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US 6,454,989 B1Granted
Process of making a crimped multicomponent fiber web
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsJames Richard Neely, Darryl Franklin Clark, Ty Jackson Stokes, Chad Michael Freese, Rebecca Willey Griffin
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Abstract
The present invention provides continuously crimped propylene polymer nonwoven fabrics as well as processes for forming crimped multicomponent propylene polymer fibers by melt-attenuating extruded multicomponent fibers with heated or unheated air wherein the fibers spontaneously crimp without the need for additional heating and/or stretching steps.
Claims36
A method of making a nonwoven web comprising:
- extruding continuous multicomponent fibers having a crimpable cross-sectional configuration, said multicomponent fibers comprising a first component and a second component wherein said first component comprises propylene polymer and said second component comprises a different propylene polymer selected from the group consisting of high melt-flow rate polypropylenes, low polydispersity polypropylenes, amorphous polypropylenes and elastomeric polypropylenes;
- quenching said continuous multicomponent fibers;
- melt-attenuating said continuous multicomponent fibers wherein said continuous multicomponent fibers spontaneously develop crimp upon release of the attenuating force;
- and
- depositing said continuous multicomponent fibers onto a forming surface to form a nonwoven web of helically crimped fibers.
2 more elements
A method of making a nonwoven web comprising:
- extruding a continuous multicomponent fiber in a crimpable cross-sectional configuration, said multicomponent fiber comprising a first component and a second component wherein said first component comprises a first propylene polymer and said second component comprises a blend of said first propylene polymer and a second propylene polymer selected from the group consisting of low polydispersity polypropylenes, amorphous polypropylenes, elastomeric polypropylenes and propylene copolymers;
- quenching said continuous multicomponent fibers;
- melt-attenuating said continuous multicomponent fibers wherein said continuous multicomponent fibers spontaneously develop crimp upon release of the attenuating force;
- and
- depositing said continuous multicomponent fibers onto a forming surface to form a nonwoven web of helically crimped fibers.
2 more elements
A method of making a nonwoven web comprising:
- extruding a continuous multicomponent fiber in a crimpable cross-sectional configuration, said multicomponent fiber comprising a first component and a second component wherein said first component comprises a polypropylene and said second component comprises a polyethylene elastomer;
- quenching said continuous multicomponent fibers;
- melt-attenuating said continuous multicomponent fibers without application of heat wherein said continuous multicomponent fibers spontaneously develop crimp upon release of the attenuating force;
- and
- depositing said continuous multicomponent fibers onto a forming surface to form a nonwoven web of helically crimped fibers.
2 more elements
A method of making a nonwoven web comprising:
- extruding a continuous multicomponent fiber in a crimpable cross-sectional configuration, said multicomponent fiber comprising a first component and a second component wherein said first component comprises a polypropylene having a melt-flow rate greater than 50 g/10 minutes and wherein said second component comprises polyethylene;
- quenching said continuous multicomponent fibers;
- melt-attenuating said continuous multicomponent fibers without application of heat wherein said continuous multicomponent fibers spontaneously develop crimp upon release of the attenuating force;
- and
- depositing said continuous multicomponent fibers onto a forming surface to form a nonwoven web of helically crimped fibers.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.