Non-woven fabric and process for forming the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a nonwoven fabric comprising a nonwoven web which is formed from a plurality of trilobal fibers, wherein the lobes of the trilobal fibers each have a ratio of length to width in the range of from 1.5-4. The present invention also relates to the use of the non-woven fabric in a closure system in an absorbent article or in a reinforcement layer of an absorbent article. In addition, the present invention provides an absorbent article comprising the nonwoven fabric.

1 . A nonwoven fabric comprising a nonwoven web which is formed from a plurality of trilobal fibers, wherein the lobes of the trilobal fibers each have a ratio of length to width in the range of from 1.5-4. 
     
     
         2 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the lobes of the trilobal fibers each have a ratio of length to width in the range of from 2.5-4. 
     
     
         3 . The nonwoven according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the trilobal fibers are made from thermoplastic polymers. 
     
     
         4 . The nonwoven according to  claim 3 , wherein the thermoplastic polymers comprise polypropylene and/or polyethylene. 
     
     
         5 . The nonwoven fabric according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the trilobal fibers have a weight in the range of from 1.5-5 dtex. 
     
     
         6 . The nonwoven fabric according to any one of  claims 1 - 5 , wherein the nonwoven web has a basis weight in the range of from 10-35 gsm. 
     
     
         7 . The nonwoven fabric according to any one of  claims 1 - 6 , wherein the nonwoven web has a side which is provided with a pattern of bonded areas which defines one or more non-bonded areas, and wherein the surface of the bonded areas is in the range of 10-32% of the total surface of the side and the surface of the non-bonded area(s) is in the range of from 68-90% of the total surface of the side. 
     
     
         8 . The nonwoven fabric according to any one of  claims 1 - 7 , wherein the nonwoven web has a side which is provided with a first pattern of individualized bonded areas that define a second pattern of non-bonded areas. 
     
     
         9 . Use of the nonwoven fabric according to any one of  claims 1 - 8  in a closure system in an absorbent article. 
     
     
         10 . Use according to  claim 9 , wherein closure system comprises a waist belt, frontal ear or wing. 
     
     
         11 . Use of the nonwoven fabric according to any one of  claims 1 - 8  in a reinforcement layer of an absorbent article. 
     
     
         12 . Use of trilobal fibers as defined in any one of  claims 1 - 8  in a nonwoven fabric for increasing the stiffness of the nonwoven fabric. 
     
     
         13 . An absorbent article comprising a nonwoven fabric according to any one of  claims 1 - 8 . 
     
     
         14 . An absorbent article according to  claim 13 , wherein the article is an adult incontinence article.