Coformed ethylene-vinyl copolymer elastomeric fibrous webs

Claim 2

A composite elastomeric web comprising: meltblown elastomeric fibers formed from a copolymer of ethylene and at least one vinyl monomer selected from the group including vinyl ester monomers wherein said vinyl monomer comprises from about 10% to about 50%, by weight, of said copolymer; and at least one type of secondary fiber uniformly distributed throughout said web.

Claim 3

A composite elastomeric web comprising: meltblown elastomeric fibers formed from a composition comprising a copolymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, ethylene-methylacrylate copolymer and ethylene-methylmethacrylate copolymer wherein said copolymer is comprised of from about 10% to about 50%, by weight, of nonethylene monomer; and at least one type of secondary fiber uniformly distributed throughout said web.

Claim 4

A composite elastomeric web comprising: meltblown elastomeric fibers formed from a composition comprising a copolymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, ethylene-methylacrylate copolymer and ethylene-methylmethacrylate copolymer wherein said copolymer is comprised of from about 10% to about 50%, by weight, of nonethylene monomer; and at least one type of secondary fiber uniformly distributed throughout said web.

Claim 5

A composition fibrous nonwoven elastomeric web comprising: elastomeric meltblown fibers formed from an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer comprised of from about 10% to about 50%, by weight, of vinyl acetate monomer, said copolymer having a melt index in the range of from about 32 to about 500 grams per ten minutes; and from greater than 0% by weight to about 80% by weight of at least one type of secondary fiber.

Claim 6

A composition fibrous nonwoven elastomeric web comprising: elastomeric meltblown fibers formed from an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer comprised of from about 10% to about 50%, by weight, of vinyl acetate monomer, said copolymer having a melt index in the range of from about 32 to about 500 grams per ten minutes; and from greater than 0% by weight to about 80% by weight of at least one type of secondary fiber.

Claim 7

The composite elastomeric web of claim 1, wherein said elastomeric fibers are microfibers.

Claim 8

The composite elastomeric web of claim 2, wherein said elastomeric fibers are microfibers.

Claim 9

The composite elastomeric web of claim 3, wherein said elastomeric fibers are microfibers.

Claim 10

The composite elastomeric web of claim 3, wherein said secondary fiber comprises from about 30% by weight to about 70% by weight of said elastomeric web.

Claim 11

The composite elastomeric web of claim 3, wherein said secondary fiber comprises polyolefin fibers.

Claim 12

The composite elastomeric web of claim 3, wherein said secondary fiber is selected from the group consisting of wood pulp fiber, staple natural fiber, staple artificial fiber, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 13

The composite elastomeric web of claim 3, wherein said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer comprises from about 18% by weight to about 36% by weight of vinyl acetate monomer.

Claim 14

The composite elastomeric web of claim 3, wherein said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer comprises from about 26% by weight to about 30% by weight of vinyl acetate monomer.

Claim 15

The composite elastomeric web of claim 3, wherein said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer comprises about 28% by weight of vinyl acetate monomer.

Claim 16

A composite elastomeric web comprising: (a) meltblown elastomeric fibers formed from a blend of: (i) at least about 10% by weight of a copolymer of ethylene and at least one vinyl monomer selected from the group including vinyl ester monomers wherein said vinyl monomer comprises from about 10% to about 50%, by weight, of said copolymer; and (ii) from greater than 0% by weight to about 90% by weight of at least one compatible modifying polymer; and (b) at least one type of secondary fiber uniformly distributed throughout said web.

Claim 17

A composite elastomeric web comprising: (a) meltblown elastomeric fibers formed from a blend of: (i) at least about 10% by weight of a copolymer of ethylene and at least one vinyl monomer selected from the group including vinyl ester monomers wherein said vinyl monomer comprises from about 10% to about 50%, by weight, of said copolymer; and (ii) from greater than 0% by weight to about 90% by weight of at least one compatible modifying polymer; and (b) at least one type of secondary fiber uniformly distributed throughout said web.

Claim 18

A composite elastomeric web comprising: (a) meltblown elastomeric fibers formed from a blend of: (i) at least about 10% by weight of a copolymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, ethylene-methylacrylate copolymer and ethylene-methylmethacrylate copolymer wherein said copolymer is comprised of from about 10% to about 50%, by weight, of nonethylene monomer; and (ii) from greater than 0% by weight to about 90% by weight of at least one compatible modifying polymer; and (b) at least one type of secondary fiber uniformly distributed throughout said web.

Claim 19

A composite elastomeric web comprising: (a) meltblown elastomeric fibers formed from a blend of: (i) at least about 10% by weight of a copolymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, ethylene-methylacrylate copolymer and ethylene-methylmethacrylate copolymer wherein said copolymer is comprised of from about 10% to about 50%, by weight, of nonethylene monomer; and (ii) from greater than 0% by weight to about 90% by weight of at least one compatible modifying polymer; and (b) at least one type of secondary fiber uniformly distributed throughout said web.

Claim 20

A composite elastomeric web comprising: (a) meltblown elastomeric fibers formed from a blend of: (i) at least about 10% by weight of an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer comprised of from about 10% to about 50%, by weight, of vinyl acetate monomer, said copolymer having a melt index of from about 32 to about 500 grams per ten minutes; and (ii) from greater than 0% by weight to about 90% by weight of at least one compatible modifying polymer, and (b) at least one type of secondary fiber uniformly distributed throughout said web.

Claim 21

A composite elastomeric web comprising: (a) meltblown elastomeric fibers formed from a blend of: (i) at least about 10% by weight of an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer comprised of from about 10% to about 50%, by weight, of vinyl acetate monomer, said copolymer having a melt index of from about 32 to about 500 grams per ten minutes; and (ii) from greater than 0% by weight to about 90% by weight of at least one compatible modifying polymer, and (b) at least one type of secondary fiber uniformly distributed throughout said web.

Claim 22

The composite elastomeric web of claim 15, wherein said ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer has a melt index of from about 50 to about 200 grams per ten minutes.

Claim 23

The composite elastomeric web of claim 12, wherein said modifying polymer is at least one polymer selected from the group including polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, ethylene copolymers, propylene copolymers and butene copolymers.

Claim 24

The composite elastomeric web of claim 12, wherein said modifying polymer is at least one ABA' block copolymer, where A and A' are each a thermoplastic polymer endblock that includes a styrenic moiety and where B is an elastomeric poly(ethylene-butene) midblock.

Claim 25

The composite elastomeric web of claim 12, wherein said secondary fiber is present in an amount of from greater than 0% by weight to about 80% by weight of the weight of said web.

Claim 26

The composite elastomeric web of claim 12, wherein said secondary fiber is present in an amount of from about 30% by weight to about 70% by weight of said web.

Claim 27

The composite elastomeric web of claim 12, wherein said secondary fiber is present in an amount of from about 50% by weight to about 70% by weight of said web.

Claim 28

The composite elastomeric web of claim 12, wherein said secondary fiber is selected from the group consisting of wood pulp fiber, staple natural fiber, staple artificial fiber, and mixtures thereof.