Superabsorbent thermoplastic compositions and nonwoven webs prepared therefrom

Claim 2

A nonwoven web comprising fibers composed of a superabsorbent, thermoplastic polymeric composition comprising: (A) from about 86 to about 98 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a poly(oxyethylene) soft segment having a weight average molecular weight in the range of from about 5,000 to about 50,000; and (B) from about 2 to about 14 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a hard segment which has a melting point above ambient temperature and below the temperature at which decomposition of either the composition or the soft segment takes place, is essentially insoluble in water, and phase separates from the soft segment, said hard segment being selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyamides, polyesters, polyureas, and combinations thereof; wherein the soft and hard segments are covalently bound together by means of urethane, amide, ester, or secondary urea linkages or combinations thereof.

Claim 3

The nonwoven web of claim 1, in which said fibers include polycomponent fibers, at least one component of which is said superabsorbent, thermoplastic polymeric composition.

Claim 4

The nonwoven web of claim 2, in which said polycomponent fibers are bicomponent fibers.

Claim 5

The nonwoven web of claim 3, in which said bicomponent fibers are sheath-core fibers.

Claim 6

The nonwoven web of claim 4, in which the sheath is said superabsorbent, thermoplastic polymeric composition and the core is a polyolefin.

Claim 7

The nonwoven web of claim 5, in which said polyolefin is polypropylene or polyethylene.

Claim 8

The nonwoven web of claim 1, in which the weight average molecular weight of said soft segment is in the range of from about 8,000 to about 50,000.

Claim 9

The nonwoven web of claim 7, in which the weight average molecular weight of said soft segment is in the range of from about 8,000 to about 30,000.

Claim 10

The nonwoven web of claim 8, in which the weight average molecular weight of said soft segment is in the range of from about 8,000 to about 16,000.

Claim 11

The nonwoven web of claim 1, in which said soft segment is present in the range of from about 90 to about 97 percent by weight.

Claim 12

The nonwoven web of claim 10, in which said soft segment is present in the range of from about 95 to 97 percent by weight.

Claim 13

The nonwoven web of claim 1, in which said hard segment is present in the range of from about 3 to about 10 percent by weight.

Claim 14

The nonwoven web of claim 12, in which said hard segment is present in the range of from about 3 to about 5 percent by weight.

Claim 15

The nonwoven web of claim 1, in which said soft segment is derived from a poly(oxyethylene) diol.

Claim 16

The nonwoven web of claim 14, in which said hard segment is a polyurethane.

Claim 17

The nonwoven web of claim 15, in which said polyurethane is derived from 1,4-butanediol.

Claim 18

A nonwoven web comprising a plurality of substantially identically prepared discontinuous and substantially randomly deposited monofilaments of a superabsorbent, thermoplastic polymeric composition comprising: (A) from about 86 to about 98 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a poly(oxyethylene) soft segment having a weight average molecular weight in the range or from about 5,000 to about 50,000; and (B) from about 2 to about 14 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a hard segment which has a melting point above ambient temperature and below the temperature at which decomposition of either the composition or the soft segment takes place, is essentially insoluble in water, and phase separates from the soft segment, said hard segment being selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyamides, polyesters, polyureas, and combinations thereof; wherein the soft and hard segments are covalently bound together by means of urethane, amide, ester, or secondary urea linkages or combinations thereof.

Claim 19

A nonwoven web comprising a plurality of substantially identically prepared discontinuous and substantially randomly deposited monofilaments of a superabsorbent, thermoplastic polymeric composition comprising: (A) from about 86 to about 98 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a poly(oxyethylene) soft segment having a weight average molecular weight in the range or from about 5,000 to about 50,000; and (B) from about 2 to about 14 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a hard segment which has a melting point above ambient temperature and below the temperature at which decomposition of either the composition or the soft segment takes place, is essentially insoluble in water, and phase separates from the soft segment, said hard segment being selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyamides, polyesters, polyureas, and combinations thereof; wherein the soft and hard segments are covalently bound together by means of urethane, amide, ester, or secondary urea linkages or combinations thereof.

Claim 20

The nonwoven web of claim 17, in which the weight average molecular weight of said soft segment is in the range of from about 8,000 to about 50,000.

Claim 21

The nonwoven web of claim 18, in which the weight average molecular weight of said soft segment is in the range of from about 8,000 to about 30,000.

Claim 22

The nonwoven web of claim 19 in which the weight average molecular weight of said soft segment is in the range of from about 8,000 to about 16,000.

Claim 23

The nonwoven web of claim 17, in which said soft segment is present in the range of from about 90 to about 97 percent by weight.

Claim 24

The nonwoven web of claim 21, in which said soft segment is present in the range of from about 95 to about 97 percent by weight.

Claim 25

The nonwoven web of claim 17, in which said hard segment is present in the range of from about 3 to about 10 percent by weight.

Claim 26

The nonwoven web of claim 23, in which said hard segment is present in the range of from about 3 to about 5 percent by weight.

Claim 27

The nonwoven web of claim 17, in which said soft segment is derived from a poly(oxyethylene) diol.

Claim 28

The nonwoven web of claim 25, in which said hard segment is a polyurethane.

Claim 29

The nonwoven web of claim 26, in which said polyurethanes is derived from 1,4-butanediol.

Claim 30

A nonwoven web comprising a plurality of substantially identically prepared continuous and substantially randomly deposited monofilaments of a superabsorbent, thermoplastic polymeric composition comprising: (A) from about 86 to about 98 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a poly(oxyethylene) soft segment having a weight average molecular weight in the range of from about 5,000 to about 50,000; and (B) from about 2 to about 14 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a hard segment which has a melting point above ambient temperature and below the temperature at which decomposition of either the composition or the soft segment takes place, is essentially insoluble in water, and phase separates from the soft segment, said hard segment being selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyamides, polyesters, polyureas, and combinations thereof; wherein the soft and hard segments are covalently bound together by means of urethane, amide, ester, or secondary urea linkages or combinations thereof.

Claim 31

A nonwoven web comprising a plurality of substantially identically prepared continuous and substantially randomly deposited monofilaments of a superabsorbent, thermoplastic polymeric composition comprising: (A) from about 86 to about 98 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a poly(oxyethylene) soft segment having a weight average molecular weight in the range of from about 5,000 to about 50,000; and (B) from about 2 to about 14 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a hard segment which has a melting point above ambient temperature and below the temperature at which decomposition of either the composition or the soft segment takes place, is essentially insoluble in water, and phase separates from the soft segment, said hard segment being selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyamides, polyesters, polyureas, and combinations thereof; wherein the soft and hard segments are covalently bound together by means of urethane, amide, ester, or secondary urea linkages or combinations thereof.

Claim 32

The nonwoven web of claim 28, in which the weight average molecular weight of said soft segment is in the range of from about 8,000 to about 50,000.

Claim 33

The nonwoven web of claim 29, in which the weight average molecular weight of said soft segment is in the range of from about 8,000 to about 30,000.

Claim 34

The nonwoven web of claim 30, in which the average molecular weight of said soft segment is in the range of from about 8,000 to about 16,000.

Claim 35

The nonwoven web of claim 28, in which said soft segment is present in the range of from about 90 to about 97 percent by weight.

Claim 36

The nonwoven web of claim 32, in which said soft segment is present in the range of from abut 95 percent to about 97 percent by weight.

Claim 37

The nonwoven web of claim 28, in which said hard segment is present in the range of from about 3 to about 10 percent by weight.

Claim 38

The nonwoven web of claim 34, in which said hard segment is present in the range of from about 3 to about 5 percent by weight.

Claim 39

The nonwoven web of claim 28, in which said soft segment is derived from a poly(oxyethylene) diol.

Claim 40

The nonwoven web of claim 36, in which said hard segment is a polyurethane.

Claim 41

The nonwoven web of claim 37, in which said polyurethane is derived from 1,4-butanediol.

Claim 42

A nonwoven web comprising a matrix of meltblown thermoplastic polymeric fibers and a multiplicity of individualized fibers disposed throughout said matrix and engaging at least some of the matrix fibers to space said matrix fibers apart from each other, said individualized fibers being interconnected by and held captive within said matrix by mechanical entanglement of said matrix fibers with said individualized fibers, the mechanical entanglement and interconnection of said matrix fibers and individualized fibers alone forming a coherent integrated fibrous structure, in which either said matrix fibers or said individualized fibers are composed of a superabsorbent, thermoplastic polymer composition comprising: (A) from about 86 to about 98 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a poly(oxyethylene) soft segment having a weight average molecular weight in the range of from about 5,000 to about 50,000; and (B) from about 2 to about 14 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a hard segment which has a melting point above ambient temperature and below the temperature at which decomposition of either the composition or the soft segment takes place, is essentially insoluble in water, and phase separates from the soft segment, said hard segment being selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyamides, polyesters, polyureas, and combinations thereof; wherein the soft and hard segments are covalently bound together by means of urethane, amide, ester, or secondary urea linkages or combinations thereof.

Claim 43

A nonwoven web comprising a matrix of meltblown thermoplastic polymeric fibers and a multiplicity of individualized fibers disposed throughout said matrix and engaging at least some of the matrix fibers to space said matrix fibers apart from each other, said individualized fibers being interconnected by and held captive within said matrix by mechanical entanglement of said matrix fibers with said individualized fibers, the mechanical entanglement and interconnection of said matrix fibers and individualized fibers alone forming a coherent integrated fibrous structure, in which either said matrix fibers or said individualized fibers are composed of a superabsorbent, thermoplastic polymer composition comprising: (A) from about 86 to about 98 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a poly(oxyethylene) soft segment having a weight average molecular weight in the range of from about 5,000 to about 50,000; and (B) from about 2 to about 14 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a hard segment which has a melting point above ambient temperature and below the temperature at which decomposition of either the composition or the soft segment takes place, is essentially insoluble in water, and phase separates from the soft segment, said hard segment being selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyamides, polyesters, polyureas, and combinations thereof; wherein the soft and hard segments are covalently bound together by means of urethane, amide, ester, or secondary urea linkages or combinations thereof.

Claim 44

The nonwoven web of claim 39, in which the weight average molecular weight of said soft segment is in the range of from about 8,000 to about 50,000.

Claim 45

The nonwoven web of claim 40, in which the weight average molecular weight of said soft segment is in the range of from about 8,000 to about 30,000.

Claim 46

The nonwoven web of claim 41, in which the weight average molecular weight of said soft segment is in the range of from about 8,000 to about 16,000.

Claim 47

The nonwoven web of claim 39, in which said soft segment is present in the range of from about 90 to about 97 percent by weight.

Claim 48

The nonwoven web of claim 43, in which said soft segment is present in the range of from about 95 percent to about 97 percent by weight.

Claim 49

The nonwoven web of claim 39, in which said hard segment is present in the range of from about 3 to about 10 percent by weight.

Claim 50

The nonwoven web of claim 45, in which said hard segment is present in the range of from about 3 to about 5 percent by weight.

Claim 51

The nonwoven web of claim 39, in which said soft segment is derived from a poly(oxyethylene) diol.

Claim 52

The nonwoven web of claim 47, in which said hard segment is a polyurethane.

Claim 53

The nonwoven web of claim 48, in which said polyurethane is derived from 1,4-butanediol.