Elastic nonwovens with improved haptics and mechanical properties

Abstract

The present invention is an extensible nonwoven comprising a polyolefin elastomer fiber wherein the surface of the fiber further comprises an inorganic filler or PDMS or combinations thereof, wherein the inorganic filler, if present, has D-90 particle size of 5 microns or less.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An extensible nonwoven comprising a polyolefin elastomer fiber wherein the surface of the fiber further comprises an inorganic filler or PDMS or combinations thereof, wherein the inorganic filler, if present, has D-90 particle size of 5 microns or less. 
     
     
         2 . The extensible nonwoven of  claim 1  wherein the inorganic filler, if present, has D-90 particle size of 2 microns or less. 
     
     
         3 . The extensible nonwoven of  claim 1  wherein the polyolefin elastomer is selected from the group consisting of propylene based plastomers or elastomers (PBPEs) and olefin block copolymers (OBCs). 
     
     
         4 . The extensible nonwoven of  claim 1  wherein the inorganic filler is present and is selected from the group consisting of CaCO 3 , AlSiO 3 , talc, and untreated fused silica. 
     
     
         5 . The extensible nonwoven of  claim 1  wherein the fiber is a monocomponent fiber and CaCO 3  is present in an amount of from 1 to 15% by weight of the fiber. 
     
     
         6 . The extensible nonwoven of  claim 1  wherein the fiber is a monocomponent fiber and untreated fused silica is present in an amount of from 0.25 to 5% by weight of the fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The extensible nonwoven of  claim 1  wherein the fiber is a bicomponent fiber in the form of sheath/core and CaCO 3  is present in an amount of from 5 to 50 percent by weight of the sheath. 
     
     
         8 . The extensible nonwoven of  claim 1  wherein the fiber is a bicomponent fiber in the form of sheath/core and AlSiO 3  is present in an amount of from 5 to 30 percent by weight of the sheath. 
     
     
         9 . The extensible nonwoven of  claim 1  wherein the fiber is a bicomponent fiber and an inorganic filler is present in an amount of from 2 to 15 percent by weight of the fiber. 
     
     
         10 . The extensible nonwoven of  claim 1  wherein polydimethylsiloxane is present and has an average particle size when in powder form of between 2 and 5 microns. 
     
     
         11 . The extensible nonwoven of  claim 1  wherein the fiber is a monocomponent fiber and polydimethylsiloxane is present in an amount of from 0.5 to 1% by weight of the fiber. 
     
     
         12 . The extensible nonwoven of  claim 1  wherein the fiber is a bicomponent fiber in the form of sheath/core and polydimethylsiloxane is present in an amount of from 0.5 to 10 by weight of the sheath.