Microwaveable latent polymer composites with rough surface texture

Abstract

This invention relates to a latent polymer composite which contains a heat-sensitive polymer material and a microwave sensitizer. The latent polymer material is inelastic in the latent state but can be made elastic with the addition of heat. The microwave sensitizer is a solid material blended uniformly into the latent polymer composite. The sensitizer absorbs microwave radiation and heats the heat-sensitive polymer material. The polymer composite becomes elastic under microwave radiation or thermal energy. The latent polymer composite can bonded to a fibrous sheet to form a latent laminate material. When exposed to microwave radiation, the latent laminate material becomes an elastic laminate. The latent polymer composite of the laminate shrinks and returns to an elastic state creating an elastic laminate material. The polymer composite of this invention has a rough surface created by the sensitizer particles. The rough surface of the polymer filament or film provides stronger bonding to the fibrous sheets of the laminate.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A polymer composite, comprising: 
 at least one heat-sensitive latent polymer material; and    a microwave sensitizer material blended with the heat-sensitive latent polymer material.    
     
     
         2 . The polymer composite according to  claim 1 , wherein the latent polymer material comprises a stretched elastic polymer material.  
     
     
         3 . The polymer composite according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer composite comprises a polymer filament or a polymer film.  
     
     
         4 . The polymer composite according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer material comprises one selected form the group consisting of polyether-block amides, ethylene-vinylacetate block or random copolymers, polyethylene-polyethylene oxide block copolymers, polypropylene oxide-polyethylene oxide block copolymers, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyacrylates, polyethers, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The polymer composite according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensitizer material comprises one selected from the group consisting of carbon black powder, calcium chloride, aluminum oxide, copper oxide, zinc oxide, barium ferrite, magnesium ferrite, magnesium acetate, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The polymer composite according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensitizer material comprises sensitizer particles comprising an average diameter between about 0 and 25 microns.  
     
     
         7 . The polymer composite according to  claim 6 , wherein the sensitizer particles comprise an average diameter of about 5 to 10 microns.  
     
     
         8 . The polymer composite according to  claim 7 , wherein the sensitizer particles comprise an average diameter of about 1.5 to 2.5 microns.  
     
     
         9 . The polymer composite according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensitizer material is substantially uniformly blended with the heat-sensitive polymer.  
     
     
         10 . The polymer composite according to  claim 9 , additionally comprising about 1% to 20% by weight of sensitizer material.  
     
     
         11 . The polymer composite according to  claim 10 , additionally comprising about 1% to 15% by weight of sensitizer material  
     
     
         12 . The polymer composite according to  claim 11 , additionally comprising about 2% to 8% by weight of sensitizer material  
     
     
         13 . The polymer composite according to  claim 1 , additionally comprising a rough surface texture.  
     
     
         14 . An absorbent article comprising the polymer composite according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         15 . A method of making the polymer composite of  claim 1 , the method comprising: 
 mixing an elastic polymer material with a microwave sensitizer material;    forming an elastic polymer composite from the mixture of the elastic polymer material and the microwave sensitizer material; and    stretching the elastic polymer composite to form the polymer composite comprising the latent polymer material.    
     
     
         16 . A method of making an elastic laminate using the polymer composite of  claim 2 , the method comprising: 
 providing the polymer composite;    bonding the polymer composite to a fibrous sheet; and    exposing the polymer composite to microwave energy.    
     
     
         17 . A filament, comprising: 
 a heat-sensitive latent polymer material including a polymer selected form the group consisting of polyether-block amides, ethylene-vinylacetate block or random copolymers, polyethylene-polyethylene oxide block copolymers, polypropylene oxide-polyethylene oxide block copolymers, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyacrylates, polyethers, and combinations thereof; and    a microwave sensitizer material blended with the heat-sensitive latent polymer material, the microwave sensitizer material selected from the group consisting of carbon black powder, calcium chloride, aluminum oxide, copper oxide, zinc oxide, barium ferrite, magnesium ferrite, magnesium acetate, and combinations thereof.    
     
     
         18 . The filament according to  claim 17 , wherein the latent polymer material comprises a stretched elastic polymer material.  
     
     
         19 . A film, comprising: 
 a heat-sensitive latent polymer material including a polymer selected form the group consisting of polyether-block amides, ethylene-vinylacetate block or random copolymers, polyethylene-polyethylene oxide block copolymers, polypropylene oxide-polyethylene oxide block copolymers, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyacrylates, polyethers, and combinations thereof; and    a microwave sensitizer material blended with the heat-sensitive latent polymer material, the microwave sensitizer material selected from the group consisting of carbon black powder, calcium chloride, aluminum oxide, copper oxide, zinc oxide, barium ferrite, magnesium ferrite, magnesium acetate, and combinations thereof.    
     
     
         20 . The film according to  claim 19 , wherein the latent polymer material comprises a stretched elastic polymer material.