Patent ID: 7582178

Claim:
A method of forming a nonwoven composite having latent elasticity, the method comprising: forming an elastic film, the film comprising at least one styrenic block copolymer and at least one single-site catalyzed semi-crystalline polyolefin having a density of from about 0.85 to about 0.87 grams per cubic centimeter, wherein the styrenic block copolymer constitutes from about 40 wt. % to about 95 wt. % of the polymer content of the elastic film and the semi-crystalline polyolefin constitutes from about 5 wt. % to about 60 wt. % of the polymer content of the elastic film; stretching the elastic film in the machine direction at a stretch ratio from about 1.5 to about 7.0, thereby forming a stretched elastic film; allowing the stretched elastic film to relax to achieve a relaxation percentage of about 10% or more; and laminating a nonwoven web facing to the relaxed elastic film to form a generally inelastic composite that exhibits a percent strain of about 40% or less when subjected to a load in the machine direction of 2000 grams-force per 3 inches wide, wherein the composite is capable of being heat activated to form an elastic composite that exhibits a percent strain of about 50% or more when subjected to a load in the machine direction of 2000 grams-force per 3 inches wide.