Patent ID: 6321425
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: D04H,Y10T

Abstract:
A process for making a nonwoven fabric having a low basis weight, comprising the steps of:providing a hydroentangling device having a foraminous fabric-forming surface;positioning a precursor web having a length on said device, wherein said precursor web consists of relatively lightly bonded continuous polymeric filaments, said precursor web having a basis weight from about 10 to about 30 grams per square meter; andhydroentangling said precursor web to form said low basis weight fabric by application of high pressure liquid streams thereto so that bonds between polymeric elements of said precursor web are broken to unbond the filaments, and the filaments of said web are rearranged on the fabric-forming surface of said device,said precursor web being hydroentangled at a rate of at least 80 feet/minute in a direction along the length of said web, without substantially altering the basis weight of said precursor web; andremoving the low basis weight fabric from said fabric-forming surface.