Film having high breathability induced by low cross-directional stretch

• Main Author: M.T. MORMAN,P.H. HWANG,A.T. ONO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.06.2006
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F,C08G; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; BABY LINEN; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; BRAIDING; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; COTTON-WOOL; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS,NON-WOVEN FABRICS; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; HANDKERCHIEFS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; KNITTING; LACE-MAKING; LAYERED PRODUCTS; LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT ORNON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM; MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARYMATERIAL; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METALLURGY; NON-WOVEN FABRICS; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; OUTERWEAR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PROSTHESES; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHIRTS; TEXTILES; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; TRIMMINGS; UNDERWEAR; USE OF INORGANIC OR NON-MACROMOLECULAR ORGANIC SUBSTANCES ASCOMPOUNDING INGREDIENTS; WADDING; WEARING APPAREL; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL; WORKING-UP

A breathable, substantially liquid impermeable film and laminate are provided for use in a wide variety of personal care garments and protective garments. The film, and laminate containing the film, are extendible in a cross-direction to a stretched width which is at least 25% greater than an original, unstretched width. The film and laminate have a first water vapor transmission rate of at least about 500 grams/m -24 hours coinciding with the unstretched width. The film and laminate have a much higher second water vapor transmission rate which is at least about 225% of the first water vapor transmission rate, and not less than about 4000 grams/m -24 hours, coinciding with a stretched width that is only 25% greater than the stretched width.