Nonwoven fabric made with multicomponent polymeric strands including a blend of polyolefin and ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Corporation
InventorsDavid C. Strack, Linda A. Connor, Sharon W. Gwaltney, Ann L. McCormack, Susan E. Shawver, Jay S. Shultz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A nonwoven fabric made with multicomponent polymeric strands includes a blend of a polyolefin and ethylene alkyl acrylate in one side or the sheath of the multicomponent polymeric strands. The fabric has improved abrasion resistance, strength, toughness and softness properties. Composite materials including such multicomponent material bonded to both sides of an inner meltblown layer are also disclosed.
Claims75
A nonwoven fabric comprising extruded multicomponent polymeric strands including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent strands having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent strands and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent strands continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands and including a blend of a polyolefin and ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer.
A nonwoven fabric comprising continuous multicomponent polymeric filaments including from about 20 to about 80% by weight of a first polymeric component and from about 80 to about 20% by weight of a second polymeric component, the multicomponent filaments having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent filaments and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent filaments, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent filaments continuously along the length of the multicomponent filaments and including a blend of from about 98 to about 50% by weight of a polyolefin and from about 2 to about 50% by weight of ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer.
A nonwoven fabric comprising:
- a first web of extruded multicomponent polymeric strands including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent strands having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent strands and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent strands continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands and including a first blend of a polyolefin and an ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer;
- and
- a second web of extruded polymeric strands composed of but a single polymeric component comprising a second blend of a polyolefin and ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer, the first and second webs being positioned in laminar surface-to-surface relationship and bonded together to form an integrated fabric.
A nonwoven fabric web comprising:
- a first web of continuous multicomponent polymeric filaments including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent filaments having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent filaments and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent filaments, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent filaments continuously along the length of the multicomponent filaments and including a first blend of a polyolefin and an ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer;
- and
- a second web of extruded polymeric strands composed of but a single polymeric component comprising a second blend of a polyolefin and a ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer;
- and
- a third web of continuous multicomponent polymeric filaments including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent filaments having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent filaments and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent filaments, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent filaments continuously along the length of the multicomponent filaments and including a third blend of a polyolefin and ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer,
- the first, second, and third webs being positioned in laminar surface-to-surface relationship, the first web being bonded to one side of the second web and the third web being bonded to an opposite side of the second web to form an integrated fabric.
A nonwoven fabric comprising:
- a first web of extruded multicomponent polymeric strands including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent strands having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent strands and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent strands continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands and including a first blend of a polyolefin and ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer;
- and
- a second web of extruded polymeric strands, the first and second webs being positioned in laminar surface-to-surface relationship and bonded together to form an integrated fabric.
A personal care article comprising a layer of nonwoven fabric comprising extruded multicomponent polymeric strands including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent strands having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent strands and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent strands continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands and including a blend of a polyolefin and ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer.
A garment comprising a layer of nonwoven fabric comprising:
- a first web of extruded multicomponent polymeric strands including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent strands having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent strands and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent strands continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands and including a first blend of a polyolefin and an ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer;
- and
- a second web of extruded polymeric strands composed of but a single polymeric component comprising a second blend of a polyolefin and ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer, the first and second webs being positioned in laminar surface-to-surface relationship and bonded together to form an integrated fabric.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.