EP0321959A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Flexible, tear resistant composite sheet material and a method for producing the same
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Corp
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Filing: 1988-12-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A flexible tear resistance composite sheet material is disclosed comprising a web of thermoplastic microfibers with from 35 to 80 percent by weight of staple fibers homogeneously dispersed throughout the web. The composite is subjected to a sufficient quantity of heat and pressure such that the thermoplastic microfibers at least partially melt and compact into a contiguous sheet with the intact staple fibers being dispersed therein. Located throughout the sheet are a plurality of voids which act as tear stops. The resulting material has a void volume of about 33 to about 55 percent and a machine direction slit trapezoidal tear resistance greater than or equal to 1.7 kg per 100 g/m² equivalent basis weight. Also disclosed herein is a process for making the composite sheet material.
Inventors
- 👤 David W. Guthrie
- 👤 Robert W. Weber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:31
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/40; D04H1/54; D04H1/56; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/903; Y10T; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/60; Y10T442/608; Y10T442/614; Y10T442/619; Y10T442/626; Y10T442/696
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A flexible tear resistant composite sheet material comprising: a contiguous layer of melted and partially fused thermoplastic microfibers having a plurality of intact staple fibers homogeneously dispersed throughout said layer, said staple fibers having an average length ranging from about 10 mm to 100 mm and a denier from about 3 to about 30, said staple fibers being present in said layer in a weight ratio of staple fibers to microfibers ranging from 80:20 to 35:65, said staple fibers further having a melting point at least 10°C greater than said microfibers, said composite having a plurality of voids dispersed therein such that said composite has a percent void volume of about 33 to about 55 percent and a slit trapezoidal tear resistance greater than or equal to 1.7 kg per 100 g/m² equivalent basis weight as measured in the machine direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A flexible tear resistant composite sheet material comprising: a contiguous layer of melted and partially fused thermoplastic microfibers having a plurality of intact staple fibers homogeneously dispersed throughout said layer, said staple fibers having an average length ranging from about 10 mm to 100 mm and a denier from about 3 to about 30, said staple fibers being present in said layer in a weight ratio of staple fibers to microfibers ranging from 80:20 to 35:65, said staple fibers further having a melting point at least 10°C greater than said microfibers, said composite having a plurality of voids dispersed therein such that said composite has a percent void volume of about 33 to about 55 percent and a slit trapezoidal tear resistance greater than or equal to 1.7 kg per 100 g/m² equivalent basis weight as measured in the machine direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The flexible tear resistant sheet material of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic microfibers are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyvinyl acetates, polyolefins and compatible copolymers thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The flexible tear resistant sheet material of claim 2 wherein said staple fibers are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyester, rayon, acrylic, glass and aromatic polyamides, said staple fibers being adhesively compatible with said thermoplastic microfibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
180 words
A flexible tear resistant composite sheet material comprising a web of thermoplastic microfibers having an average diameter less than or equal to 10 microns with a plurality of staple fibers homogenously dispersed throughout said web to form said composite, said staple fibers having an average length ranging from about 10 mm to 100 mm and a denier from about 3 to about 30, said staple fibers being present in said microfibrous web in a weight ratio of staple fibers to microfibers ranging from 80:20 to 35:65, said staple fibers further having a melting point at least 10°C greater than said thermoplastic microfibers, said composite being subjected to a sufficient quantity of heat and pressure such that said thermoplastic microfibers melt and compact into a contiguous sheet with said staple fibers being dispersed therein, said sheet having a plurality of voids to act as tear stops with a percent void volume of 33 to 55 percent and a slit trapezoidal tear resistance greater than or equal to 1.7 kg per 100 g/m² equivalent basis weight as measured in the machine direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
180 words
A flexible tear resistant composite sheet material comprising a web of thermoplastic microfibers having an average diameter less than or equal to 10 microns with a plurality of staple fibers homogenously dispersed throughout said web to form said composite, said staple fibers having an average length ranging from about 10 mm to 100 mm and a denier from about 3 to about 30, said staple fibers being present in said microfibrous web in a weight ratio of staple fibers to microfibers ranging from 80:20 to 35:65, said staple fibers further having a melting point at least 10°C greater than said thermoplastic microfibers, said composite being subjected to a sufficient quantity of heat and pressure such that said thermoplastic microfibers melt and compact into a contiguous sheet with said staple fibers being dispersed therein, said sheet having a plurality of voids to act as tear stops with a percent void volume of 33 to 55 percent and a slit trapezoidal tear resistance greater than or equal to 1.7 kg per 100 g/m² equivalent basis weight as measured in the machine direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The flexible tear resistant sheet material of claim 4 wherein said thermoplastic microfibers are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyvinyl acetates, polyolefins and compatible copolymers thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The flexible tear resistant sheet material of claim 5 wherein said staple fibers are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyester, rayon, acrylic, cotton, glass and aromatic polyamides, said staple fibers being adhesively compatible with said thermoplastic microfibers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
130 words
A process for forming a flexible tear resistant composite sheet material comprising the steps of: (a) forming a web of thermoplastic microfibers with a plurality of staple fibers dispersed therein to form a composite having a ratio of staple fibers to microfibers ranging from 80:20 to 35:65, said staple fibers having a melting point at least 10°C greater than said thermoplastic microfibers; (b) subjecting said composite to sufficient heat and pressure such that said microfibers melt into a contiguous sheet with a plurality of tear stop voids in said sheet whereby said sheet has a void volume of from about 33 to about 55 percent and a slit trapezoidal tear resistance greater than or equal to 1.7 kg per 100 g/m² equivalent basis weight as measured in the machine direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
130 words
A process for forming a flexible tear resistant composite sheet material comprising the steps of: (a) forming a web of thermoplastic microfibers with a plurality of staple fibers dispersed therein to form a composite having a ratio of staple fibers to microfibers ranging from 80:20 to 35:65, said staple fibers having a melting point at least 10°C greater than said thermoplastic microfibers; (b) subjecting said composite to sufficient heat and pressure such that said microfibers melt into a contiguous sheet with a plurality of tear stop voids in said sheet whereby said sheet has a void volume of from about 33 to about 55 percent and a slit trapezoidal tear resistance greater than or equal to 1.7 kg per 100 g/m² equivalent basis weight as measured in the machine direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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