Patent ID: 8012285

Claim:
In a crepe process that comprises applying a polymer binder to a nonwoven web, drying, and creping the nonwoven web on a creping drum, the improvement which comprises using an alkylphenol ethoxylate free aqueous polymer emulsion binder formed by aqueous free radical emulsion polymerization of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers and one or more crosslinking monomers, said binder having a peel value of 35% to 200% of a standard alkylphenol ethoxylate-based vinyl acetate-ethylene polymer emulsion control, a cure profile in which 55% cure is achieved within 30 seconds of being exposed to a temperature required for cure, and a wet tensile strength at 30 seconds of cure of at least 1000 g/5 cm.