Elastic bicomponent and biconstituent fibers, and methods of making cellulosic structures from the same

The elasticity of elastic, absorbent structures, e.g., diapers, is improved without a significant compromise of the absorbency of the structure by the use of bicomponent and/or biconstituent elastic fibers. The absorbent structures typically comprise a staple fiber, e.g., cellulose fibers, and a bic...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors REXFORD, A. MAUGANS, JOHN, KLIER, KENNETH, B. STEWART, ASHISH, SEN
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 11.10.2004
Edition7
Subjects
APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBONFILAMENTS
BRAIDING
CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS,THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS
COTTON-WOOL
FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS,NON-WOVEN FABRICS
IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER
KNITTING
LACE-MAKING
MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARYMATERIAL
NATURAL OR ARTIFICIAL THREADS OR FIBRES
NON-WOVEN FABRICS
PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
PAPER-MAKING
PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D
PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
PULP COMPOSITIONS
SPINNING
TEXTILES
TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G
TRIMMINGS
WADDING
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:The elasticity of elastic, absorbent structures, e.g., diapers, is improved without a significant compromise of the absorbency of the structure by the use of bicomponent and/or biconstituent elastic fibers. The absorbent structures typically comprise a staple fiber, e.g., cellulose fibers, and a bicomponent and/or a biconstituent elastic. The bicomponent fiber typically has a core/sheath construction. The core comprises an elastic thermoplastic elastomer, preferably a TPU, and the sheath comprises a homogeneously branched polyolefin, preferably a homogeneously branched substantially linear ethylene polymer. In various embodiments of the invention, the elasticity is improved by preparation techniques that enhance the ratio of elastic fiber: cellulose fiber bonding versus cellulose fiber: cellulose fiber bonding. These techniques include wet and dry high intensity agitation of the elastic fibers prior to mixing with the cellulose fibers, deactivation of the hydrogen bonding between cellulose fibers, and grafting the elastic fiber with a polar group containing compound, e.g. maleic anhydride.
Bibliography:Application Number: TW200291115869