Abstract Non-woven material useful for example for disposable wipers and the like which comprises a layer of meltblown polymeric microfibers inter-mixed with fibres of absorbent material and/or absorbent or super-absorbent particles, the absorbent fibres and/or particles being inter-connected by and held captive within the polymeric microfibres matrix of fibres by mechanical entanglement and interconnection of the microfibres/absorbent fibres, (when present), and at least one layer of meltblown polymeric microfibres, the layers being bonded together ultrasonically or by the application of heat or heat and pressure to cause the microfibres in one layer to bond to the microfibres in an adjacent layer so as to produce fuse bonds extending through the material. Such material can readily absorb fluids including oil, and can subsequently be squeezed out readily. The material also has an integral strength and a substantially lint free wiping surface.
A nonwoven three-layer laminate material having a basis weight in the range of from about 50 to about 150 gsm and consisting essentially of a coform central layer mixture of thermoplastic microfibers having a diameter generally in the range of up to about 10 microns including from about 50 to about 80 percent by weight of pulp fibers and said mixture also including superabsorbent particles held captive within said mixture of pulp and microfibers, and on both sides of said central layer a meltblown surface layer consisting essentially of thermoplastic microfibers having a diameter generally within the range of from about 11/2 to 10 microns, said laminate being interbonded by a pattern of fused bonds serving to anchor the superabsorbent particles within said laminate, and occupying at least about 10 percent of the surface area of said laminate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A nonwoven three-layer laminate material having a basis weight in the range of from about 50 to about 150 gsm and consisting essentially of a coform central layer mixture of thermoplastic microfibers having a diameter generally in the range of up to about 10 microns including from about 50 to about 80 percent by weight of pulp fibers and said mixture also including superabsorbent particles held captive within said mixture of pulp and microfibers, and on both sides of said central layer a meltblown surface layer consisting essentially of thermoplastic microfibers having a diameter generally within the range of from about 11/2 to 10 microns, said laminate being interbonded by a pattern of fused bonds serving to anchor the superabsorbent particles within said laminate, and occupying at least about 10 percent of the surface area of said laminate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The nonwoven material of claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic material in each layer is polypropylene and said fused bonds are formed by the application of heat and pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The nonwoven material of claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic material of each surface layer is made of polyester, nylon, polyethylene or polypropylene, and said fused bonds are formed by sonic bonding.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The nonwoven material of claims 1, 2 or 3 also including an impervious film on the outer side of one of said surface layers.