Patent ID: 7455800
Filing Date: 2008-11-25
Classification: D04H,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for producing a nonwoven fabric, said method comprising the steps of: (a) continuously melt extruding a thermoplastic polymer into a plurality of endless thermoplastic polymer filaments having a denier of between about 0.5 to 3.0 to provide an unbonded web of filaments; and (b) thermally bonding said unbonded web of filaments to provide a thermally bonded web of filaments; and (c) continuously and without interruption, supporting said thermally bonded web of filaments on a moving porous support while subjecting said thermally bonded web of filaments to hydraulic entangling by at least one successive water jet station comprising a plurality of water jets directed at said thermally bonded web of filaments at successively higher hydraulic pressure to produce a fabric comprising a bonded hydroentangled continuous web of a packed interengaged loop configuration of filaments substantially free from knotting, wrapping, loose filament ends and breaking, and said bonded continuous web exhibiting a cross direction elongation value in excess of 90%, wherein said looped configuration of filaments disengage and filaments straighten and elongate under a load.