Elastomeric multicomponent fibers, nonwoven webs and nonwoven fabrics

Abstract

A bonded web of multi-component strands that include a first polymeric component and a second polymeric component is capable of overcoming a number of problems associated with nonwoven webs including both stickiness and blocking. The first polymeric component and second polymeric component are arranged in substantially distinct zones extending longitudinally along at least a portion of a length of the strands which make up the web with the second component containing a zone constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the strand. The first polymeric component also has an elasticity which is greater than that of the second polymer component. A process producing elastomeric spunbonded nonwoven fabrics which utilizes the activation by incremental stretching of the strands is also provided.

1 - 17 . (canceled)  
     
     
         18 . An elastic nonwoven fabric comprising: 
 a plurality of multicomponent strands randomly arranged to form a nonwoven web;    a multiplicity of bond sites or substantially randomly intertwined strands bonding the strands together to form a coherent bonded nonwoven web;    the strands of the web including first and second polymer components, the first polymer component comprising an elastomeric polymer, and the second polymer component comprising a non-elastomeric polymer; and    wherein first portions of the multicomponent strands of the web are stretch-activated and elastic.    
     
     
         19 . The fabric according to  claim 18 , wherein other portions of the multicomponent strands of the web are not stretch-activated and less elastic than the first portions.  
     
     
         20 . The fabric according to  claim 19 , including narrow, spaced apart longitudinally extending stretch-activated elastic zones in the fabric, separated by intervening longitudinally extending non-activated, substantially less elastic zones.  
     
     
         21 . The fabric according to  claim 20 , wherein the first polymer component comprises an elastomeric polyurethane, elastomeric polyethylene, elastomeric polypropylene, styrene block copolymers or blends thereof and the second polymer component comprises a polyolefin.  
     
     
         22 . The fabric according to  claim 18  wherein the second polymer component is polypropylene, polyethylene, or blend thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The fabric according to  claim 18 , wherein the first and second polymer components are arranged in a sheath core configuration, and the stretch-activated portions of the stands have corrugations in the sheath and in the core of the strands.  
     
     
         24 - 25 . (canceled)  
     
     
         26 . A multicomponent fiber comprising an elastomeric component and a component have less elasticity than the elastomeric component, said multicomponent fiber exhibiting an overall helical configuration which includes the components having less elasticity bulked around the elastomeric component.  
     
     
         27 . The fiber according to  claim 26 , wherein the fiber has been subjected to incremental stretching.  
     
     
         28 - 30 . (canceled)