Patent ID: 6458726
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: D01D,D01F,D04H,Y10T

Abstract:
A fiber comprising a polymer blend of polypropylene and polymeric bond curve enhancing agent, said fiber comprising a skin-core structure comprising a skin and a core, and said polypropylene and said polymeric bond curve enhancing agent are present in both said skin and said core, wherein said skin-core fiber when processed into a thermally bonded nonwoven material obtains at least one of:(a) flattening of a bond curve of cross-directional strength vs. temperature as compared to a nonwoven material produced under same conditions from fibers produced under same conditions except for absence of the polymeric bond curve enhancing agent; (b) raising of at least some points of cross-directional strength of a bond curve of cross-directional strength vs. temperature as compared to a nonwoven material produced under same conditions from fibers produced under same conditions except for absence of the polymeric bond curve enhancing agent; (c) an increase in area over a defined temperature range under a bond curve of cross-directional strength vs. temperature as compared to a nonwoven material produced under same conditions from fibers produced under same conditions except for absence of the polymeric bond curve enhancing agent; (d) a %&Dgr;A1 which is greater than that of a nonwoven material produced under same conditions from fibers produced under same conditions except for absence of the polymeric bond curve enhancing agent; (e) a %&Dgr;A1 and a %&Dgr;Am which is greater than that of a nonwoven material produced under same conditions from fibers produced under same conditions except for absence of the polymeric bond curve enhancing agent; and (f) a %&Dgr;A1, a %&Dgr;Am and a %&Dgr;Ap which is greater than that of a nonwoven material produced under same conditions from fibers produced under same conditions except for absence of the polymeric bond curve enhancing agent.