# US 5,346,955 A · Polymeric web compositions having improved alkaline solubility > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,346,955 A - Document ID: US5346955A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/018,686 - Filed: 1993-02-17 - Granted: 1994-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 1991-08-13 - Assignees: Kimberly-Clark Corporation; Belland AG - Inventors: Philip A. Sasse; Debra H. Durrance; Glenn A. Taylor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346955A ## CPC - C08J 5/18: Manufacture of films or sheets - A61L 15/225: {Mixtures of macromolecular compounds} - C08L 33/02: Homopolymers or copolymers of acids; Metal or ammonium salts thereof - C08J 2333/02: Homopolymers or copolymers of acids; Metal or ammonium salts thereof - C08L 23/08: Copolymers of ethene (C08L23/16 takes precedence) - C08L 53/02: of vinyl-aromatic monomers and conjugated dienes - C08L 87/005: {Block or graft polymers not provided for in groups C08L1/00 - C08L85/04} - Y10S 428/903: Microfiber, less than 100 micron diameter - Y10S 428/913: Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture - Y10T 442/637: Including strand or fiber material which is a monofilament composed of two or more polymeric materials in physically distinct relationship [e.g., sheath-core, side-by-side, islands-in-sea, fibrils-in-matrix, etc.] or composed of physical blend of chemically different polymeric materials or a physical blend of a polymeric material and a filler material - Y10T 442/68: Melt-blown nonwoven fabric - Y10T 442/681: Spun-bonded nonwoven fabric - C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The properties of (meth)acrylic ester/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer webs, such as films and nonwovens, are improved by blending the ester/acid copolymer with a modified polyolefin, such as an ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer and/or a styrene/butadiene block copolymer, and a polyether block amide copolymer. The copolymer blend provides a polymeric material which is useful for making personal care products such as diapers and feminine pads in that it can be made water-soluble in alkaline solutions while exhibiting other properties which are necessary for adequate product performance. Such materials are also useful for packaging products, such as film for plastic bags and the like. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A composition of matter comprising a blend of from about 50 to about 90 weight percent of a copolymer of a (meth)acrylate ester and (meth)acrylic acid, from about 5 to about 30 weight percent of a copolymer of ethylene and (meth)acrylic acid, and from about 1 to about 10 weight percent of a linear polyether block amide copolymer thermoplastic elastomer having flexible polyether segments connected with rigid polyamide segments. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the amount of the polyether block amide copolymer is from about 3 to about 8 weight percent. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the amount of the polyether block amide copolymer is from about 3 to about 5 weight percent. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 further comprising from about 5 to about 15 weight percent polyethylene. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the (meth)acrylate ester is ethyl acrylate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The composition of claim 5 wherein the (meth)acrylic acid of the ethyl acrylate/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer is methacrylic acid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The composition of claim 6 wherein the (meth)acrylic acid of the ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer is acrylic acid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The composition of claim 7 wherein the copolymer of ethyl acrylate and methacrylic acid comprises about 80 weight percent ethyl acrylate moieties and about 20 weight percent methacrylic acid moieties. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The composition of claim 7 wherein the copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid comprises about 80 weight percent ethylene moieties and about 20 weight percent acrylic acid moieties. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The composition of claim 7 comprising from about 70 to about 90 weight percent of a copolymer of ethyl acrylate and methacrylic acid, from about 10 to about 15 weight percent of a copolymer of ethylene and (meth)acrylic acid, and from about 3 to about 5 weight percent of a linear polyether block amide copolymer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The composition of claim 7 comprising from about 60 to about 90 weight percent of a copolymer of ethyl acrylate and methacrylic acid, from about 5 to about 10 weight percent of a copolymer of ethylene and (meth)acrylic acid, and from about 3 to about 5 weight percent of a linear polyether block amide copolymer. ### Claim 12 A composition of matter comprising a blend of from about 50 to about 90 weight percent of a copolymer of a (meth)acrylate ester and (meth)acrylic acid, from about 5 to about 30 weight percent of a styrene/butadiene block copolymer, and from about 1 to about 10 weight percent of a linear polyether block amide copolymer thermoplastic elastomer having flexible polyether segments connected with rigid polyamide segments. ### Claim 13 A film comprising a blend of from about 60 to about 90 weight percent of a copolymer of ethyl acrylate and methacrylic acid, from about 5 to about 10 weight percent of a copolymer of ethylene and (meth)acrylic acid, and from about 3 to about 5 weight percent of a linear polyether block amide copolymer thermoplastic elastomer having flexible polyether segments connected with rigid polyamide segments, wherein said copolymer of ethyl acrylate and methacrylic acid comprises about 80 weight percent ethyl acrylate moieties and about 20 weight percent methacrylic acid moieties and wherein said copolymer of ethylene and (meth)acrylic acid contains about 80 weight percent ethylene moieties and about 20 weight percent acrylic acid moieties. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The film of claim 13 further comprising from about 5 to about 15 weight percent polyethylene.