Donald Harley Lester, Charlotte, NC; Andrew Robert Horne, Fort Mill, SC; and Alexander James Neeb, Charlotte, NC.
Assigned to Aplix, Le Cellier, France.

Filed: 10/26/18
Issued: 8/16/22

A stretch laminate for use in hygiene products comprises: an extensible, non-elastic spunbond or spunmelt nonwoven laminated to an elastic film; and the stretch laminate is activated, has a cross direction (CD) elongation at 10N in a range of 80-150% for a 50mm sample width, has a peak load at failure of at least 30N for 75mm sample width, and has fractures (Fr) of less than 10% of the stretch laminate, and the elastic film contributes at least 30% of the peak load at failure of the stretch laminate and has a modulus of from 0.045 to 0.065 N force/% strain over the range of 50-350% elongation.

A method for reducing or eliminating fracturing of a nonwoven in a stretch laminate used in hygiene products, after the stretch laminate has been stretched comprising the steps of: providing a stretch laminate having an extensible, non-elastic spunbond or spunmelt nonwoven laminated to an elastic film, the stretch laminate is activated and has a CD elongation at 10 N in a range of 80-150% for a 50 mm sample width and has a peak load at failure of at least 30 N for 75 mm sample width, and the elastic film contributes at least 30% of the peak load at failure of the stretch laminate and has a modulus of from 0.045 to 0.065 N force/% strain over the range of 50-350% elongation, stretching the stretch laminate, and the stretch laminate having fractures (Fr) of less than 10% of the stretch laminate.