Mechanical and internal softening for nonwoven web
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsGregory Todd Sudduth, Ali Yahiaoui
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Abstract
There is provided a web which has been spun from a mixture of thermoplastic polymer and a softening additive in an amount up to about 3 weight percent, and which has been mechanically treated to increase softness. The web has a final cup crush value which is less than 50 percent of the starting cup crush value and the drop in cup crush value is greater than the sum of the treatments individually. The web may be a single layer or may be a laminate of spunbond and other materials such as meltblown and coform fabrics.
Claims17
A nonwoven web comprising a polymer and between a positive amount and about 3 weight percent of an internal softening agent having a formula consisting essentially of ##STR2## wherein n is from 3 to about 1,000, and which web has been mechanically softened wherein the web has a cup crush value which is less than 50 percent of a cup crush value of the same fabric without said internal additive and said mechanical softening.
A nonwoven web comprising a polymer and between a positive amount and about 3 weight percent of a siloxane softening agent having a formula consisting essentially of:
- ##STR3## wherein n is from 3 to about 1000, and which web has been neck stretched to a second width of between about 50 and 95 percent of its starting, first, unstretched width and un-necked is to a third width of between about 80 and 150 percent of its starting, unstretched width and which has a cup crush value which is less than 50 percent of a cup crush value of the same fabric without said internal additive and said mechanical softening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.