Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
  • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
  • D04H1/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
  • D04H1/70—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of fibres
  • D04H1/74—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of fibres the fibres being orientated, e.g. in parallel (anisotropic fleeces)
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
  • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
  • D04H13/00—Other non-woven fabrics
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B37/00—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B5/00—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts
  • B32B5/02—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by structural features of a fibrous or filamentary layer
  • B32B5/022—Non-woven fabric
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B5/00—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts
  • B32B5/02—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by structural features of a fibrous or filamentary layer
  • B32B5/04—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by structural features of a fibrous or filamentary layer characterised by a layer being specifically extensible by reason of its structure or arrangement, e.g. by reason of the chemical nature of the fibres or filaments
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B5/00—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts
  • B32B5/22—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by the presence of two or more layers which are next to each other and are fibrous, filamentary, formed of particles or foamed
  • B32B5/24—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by the presence of two or more layers which are next to each other and are fibrous, filamentary, formed of particles or foamed one layer being a fibrous or filamentary layer
  • B32B5/26—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by the presence of two or more layers which are next to each other and are fibrous, filamentary, formed of particles or foamed one layer being a fibrous or filamentary layer another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B7/00—Layered products characterised by the relation between layers; Layered products characterised by the relative orientation of features between layers, or by the relative values of a measurable parameter between layers, i.e. products comprising layers having different physical, chemical or physicochemical properties; Layered products characterised by the interconnection of layers
  • B32B7/04—Interconnection of layers
  • B32B7/05—Interconnection of layers the layers not being connected over the whole surface, e.g. discontinuous connection or patterned connection
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
  • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
  • D04H1/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
  • D04H1/40—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties
  • D04H1/54—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties by welding together the fibres, e.g. by partially melting or dissolving
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
  • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
  • D04H1/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
  • D04H1/40—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties
  • D04H1/54—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties by welding together the fibres, e.g. by partially melting or dissolving
  • D04H1/56—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties by welding together the fibres, e.g. by partially melting or dissolving in association with fibre formation, e.g. immediately following extrusion of staple fibres
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
  • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
  • D04H1/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
  • D04H1/70—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of fibres
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
  • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
  • D04H1/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
  • D04H1/70—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of fibres
  • D04H1/72—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of fibres the fibres being randomly arranged
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
  • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
  • D04H3/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length
  • D04H3/02—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of yarns or filaments
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
  • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
  • D04H3/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length
  • D04H3/02—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of yarns or filaments
  • D04H3/04—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of yarns or filaments in rectilinear paths, e.g. crossing at right angles
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
  • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
  • D04H3/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length
  • D04H3/08—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length characterised by the method of strengthening or consolidating
  • D04H3/14—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length characterised by the method of strengthening or consolidating with bonds between thermoplastic yarns or filaments produced by welding
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
  • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
  • D04H3/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length
  • D04H3/08—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length characterised by the method of strengthening or consolidating
  • D04H3/16—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length characterised by the method of strengthening or consolidating with bonds between thermoplastic filaments produced in association with filament formation, e.g. immediately following extrusion
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2250/00—Layers arrangement
  • B32B2250/20—All layers being fibrous or filamentary
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2262/00—Composition or structural features of fibres which form a fibrous or filamentary layer or are present as additives
  • B32B2262/02—Synthetic macromolecular fibres
  • B32B2262/0207—Elastomeric fibres
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2262/00—Composition or structural features of fibres which form a fibrous or filamentary layer or are present as additives
  • B32B2262/02—Synthetic macromolecular fibres
  • B32B2262/0207—Elastomeric fibres
  • B32B2262/0215—Thermoplastic elastomer fibers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2262/00—Composition or structural features of fibres which form a fibrous or filamentary layer or are present as additives
  • B32B2262/02—Synthetic macromolecular fibres
  • B32B2262/0253—Polyolefin fibres
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2262/00—Composition or structural features of fibres which form a fibrous or filamentary layer or are present as additives
  • B32B2262/02—Synthetic macromolecular fibres
  • B32B2262/0276—Polyester fibres
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2307/00—Properties of the layers or laminate
  • B32B2307/50—Properties of the layers or laminate having particular mechanical properties
  • B32B2307/51—Elastic
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2307/00—Properties of the layers or laminate
  • B32B2307/70—Other properties
  • B32B2307/706—Anisotropic
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T442/00—Fabric [woven, knitted, or nonwoven textile or cloth, etc.]
  • Y10T442/60—Nonwoven fabric [i.e., nonwoven strand or fiber material]
  • Y10T442/601—Nonwoven fabric has an elastic quality
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T442/00—Fabric [woven, knitted, or nonwoven textile or cloth, etc.]
  • Y10T442/60—Nonwoven fabric [i.e., nonwoven strand or fiber material]
  • Y10T442/68—Melt-blown nonwoven fabric
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T442/00—Fabric [woven, knitted, or nonwoven textile or cloth, etc.]
  • Y10T442/60—Nonwoven fabric [i.e., nonwoven strand or fiber material]
  • Y10T442/681—Spun-bonded nonwoven fabric

Definitions

• This invention relates to ⁇ onwoven fabrics in which the fibers of the fabric are laid down with an orientation primarily in a machine direction.
• the resulting nonwoven has high tensile strength and very low elongation in the machine direction, but relatively low tensile strength and can be elongated with relatively little force in the cross direction.
• the required fiber orientation property is obtained without a separate step of "consolidation” or "necking.”
• Stretch nonwovens are enjoying rapid growth in the hygiene industry.
• the majority of products in use either have a machine direction stretch capability, such as the Kimberly Clark Demique® and "Flex-All” products or cross direction stretch such as the "Golden Phoenix” or 'Tredegar” nonwoven - elastic film laminates.
• a true multi-direction stretch nonwoven provides valuable functionality to hygiene related products as well as opening new end uses such as apparel to stretch nonwovens.
• the nonwoven provided by the process herein disclosed has substantially different physical properties in the machine direction versus the cross direction characterized in that said nonwoven has a cross direction elongation at break of at least about 50 percent.
• substantially different physical properties refer to at least the elongation without rupture in the machine direction and the perpendicular direction
• the nonwoven provided in an embodiment herein has a cross direction elongation at break of about 100 to about 200 percent.
• the nonwoven provided in embodiments herein is selected from the group comprising spunbonded, melt blown, carded thermal bond, and spunlaced structures.
• a process for making a nonwoven having substantially different physical properties in the machine direction versus the cross direction comprising the steps of: laying down a fibrous web, followed by bonding the web.
• the process provided substantially aligns the fibers of the nonwoven in the machine direction and bonds the resulting web such that the resulting material has cross direction extensibility but with sufficient cross directional and machine directional coherence to allow subsequent conversion steps.
• an extensible nonwoven comprising the steps of laying down a fibrous web and bonding the web by selecting a bonding pattern comprising a small number of bonding points and wherein, the bond points arranged along an axis perpendicular to the machine direction are spaced more widely apart than the bond points arranged along an axis parallel to the machine direction and wherein the bond points are provided by thermal energy.
• an extensible nonwoven comprising the steps of aligning carded bats of fibers such that a majority of the fibers have a fiber direction making an angle substantially parallel to or within an angle in a range of +/- 45° of the machine direction and bonding the web.
• LYCRA® XA a registered trademark of INVISTA S. a r. I., 3 Little Falls Centre, 2801 Centreville Road, Wilmington, Delaware, 19808.
• LYCRA® fibers specifically designed to be adhesively attached rather than knitted or woven into place and used diapers and adult incontinence products.
• "XA” stands for "Extra Adherent” or “Extra Adhesive”.
• Machine Direction Axis of a nonwoven fabric is that direction parallel to the direction in which the fabric is forwarded through the machine; the direction in which the fabric is made.
• Cross Direction Axis of a nonwoven fabric is that direction perpendicular to the direction in which the fabric is made.
• Consolidated Nonwoven is one that can be extended (stretched) in the cross direction (also known as a "necked” direction) with a relatively low force. Normally, consolidated nonwovens have a low retraction power and high permanent set (deformation) after extension. Consolidated nonwovens are produced from almost any normal "as made” nonwoven by a drafting process (e.g. "the Kimberly Clark” technology) or drafting plus heat (the University of Tennessee TANDEQ process. Consolidated nonwovens normally have high modulus and tensile strength in the machine direction, e.g. elongation without rupture to 200 or 250% is possible.
• Extensible Nonwoven is one that can be extended in the cross direction with relatively low force.
• Such nonwovens can be either a consolidated nonwoven or an "as made” extensible nonwoven.
• "As-made" extensible nonwovens have characteristics similar to consolidated nonwovens but generally having lower elongation but not as a result of a special necking or consolidation process.
• Anisotropic Nonwoven are ones having different properties (e.g. elongation and tensile strength) in the machine direction versus the cross machine direction.
• Anisotropic nonwovens are "as-made" extensible nonwovens.
• GSM grams per square meter
• the common measure of the weight or thickness of a nonwoven per unit area Normally, these range from 10 GSM at the low end of spunbond and melt blown nonwovens up to 100 - 400 GSM for needle punch nonwovens.
• "diaper cover stock” nonwovens are in the range of 15 to 25 GSM.
• MDXA "Machine Direction XA" A laminate of LYCRA® spandex fibers and a nonwoven or a film (e.g. nonwoven/LYCRA®/nonwoven). LYCRA® under extension is adhesively bonded to the nonwoven using a hot melt adhesive. The laminate forms a characteristic puckered pattern when allowed to retract.
• the MDXA family of product properties differ significantly depending on LYCRA® spacing, decitex and type of nonwoven or film.
• CDXA also known as CDXA-I
• Cross Direction XA A laminate of LYCRA® spandex fibers between layers of nonwoven in which the LYCRA® fibers are laid down in a "zig zag" pattern.
• the LYCRA® fibers are extended when glued in place and product has a characteristic puckered appearance when allowed to relax.
• the CDXA product is normally a narrow tape that is rigid in the machine direction but elastic (stretches and recovers) in the cross direction. Intended for cross direction stretchable components in diapers and adult incontinence products, such as waistbands, side panels, elastic diaper ears and closure tapes.
• CDXA-III (so-called "version 3" and a successor to CDXA)
• This product is a laminate having a single layer of an extensible nonwoven that is impregnated with a hard segment and soft segment polyurethane polymer; essentially the same polymer used to make LYCRA® spandex filaments.
• This impregnated laminate of high retractive power is an extensible nonwoven produced by a coagulation coating process.
• the impregnated laminate is characteristically rigid in the machine direction and elastic in the cross direction.
• Nonwoven production can be divided into three parts: "Web Formation, Bonding, and Finishing"
• Web formation can be divided into “Spun Melt” processes that begin with thermoplastic polymer chips, “Flash Spun” nonwovens are a solvent spun version of "Spun Melt” nonwovens, and “Carded or Air Laid” nonwovens begin with staple fibers. "Spun MeIf is further divided into “Spun Bond” and “Melt Blown” nonwovens. Fibers in spun bond nonwovens are melt spun into an air extension chamber where the fibers are drawn to increase strength by an "air attenuation” process and then laid down on a moving belt. In a melt blown process, the polymer melt is extruded into a high shear zone powered by air which breaks the fibers into small sections and draws them while in the molten state into very fine deniers. Spun bond is the most common nonwoven process, producing a strong, durable nonwoven fabric in wide use in the hygiene industry (e.g. diapers). Melt blown fabrics are normally weak but with very fine and uniform pore size and are commonly used in filtration.
• Spun bond, melt blown and flash spun nonwovens are normally consolidated by a thermal bonding process.
• Hybrid nonwovens for example SMS, or SMMS (spun bond/melt blown/spun bond) are becoming increasingly common.
• flash spun nonwovens a polymer (commonly polyethylene and polypropylene or mixtures) is dissolved under pressure in a low boiling solvent which vaporizes immediately upon pressure let down and extrusion of the polymer solution from a spinneret.
• the most important flash spun nonwoven is TYVEK® from E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Co. Inc, Wilmington, Delaware.
• Carded or Air Laid nonwovens begin with staple fibers which are formed into webs by either a conventional carding or by air laying in which individual fibers are conveyed into a web by an air stream. Carded and air laid nonwovens are bonded by processes employing thermal, chemical or by mechanically bonding means.
• Web bonding is the process used to bind fibers of the nonwoven web together.
• “Chemical (or Adhesive) Bonding” that bonds fibers together using a resin or adhesive.
• Mechanical Bonding is achieved using a large number of steel needles are repeatedly passed through the fabric to entangle the fibers, also known as needle punched. Similarly, high-pressure water jets are used to accomplish fiber entangling and often calles spunlaced or hydro-entangled nonwovens.
• SONTARA® from E. I.
• Spunlaced nonwovens are more three-dimensional and fabric like than other nonwovens and are generally viewed as the high quality end of the nonwoven spectrum.
• Web finishing refers to a finish or treatment, usually a chemical compound, applied to a nonwoven to impart some characteristic, usually hydrophilicity.
• Fig. 1A is a representation of a portion of a stretch nonwoven 10 having a plurality of bonding points 20.
• Fig. 1 B is a representation of a portion of a stretch nonwoven 100 having a fibers 200 aligned within an angle +/- a of the machine direction MD.
• Fig. 2A is flow diagram of one process for providing a stretch nonwoven according to the invention.
• Fig. 2B is flow diagram of another process for providing a stretch nonwov ⁇ n according to the invention.
• a fully elastic nonwoven with a cloth like hand is provided by surrounding a primary spunbond elastomeric nonwoven (such as that based on EXXON VISTAMAXX® elastomeric polypropylene) by light weight layers of spun bond or melt blown hard fibers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, or polypropylene — polyethylene blends by spunbonded, meltblown and hybrid combination of the two processes.
• a primary spunbond elastomeric nonwoven such as that based on EXXON VISTAMAXX® elastomeric polypropylene
• melt blown hard fibers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, or polypropylene — polyethylene blends
• nonwoven fabrics in which the fibers of the fabric are intentionally laid down with an orientation primarily in a machine direction.
• the resulting nonwoven has high tensile strength and very low elongation in the machine direction, but relatively low tensile strength and can be elongated with relatively little force in the cross direction.
• the required fiber orientation property is obtained without a separate step "consolidation” or "necking.”
• Nonwovens with substantially different properties in the cross direction versus the machine direction means that the resulting nonwoven, hereinafter an "extensible nonwoven", is rigid with high break tenacity in the machine direction.
• the extensible nonwoven is easily extended in the cross direction without rupturing by application of a relatively low force.
• a relatively low force is an applied force of less than 1 Newton at 50% elongation.
• care is taken in the production of nonwovens to randomize the direction of the fiber lay down to produce a sheet structure with similar physical properties (modulus, per cent elongation and break tenacity) in all directions.
• extensible nonwovens have been shown to be useful in producing a variety of materials that utilize nonwoven sheets with cross direction. Extensible nonwovens with cross direction stretch of 200% are well known, but are produced by a post nonwoven formation conversion process.
• Patent disclosures relating to this technology are assigned to TANDEC (University of Tennessee Nonwovens Research Consortium), Kimberly Clark, and BBA.
• processes commonly known as “necking” or “consolidation” start with a nonwoven, especially spun-bond and carded thermo-bond nonwovens, which is then drawn in the machine direction to substantially align the fibers of the nonwoven in the machine direction to produce the desired properties.
• spun-laced (hydro-entangled) nonwovens produced by a variety of producers, including E. I. DuPont, Sheng Hung, and BBA have properties that are similar to the desired "extensible” nonwoven due, but with elongation's generally less than 100%.
• an extensible nonwoven is produced directly during the nonwoven formation process without the need for post formation processing and represented by the flow charts of Fig. 2A and 2B.
• the extensible character of the nonwoven is enhanced by selecting a bonding pattern with a relative low number of bond points 20 (in Fig. 1A) and/or one in which the bond points are arranged such that bond points 20 along an axis perpendicular to the machine direction are widely spaced, e.g. having spacing A in Fig. 1 A, while those on an axis parallel to the machine direction are relatively closely spaced, e.g. having a spacing B in Fig. 1A.
• bonding point spacing satisfies the relationship A > B.
• the bonding point pattern is accomplished by appropriate adjustment of the randomizing air jets at the fiber lay down point to produce the same fiber lay down as described above for carded thermo-bond nonwovens and also using the bonding patterns described above. :

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• 2007
  • 2007-04-27 US US11/740,974 patent/US20070254545A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-04-27 BR BRPI0710374-3A patent/BRPI0710374B1/pt active IP Right Grant
  • 2007-04-27 JP JP2009507843A patent/JP5619417B2/ja active Active
  • 2007-04-27 CN CN2007800149940A patent/CN101432477B/zh active Active
  • 2007-04-27 TW TW96115057A patent/TWI387531B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2007-04-27 EP EP20070776435 patent/EP2010704B1/en active Active
  • 2007-04-27 KR KR1020087026042A patent/KR101497711B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-04-27 WO PCT/US2007/010360 patent/WO2007127442A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2007-04-27 ES ES07776435T patent/ES2447041T3/es active Active

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