The present invention provides a composite elastic necked-bonded material including at least one necked material joined to at least one elastic sheet. The composite elastic necked-bonded material is stretchable in a direction generally parallel to the direction of constriction or necking of the necked material. Also disclosed is a method of producing a composite elastic necked-bonded material by necking a neckable material and then joining the necked material to an elastic sheet.

Process for forming a composite elastic necked-bonded material

Laminate of nonwoven fabric having unique properties suitable especially for use as a recreational fabric in the manufacture of tents, outer garments, tarpaulins and the like. The laminate includes, as essential components, an outer spunbonded layer treated for resistance to ultraviolet radiation and intended as the exposure surface, an inner microporous meltblown layer, preferably densified for resistance to liquid strike-through, and, on the unexposed surface, another nonwoven layer treated for flame retardancy. The combination optionally includes additional pigments in the exposed surface layers for desired appearance as well as pigments and/or ultraviolet radiation resistance treatment in the inner meltblown layer. As additional options, further layers of meltblown or spunbonded nonwovens may be included to attain desired physical properties. The resulting material provides a unique combination having excellent properties for recreational fabric uses, especially water repellency, breathability, resistance to degradation by ultraviolet radiation and flame retardancy.

Nonwoven laminate for recreation fabric

Disclosed herein is a breathable film and a breathable, cloth-like film/nonwoven composite made from the breathable film which is stretch-thinned and bonded to a fibrous polyolefin nonwoven web. Certain thermoplastic films such as, for example, linear low density polyethylene films are difficult to thermally bond to, for example, polypropylene nonwoven webs due to the incompatibility of the two polymers. The present invention incorporates a bonding agent into one or both of the two layers thereby making it easier to thermally bond the two layers together. Processes for forming the various composite are also disclosed.

Breathable, cloth-like film/nonwoven composite

A reversibly necked material capable of stretching at least about 75 percent and recovering at least about 50 percent when stretched about 75 percent, typically in a direction generally parallel to the direction of necking. The reversibly necked material is made by applying a tensioning force to at least one material to neck the material, heating the necked material, and cooling the necked material that the reversibly necked material possesses a greater heat of fusion and/or a lower onset of melting than the material before heating while stretched.

Reversibly necked material

A composite elastic material including at least one reversibly necked material and at least one elastic sheet joined at least at two locations in which the reversibly necked material is formed from a neckable material which has been treated so that, upon application of a force to extend the necked material to its pre-necked dimensions, the material returns generally to its necked dimensions upon termination of the force. Also disclosed is a process for making a composite elastic material by joining a reversibly necked material to an elastic sheet at least at two locations.

Composite elastic material including a reversibly necked material

OPEN-CELLED MICROPOROUS POLMER FILMS CHARACTERIZED BY HAVING A REDUCED BULK DENSITY AS COMPARED TO THE BULK DENSITY OF THE CORRESPONDING POLYMER FILMS HAVING NO OPEN-CELLED STRUCTURE, A CRYSTALLINITY OF ABOVE ABOUT 30 PERCENT, A PORE SIZE OF LESS THAN 5000 ANGSTROMS AND A NITROGEN FLUX OF GREATER THAN 35.4, ARE PREPARED BY THE CONSECUTIVE STEPS OF COLD STRETCHING, HOT STRETCHING AND HEAT SETTING A NON-POROUS, CRYSTALLINE, ELASTIC FILM.

Novel open-celled microporous film

Novel products are described which possess a capability of transmitting air and moisture vapor, are waterproof, and have fabric-like aesthetic properties These products may have applications such as rainwear material, tent material, garment liners, and shoe liners These products may be made by spray spinning filamentary polymer material onto open-celled polymer film, or onto non-cellular elastic polymer film with the additional steps of stretching and heat setting creating a stable open-celled structure in the film portion of the product Subsequent calendering of the product may further improve its fabric-like aesthetic properties

Air permeable waterproof products having fabric-like aesthetic properties and methods for making the same

An electrical conductor having a dielectric insulation material formed from a partially heat-shrunk open-celled microporous film is disclosed. The dielectric insulation material is impregnated with a dielectric liquid selected from halogenated organic compounds having from 1 to 5 halogen substituents and from 1 to 3 aryl groups; perfluorobutylamines and ethers; perfluorohydrocarbons; silicone oils; mineral oils; castor oil and cottonseed oil.

Dielectric insulation employing open-celled microporous film

Certain open-celled microporous films are treated to give products having increased porosity. The process involves contacting the open-celled film with a liquid organic compound such as perchloroethylene.

Process for increasing the porosity of opencelled microporous film

NOVEL PRODUCTS ARE DESCRIBED WHICH POSSES A CAPABILITY OF TRANSMITTING AIR AND MOISTURE VAPOR, ARE WATERPROFF, AND HAVE FABRIC-LIKE AESTHETIC PROPERTIES. THESE PRODUCTS MAY HAVE APPLICATIONS SUCH AS RAINWEAR MATEIAL, TENT MATERIAL, GARMENT LINERS, AND SHOE LINERS. THESE PRODUCTS MAY BE MADE BY SPRAY SPINNING FILAMENTARY POLYMER MATERIAL ONTO OPEN-CELLED POLYMER FILM, OR INTO NON-CELLULAR ELASTIC POLYMER FILM WITH THE ADDITIONAL STEPS OF STRETCHING AND HEAT SETTING CREATING A STABLE OPEN-CELLED STRUCTURE IN THE FILM PORTION OF THE PRODUCT. SUBSEQUENT CALENDERING OF THE PRODUCT MAY FURTHER IMPROVE ITS FABRIC-LIKE AESTHETIC PROPERTIES.

John T Loft

Papers

Novel open-celled microporous film

Air permeable waterproof products having fabric-like aesthetic properties and methods for making the same

Dielectric insulation employing open-celled microporous film

Process for increasing the porosity of opencelled microporous film

Method for making air-permeable waterproof products having fabric-like aesthetic properties