Kimberly-Clark

About: Kimberly-Clark is a company organization based out in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Layer (electronics) & Fiber. The organization has 5723 authors who have published 7062 publications receiving 214993 citations. The organization is also known as: Kimberly-Clark Worldwive & Kimberly, Clark and Co..

Method for forming nonwoven webs

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for forming nonwoven webs by spinning filaments into a quench chamber where they are contacted with a quenching fluid, then utilizing the quench fluid to draw the filaments through a two-dimensional nozzle spanning the full machine width, and collecting the filaments as a web on a porous surface. In contrast with the prior art, low motive fluid pressures can be used, and a non-eductive drawing means utilized to minimize air turbulence and the resulting filament entanglement in the drawing means while maintaining substantially constant cross machine filament distribution. The apparatus and process reduce problems relating to filament breakage and spreading and result in increased productivity and improved web formation. Other advantages include the ability to continuously spin highly pigmented polymer filaments and reduced hazards associated with high noise levels.

Nonwoven fabric and method of producing same

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric-like material having a unique combination of strength, absorbency and hand consists essentially of an air-formed matrix of thermoplastic polymer microfibers having an average fiber diameter of less than about 10 microns, and a multiplicity of individualized wood pulp fibers disposed throughout the matrix of microfibers and engaging at least some of the microfibers to space the microfibers apart from each other. The wood pulp fibers are interconnected by and held captive within the matrix of microfibers by mechanical entanglement of the microfibers with the wood pulp fibers, the mechanical entanglement and interconnection of the microfibers and wood pulp fibers alone forming a coherent integrated fibrous structure. The coherent integrated fibrous structure may be formed by the microfibers and wood pulp fibers without any adhesive, molecular or hydrogen bonds between the two different types of fibers. The wood pulp fibers are preferably distributed uniformly throughout the matrix of microfibers to provide a homogeneous material. The material is formed by initially forming a primary air stream containing the melt blown microfibers, forming a secondary air stream containing the wood pulp fibers, merging the primary and secondary streams under turbulent conditions to form an integrated air stream containing a thorough mixture of the microfibers and wood pulp fibers, and then directing the integrated air stream onto a forming surface to air form the fabric-like material. The microfibers are in a soft nascent condition at an elevated temperature when they are turbulently mixed with the wood pulp fibers in air.

A disposable incontinence garment or training pant

Abstract: A disposable pant-like garment for absorbing human discharge is provided, and comprises an absorbent assembly comprising a liquid-impervious outer cover, a liquid-pervious liner, and an absorbent medium therebetween. The absorbent assembly also has generally opposite side edges and generally opposite end edges. A pair of stretchable side panels are joined to each one of the side edges to form with the absorbent assembly a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. A gathering means is joined along at least a portion of each leg opening for gathering that portion. The stretchable side panels provide generally inwardly directed force vectors against a wearer to maintain the garment snugly against the wearer's body and the absorbent assembly snugly in place against the crotch area both before and after a discharge.

Polyolefin-containing extrudable compositions and methods for their formation into elastomeric products including microfibers

Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to an extrudable elastomeric composition formed by blending from at least 10 percent, by weight, of an A-B-A' block copolymer where "A" and "A'" are each a thermoplastic endblock which includes a styrenic moiety and where "B" is an elastomeric poly(ethylene-butylene) midblock with up to at least about 90 percent, by weight, of at least one polyolefin which, when blended with the A-B-A' block copolymer and subjected to an effective combination of elevated temperature and elevated pressure conditions, is adapted to be extruded in blended form, with the A-B-A' block copolymer. Fibrous nonwoven elastomeric webs may be formed from the extrudable composition and processes for forming the fibrous nonwoven elastomeric webs are also disclosed.

Composite elastomeric material and process for making the same

Abstract: A method of producing a composite elastic material comprises stretching an elastic web to elongate it, for example, elongating a nonwoven web of meltblown elastomeric fibers, and bonding the elongated web to at least one gatherable web, such as a spunbonded polyester fiber material, under conditions which soften at least a portion of the elastic web to form the bonded composite web of elastic material. The composite material is relaxed immediately after the bonding to prevent the elastic web from losing its ability to contract from the stretched dimensions which it assumed during the bonding step. Such immediate relaxation of the composite material after the bonding step results in the elastic web retaining its ability to contract so that, upon termination of the elongating force, the elastic web contracts to form gathers in the gatherable web. The bonding may be effectuated by pattern embossing overlaid elastic and gatherable webs with at least portions of the elastic web heated to at least its softening temperature. The resultant composite elastic material comprises a coherent elastic web which is bonded to at least one coherent gatherable web whereby the gatherable web is extensible and contractible with the elastic web upon stretching and relaxing of the composite material.