Breathable films and articles incorporating same

Abstract

Breathable films formed from polyethylene are provided that can have desirable properties. In one aspect, a breathable film comprises a layer formed from a composition comprising a first composition, wherein the first composition comprises at least one ethylene-based polymer and wherein the first composition comprises a MWCDI value greater than 0.9, and a melt index ratio (I10/I2) that meets the following equation: I10/I2≧7.0−1.2×log(I2).

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A breathable film comprising a first composition, wherein the first composition comprises at least one ethylene-based polymer and wherein the first composition comprises a MWCDI value greater than 0.9, and a melt index ratio (I10/I2) that meets the following equation: I10/I2≧7.0−1.2×log(I2). 
     
     
         2 . The breathable film of  claim 1 , wherein the breathable film further comprises 40 to 65 weight percent of a mineral filler. 
     
     
         3 . The breathable film of  claim 1 , wherein the first composition has a MWCDI value less than, or equal to, 10.0. 
     
     
         4 . The breathable film of  claim 1 , wherein the first composition has a density of 0.910 to 0.940 g/cm 3  and a melt index (I2) of 0.5 to 30 g/10 minutes. 
     
     
         5 . The breathable film of  claim 1 , wherein the film has a basis weight of 10 to 20 g/m 2 . 
     
     
         6 . The breathable film of  claim 1 , further comprising a second polymer, and wherein the second polymer is selected from the following: a LLDPE, a VLDPE, a LDPE, a MDPE, a HDPE, a HMWHDPE, a propylene-based polymer, a polyolefin plastomer, a polyolefin elastomer, an olefin block copolymer, an ethylene vinyl acetate, an ethylene acrylic acid, an ethylene methacrylic acid, an ethylene methyl acrylate, an ethylene ethyl acrylate, an ethylene butyl acrylate, a polyisobutylene, a maleic anhydride-grafted polyolefin, an ionomer of any of the foregoing, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The breathable film of  claim 1 , wherein the breathable film comprises a first layer comprising the first composition, and a second layer, wherein the second layer comprises a polymer selected from the following: the first composition, a LLDPE, a VLDPE, a LDPE, a MDPE, a HDPE, a HMWHDPE, a propylene-based polymer, a polyolefin plastomer, a polyolefin elastomer, an olefin block copolymer, an ethylene vinyl acetate, an ethylene acrylic acid, an ethylene methacrylic acid, an ethylene methyl acrylate, an ethylene ethyl acrylate, an ethylene butyl acrylate, a polyisobutylene, a maleic anhydride-grafted polyolefin, an ionomer of any of the foregoing, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The breathable film of  claim 1 , wherein the breathable film comprises at least 30 weight percent of the first composition. 
     
     
         9 . The breathable film of  claim 1 , wherein the breathable film exhibits a water vapor transmission rate of at least 500 g/m 2 -day-atm and up to 10,000 g/m 2 -day-atm. 
     
     
         10 . The breathable film of  claim 1 , wherein the breathable film is oriented in at least one of the machine direction and the cross direction. 
     
     
         11 . The breathable film of  claim 1 , wherein the breathable film is oriented in the machine direction and the cross direction. 
     
     
         12 . A laminate comprising the breathable film of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . The laminate of  claim 12 , further comprising a non-woven material. 
     
     
         14 . An article comprising the laminate of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         15 . An article comprising the breathable film of  claim 1 .