• and
• cooling the membrane web and the fabric web while maintaining the pressing action.