Breathable, multilayered, clothlike barrier

Abstract

A breathable, multilayer, clothlike barrier especially suitable for use as an outer cover or baffle in such disposable absorbent articles as diapers, sanitary napkins, and incontinent pads, which barrier has at least three layers: A. a first layer which is a porous meltblown nonwoven web having a first side and a second side; B. a second layer joined to the first side of the first layer, which second layer is a continuous film of a poly(vinyl alcohol), in which: the film is not microporous in that it is substantially free of voids which connect the two surfaces of the film; and the film has an average thickness of from about 3 to about 250 microns; and C. a third layer joined to either the second layer or the second side of the first layer, which third layer is a porous nonwoven web; wherein the first layer side of the second layer is intimately comingled with at least some of the fibers of the first side of the first layer, none of the pores at the surface of the first side of the first layer are so large as to significantly adversely affect the barrier properties of the barrier as a consequence of said comingling, and the barrier has a water vapor transmission rate at 37 degrees about fifty percent relative humidity of from about 100 to Celsius and about 5,000 g/m.sup.2 /24 hour and is impermeable to 0.9 percent by weight saline solution at about 21 degrees C. for a period of at least about one hour at a hydrostatic head of at least about 11.4 cm.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.