US5176952A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modulus nonwoven webs based on multi-layer blown microfibers
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1991-09-30
•
Granted: 1993-01-05
•
Expires: 2011-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A high modulus nonwoven web is produced using a high modulus material and a self-bonding material formed as multi-layer melt-blown microfibers where the web modulus is greater the MX 1 +MX 2 where M 1 and M 2 represent the modulus values of webs formed from the two materials and X 1 and X 2 represent the respective volume portions of the materials in the web fibers.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene G. Joseph
- 👤 Daniel E. Meyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:58
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B5/00; B32B5/22; B32B5/24; B32B5/26; B32B27/00; B32B27/12; B32B5/02; B32B5/022; D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/40; D04H1/54; D04H1/559; D04H1/56; B32B2250/00; B32B2250/42; B32B2262/00; B32B2262/02; B32B2262/0207; B32B2262/0253; B32B2262/0276; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/50; B32B2307/54; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/60; Y10T442/608; Y10T442/614; Y10T442/62; Y10T442/68
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A melt-blown nonwoven web comprising melt-blown microfibers having at least two continuous layers throughout said fiber length comprised of at least one first layer of a self-bonding material, at melt-blowing conditions, and at least one second layer of a relatively high modulus material wherein the melt-blown web has a tensile modulus at least 1.5 times greater than a mean web modulus, M 1 X 1 +M 2 X 2 , where M 1 and M 2 are the tensile modulus values of corresponding nonwoven webs of the first layer material and second layer material respectively and X 1 and X 2 are the respective volume fractions of the first and second layer materials.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A melt-blown nonwoven web comprising melt-blown microfibers having at least two continuous layers throughout said fiber length comprised of at least one first layer of a self-bonding material, at melt-blowing conditions, and at least one second layer of a relatively high modulus material wherein the melt-blown web has a tensile modulus at least 1.5 times greater than a mean web modulus, M 1 X 1 +M 2 X 2 , where M 1 and M 2 are the tensile modulus values of corresponding nonwoven webs of the first layer material and second layer material respectively and X 1 and X 2 are the respective volume fractions of the first and second layer materials.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The nonwoven web of claim 1 wherein the melt-blown web has a tensile modulus 2.5 times the mean web modulus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The nonwoven web of claim 1 wherein the melt-blown web has a tensile modulus greater than corresponding webs of the first and second layer materials alone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The nonwoven web of claim 1 where the relatively high modulus material has a fiber tensile modulus 100 times or more the fiber tensile modulus of the relatively more self-bonding material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The nonwoven web of claim 1 wherein the relatively high modulus material comprises an orientable polymer, and the self-bonding material comprises an elastomer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nonwoven web of claim 5 wherein the orientable polymer comprises a polyolefin or a polyester.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The nonwoven web of claim 1 wherein the self-bonding material is a semi-crystalline polymer or a block copolymer having a soft segment wherein the semi-crystalline polymer or soft segment has a glass transition point of less than about 25° C. and a crystallization half life, at a temperature 15° C. below the polymer melt temperature, of greater than 50,000 seconds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nonwoven web of claim 7 wherein the crystallization half life is greater than 100,000 seconds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The nonwoven web of claim 7 wherein the glass transition point or soft segment glass transition point of the polymer is less than 15° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The nonwoven web of claim 1 wherein the self-bonding material has a glass transition temperature of less than 15° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The nonwoven web of claim 1 wherein the self-bonding material comprises a low molecular weight polyethylene polymer or a polypropylene copolymer with a polar comonomer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nonwoven web of claim 1 wherein the microfiber average diameter is less than 10 micrometers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nonwoven web of claim 1 wherein there are at least three layers in said microfibers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nonwoven web of claim 1 wherein there are at least five layers in said microfibers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The nonwoven web of claim 14 wherein the microfiber layers are alternating.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nonwoven web of claim 1 wherein the unconsolidated web is 0.01 to 5 centimeters thick.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-01-05 | 1996-07-06 | 1997-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-01-05 | 2000-07-06 | 2001-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-01-05 | 2004-07-06 | 2005-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |