Methods of making humidity activated materials having shape-memory
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsVasily A. Topolkaraev, Dave A. Soerens
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Abstract
The present invention relates to shape deformable materials, which are capable of (1) being deformed, (2) storing an amount of shape deformation, and (3) recovering at least a portion of the shape deformation when exposed to a humid environment. The shape deformable materials can advantageously be in the form of films, fibers, filaments, strands, nonwovens, and pre-molded elements. The shape deformable materials of the present invention may be used to form products, which are both disposable and reusable. More specifically, the shape deformable materials of the present invention may be used to produce products such as disposable diapers, training pants, incontinence products, and feminine care products.
Claims29
A method of preparing a humidity responsive material having shape memory, wherein the process comprises:
- forming a humidity responsive material comprising a shape deformable matrix material comprising an elastomeric polymer and a non-elastomeric polymer;
- forming a latent deformation in the humidity responsive material, wherein the humidity responsive material is capable of being deformed in at least one spatial dimension when exposed to one or more external forces, is capable of maintaining a degree of deformation in at least one spatial dimension once the external force is removed, and is capable of exhibiting a change, or percent recovery, in at least one spatial dimension when subjected to a humid environment;
- wherein the percent recovery is greater than about 60% when subjected to a humid environment;
- wherein the humid environment has a relative humidity of at least 50%;
- wherein the humidity responsive material exhibits a temperature change of less than about 15° C. when subjected to the humid environment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.