Process for forming apertured nonwoven fabric prepared from melt blown microfibers
AssigneeFiberweb North America, Inc.
InventorsThomas Gilmore, David Newkirk, Jared Austin, Guy S. Zimmerman, Jr., Milo Johnston
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Abstract
A nonwoven fabric comprising at least one layer of textile fibers or net of polymeric filaments and at least one web of melt blown microfibers, bonded together by hydroentangling. The nonwoven fabric may be apertured by hydroentangling or may have areas of higher density and areas of lower density. The fabric has a favorable combination of softness, dryness, tensile strength and hand. Several processes are provided for producing the nonwoven fabric of the invention.
Claims26
A process for producing a nonwoven composite fabric having apertures of two different sizes, comprising:
- supporting a first layer selected from a web of textile fibers and a net of polymeric filaments and a second layer of a web of melt blown microfibers on a first aperturing member having aperturing means of a first size sufficient for forming apertures;
- impinging streams of high pressure liquid onto the fiber layers for a time sufficient to entangle said fibers with one another such that the fibers interlock to form a fabric and to create apertures of a first size;
- transferring said fabric to a second aperturing member having aperturing means of a second size sufficient for forming apertures;
- and
- impinging streams of high pressure liquid onto the fabric for a time sufficient to form apertures of a second size in said fabric.
A process for producing a nonwoven fabric comprising:
- supporting a net of polymeric filaments and a web of melt blown microfibers on an aperturing member;
- and
- impinging streams of high pressure liquid onto the webs for a time sufficient to entangle the webs with one another such that the webs interlock to form a fabric.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.