Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080221540 | Absorbent article containing a crosslinked elastic film - A technique for imparting latent elasticity to components of an absorbent article is provided. More specifically, a latent elastic film that contains a crosslinkable semi-crystalline polyolefin is initially incorporated into an absorbent article. The film is not highly elastic prior to crosslinking and is thus dimensionally stable. Consequently, the film need not be maintained in a mechanically stretched condition during attachment to other components of the absorbent article, which provides for greater freedom in the location and manner in which the components are attached together. Once incorporated into the absorbent article, the semi-crystalline polyolefin is crosslinked to form a three-dimensional network having elastic memory. The film may also be heat activated, either through crosslinking or an additional step, to cause the film to shrink and further improve its stretch characteristics. | 09-11-2008 |
20090098360 | Nonwoven Web Material Containing Crosslinked Elastic Component Formed from a Pentablock Copolymer - A nonwoven web material that includes an elastic component or material (e.g., nonwoven web, nonwoven web laminated to an elastic material, etc.) is provided. The elastic component contains a crosslinked network formed from a pentablock copolymer containing at least two monoalkenyl aromatic midblocks positioned between conjugated diene endblocks, such as butadiene-styrene-butadiene-styrene-butadiene (“BSBSB”) or isoprene-styrene-isoprene-styrene-isoprene (“ISISI”). Prior to crosslinking, the pentablock copolymers have a relatively low viscosity and thus may be readily formed into a precursor elastic material (e.g., film, strands, web, etc.) that is subsequently crosslinked to achieve the desired elastic and mechanical properties. | 04-16-2009 |
20090098787 | CROSSLINKED ELASTIC MATERIAL FORMED FROM A BRANCHED BLOCK COPOLYMER - An elastic material for use in an absorbent article is provided. The elastic material contains a crosslinked network formed from a branched block copolymer having a monoalkenyl aromatic midblock positioned between conjugated diene endblocks (e.g., butadiene-styrene-butadiene (“B-S-B”) triblock copolymer). Prior to crosslinking, the branched block copolymers have a relatively low viscosity and thus may be readily formed into a precursor elastic material (e.g., film, strands, web, etc.) that is subsequently crosslinked to achieve the desired elastic and mechanical properties. Crosslinking is typically achieved through the formation of free radicals (unpaired electrons) that link together to form a plurality of carbon-carbon covalent bonds at the conjugated diene endblocks. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099314 | CROSSLINKED ELASTIC MATERIAL FORMED FROM A LINEAR BLOCK COPOLYMER - An elastic material for use in an absorbent article is provided. The elastic material contains a crosslinked network formed from a linear block copolymer having a monoalkenyl aromatic midblock positioned between conjugated diene endblocks (e.g., butadiene-styrene-butadiene (“B-S-B”) triblock copolymer). Prior to crosslinking, such linear block copolymers have a relatively low viscosity and thus may be readily formed into a precursor elastic material (e.g., film, strands, web, etc.) that is subsequently crosslinked to achieve the desired elastic and mechanical properties. Crosslinking is typically achieved through the formation of free radicals (unpaired electrons) that link together to form a plurality of carbon-carbon covalent bonds at the conjugated diene endblocks. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099542 | NONWOVEN WEB MATERIAL CONTAINING A CROSSLINKED ELASTIC COMPONENT FORMED FROM A LINEAR BLOCK COPOLYMER - A nonwoven web material that contains an elastic component is provided. The elastic component contains a crosslinked network formed from a linear block copolymer having a monoalkenyl aromatic midblock positioned between conjugated diene endblocks (e.g., butadiene-styrene-butadiene (“B-S-B”) triblock copolymer). Prior to crosslinking, such linear block copolymers have a relatively low viscosity and thus may be readily formed into a precursor elastic component that is subsequently crosslinked to achieve the desired elastic and mechanical properties. Crosslinking is typically achieved through the formation of free radicals (unpaired electrons) that link together to form a plurality of carbon-carbon covalent bonds at the conjugated diene endblocks. | 04-16-2009 |
20090286444 | Latent Elastic Composite Formed from a Multi-Layered Film - A nonwoven composite that exhibits latent elastic properties is provided. The composite is formed from a multi-layered, elastic film laminated to a nonwoven web facing. Latent elasticity is imparted to the composite through the use of at least one base layer that contains a thermoplastic elastomer and at least one skin layer that contains a propylene/α-olefin copolymer. During formation, the film is stretched in one or more directions to orient the elastomer chains. Without intending to be limited by theory, the present inventors believe that the oriented state of the chains may be held in place by the relatively stiff semi-crystalline domains of the propylene/α-olefin copolymer. The stretched elastic film may subsequently be relaxed and bonded to a nonwoven web facing to form the composite. The composite may be later activated (e.g., heated at or above the softening point of the copolymer) to soften the crystalline domains and allow the chains to return to their unoriented state. This causes the film to retract, which forms buckles in the nonwoven facing. In this manner, the resulting composite becomes elastic in that it has the ability to stretch and recover due to the “latent” buckle formation in the nonwoven facing. | 11-19-2009 |
20090324905 | Elastic multilayer composite including pattern unbonded elastic materials, articles containing same, and methods of making same - An elastic multilayer composite includes a pattern unbonded elastic layer attached to at least one extensible facing layer. A method for forming an elastic multilayer composite includes the steps of providing an elastic material; bonding the elastic material to form a pattern unbonded elastic material; and attaching the pattern unbonded elastic material to at least one facing material. | 12-31-2009 |
20090325440 | Films and film laminates with relatively high machine direction modulus - Films and film laminates include a blend of polymers, the blend including an elastomeric block copolymer in an amount from about 51% to about 95% by weight of the blend; and a polystyrenic polymer in an amount from about 1% to about 25% of the weight of the blend, wherein the polystyrenic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrenic homopolymers and polystyrenic random interpolymers. The films and laminates are elastic in the cross-direction and have a relatively high modulus, or stiffness, in the machine-direction. | 12-31-2009 |
20090325447 | Elastic Composite Formed from Multiple Laminate Structures - An elastic composite formed from a laminate that contains an elastic film and a lightweight nonwoven facing having a low strength in the cross-machine direction (“CD”) is provided. Due to the low strength of the facing, it is desirable that the elastic film have a sufficient thickness and weight to enhance the strength of the resulting composite. Unfortunately, the ability to join an elastic film to such a lightweight nonwoven facing becomes increasingly difficult as the thickness of the film increases. In this regard, the present inventors have discovered that a second laminate may be employed in the elastic composite that is formed from a thermoplastic film and nonwoven facing to impart increased strength to the composite. The film and facing of the second laminate may be formed from the same or different materials than the film and facing of the first laminate. Regardless, the laminates are positioned so that the elastic and thermoplastic films are in a face-to-face relationship. Through selective control over the polymer content and thickness, the present inventors have discovered that the elastic and thermoplastic films may be readily joined together under light pressure, even at ambient temperature conditions. This avoids the application of a substantial amount of heat used in conventional calender bonding processes, which can otherwise damage the film, and also minimize the need for costly adhesives. | 12-31-2009 |
20090325448 | Elastic Composite Containing a Low Strength and Lightweight Nonwoven Facing - An elastic composite formed from a lightweight nonwoven facing that has a low degree of strength in the cross-machine direction (“CD”) is provided. Through selective control over certain parameters of the materials employed in the composite and the formation process, the present inventors have discovered that such low strength and lightweight facings may be readily laminated to an elastic film without significantly damaging their integrity. For example, in one embodiment, the elastic film may possess a multi-layered construction that includes an elastomeric elastic layer positioned adjacent to a strength-enhancing thermoplastic layer. The polymer content and thickness of the thermoplastic layer are generally selected to impart additional strength and integrity to the film. Likewise, the polymer content of the elastic layer may also be selected so that the film possesses a sufficient tack for adhering to the facing. In certain cases, it may be desirable to position the layer between two elastic layers so that the strength-enhancing layer does not substantially contact the nonwoven facing. In this manner, the strength-enhancing layer may avoid substantial damage during the lamination process. | 12-31-2009 |
20100168704 | METHOD OF FORMING AN ELASTIC LAMINATE INCLUDING A CROSS-LINKED ELASTIC FILM - A method of forming an elastic composite formed from a laminate that contains a cross-linked elastic film and a nonwoven facing is provided. | 07-01-2010 |
20110160687 | NONWOVEN COMPOSITE INCLUDING AN APERTURED ELASTIC FILM AND METHOD OF MAKING - An elastic nonwoven composite that contains an elastic film laminated to one or more nonwoven web materials is provided. The composite is formed by passing an extrusion-coated film/nonwoven laminate through a nip to create apertures through both the film and the nonwoven. The apertures are of a size sufficient to provide a desired level of texture, softness, hand feel, and/or aesthetic appeal to the composite without having a significant adverse effect on its elastic properties. Apertures are accomplished in the present invention by selectively controlling certain parameters of the lamination process, such as film content, element pattern, degree of film tension, temperature and pressure conditions, and so forth. | 06-30-2011 |
20120148796 | Nonwoven Composite Including an Apertured Elastic Film and Method of Making - An elastic nonwoven composite that contains an elastic film laminated to one or more nonwoven web materials is provided. The composite is formed by passing an extrusion-coated film/nonwoven laminate through a nip to create apertures through both the film and the nonwoven. The apertures are of a size sufficient to provide a desired level of texture, softness, hand feel, and/or aesthetic appeal to the composite without having a significant adverse effect on its elastic properties. Apertures are accomplished in the present invention by selectively controlling certain parameters of the lamination process, such as film content, element pattern, degree of film tension, temperature and pressure conditions, and so forth. | 06-14-2012 |
20120172214 | SHEET MATERIALS CONTAINING S-B-S AND S-I/B-S COPOLYMERS - A sheet material that includes an elastic component or material (e.g., film, nonwoven web laminated to the elastic component, etc.) is provided. The elastic component is formed from a styrenic block copolymer composition containing from about 10 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer; and from about 10 wt % to about 90 wt. % of styrene-isoprene/butadiene-styrene block copolymer. The styrenic block copolymer composition has good viscosity stability during extrusion and thus may be readily formed into an elastic sheet material. The elastic sheet material may be subsequently crosslinked to achieve the desired elastic and mechanical properties. | 07-05-2012 |
20120172516 | ELASTIC FILM/FIBER FORMULATIONS - The present invention relates to elastic film formulations that have surprisingly high tensile strengths in addition to good viscosity stability and are based on a blend of two styrene block copolymers, namely, styrene-isoprene/butadiene-styrene and styrene-butadiene-styrene. The blend of these two styrenic block copolymers in the range set forth and described herein yield high tensile strength that is at least 50% higher than that of the prior art based styrenic block copolymers and have good viscosity stability. Moreover, the present invention relates to a blend of two different styrene block copolymers that can be made by dry blending the block copolymer components. Then the blend can be extruded into uncross-linked film, fiber, or plurality of fibers. | 07-05-2012 |
20130260632 | FILMS AND FILM LAMINATES WITH RELATIVELY HIGH MACHINE DIRECTION MODULUS - Films and film laminates include a blend of polymers, the blend including an elastomeric block copolymer in an amount from about 51% to about 95% by weight of the blend; and a polystyrenic polymer in an amount from about 1% to about 25% of the weight of the blend, wherein the polystyrenic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrenic homopolymers and polystyrenic random interpolymers. The films and laminates are elastic in the cross machine direction and have a relatively high modulus, or stiffness, in the machine-direction. | 10-03-2013 |
20140142527 | Latent Elastic Composite Formed from a Multi-Layered Film - A nonwoven composite that exhibits latent elastic properties is provided. The composite is formed from a multi-layered, elastic film laminated to a nonwoven web facing. Latent elasticity is imparted to the composite through the use of at least one base layer that contains a thermoplastic elastomer and at least one skin layer that contains a propylene/α-olefin copolymer. During formation, the film is stretched in one or more directions to orient the elastomer chains. Without intending to be limited by theory, the present inventors believe that the oriented state of the chains may be held in place by the relatively stiff semi-crystalline domains of the propylene/α-olefin copolymer. The stretched elastic film may subsequently be relaxed and bonded to a nonwoven web facing to form the composite. The composite may be later activated (e.g., heated at or above the softening point of the copolymer) to soften the crystalline domains and allow the chains to return to their unoriented state. This causes the film to retract, which forms buckles in the nonwoven facing. In this manner, the resulting composite becomes elastic in that it has the ability to stretch and recover due to the “latent” buckle formation in the nonwoven facing. | 05-22-2014 |
20140171895 | Laminate and Process For Making Same - Laminates are described that contain a frangible layer adhered to at least one extensible layer, such as an elastic layer. In one embodiment, a frangible layer is positioned between two opposing elastic layers. The frangible layer includes lines of separation that generally extend in a first direction. The lines of separation allow the elastic layers to stretch and recover in a direction perpendicular or skew to the lines of separation. In one particular embodiment, the lines of separation comprise lines where the frangible layer has been weakened. The lines of separation can be formed after the laminate is made using groove rolls. | 06-19-2014 |