CA2052820C - Self-bonded nonwoven web and net-like web composites - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-bonded nonwoven web and thermoplastic net-like web composite comprising at least one layer of a uniform basis weight self-bonded, fibrous nonwoven web and at least one layer of a thermoplastic net-like web for producing stable fabric useful for carpet backing and packaging applications.

Description

2~282~

SELF~BONDED NONWOVEN WEB AND NET-LIKE WEB
COUIPOSITES

Ei~ of Inver~
This invention relates to composites co-,-prising at least one iayer of a uniform basis weight self-bonded, fibrous nonwoven web comprising sul,~lantially ~ancJo---ly d;sposed, substantially continuous ther"lopl~s~ic filaments aJher~J to at bast one layer of a lher,-,oplastic net-like web that produce stable fabric useful in numerous applications such as primary carpet ba~ ing, wall covering ba~ng. packaging and the like~

n~ of the Inver~iQa Ther",oplastic ne!-like webs including cross-la",inaled webs formed from two or more layers of network structures having the same or different configurations prDvide webs which can have high ~t~ehyth and tear resistance in more than one direction. Such webs have been found useful for r~ nlcr~
materials such as paper products, films, foils and others.
Spunbond processes can produce poly",eric nonwoven webs by extruding a multiplicity of continuous Iher,--op'~- tic poly",er strands through a die in a dD~n.- s~d direction onto a moving surface where the extruded strands are ~oll~ct~ in a ,ando-"ly~ distributed fashion. The randomly distributed strands are subsequently bonded t~ tl,er by thermobonding or needlepunching to provide sufficient int~.ity in a resulting non~,vovan web of con!inuous fibers. One method of producing spunbond nonwoven webs is .solosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,563. Spunbond webs are generally char&~te.iLGd by a relatively high ratio of st~er,.J~I, to basis weight isot,.p c st~n~lh, high porosity and abrdsion resistance prope,ties but generally are nonuniform in p-operties such as basis weight, coverd~e and appearance~
A major limitation of multilayer cG",posites and la,.,inales containing spunbond nonwoven webs is that the spunbond non.~ovon web is typically not uniform in coverage and basis weight. In many arpl ~lons, 2l~Ielllpls are made to cG...pensa~e for poor fabric aeall,etics and limited or variable physical properties that result from this nonuniformity of coverage and basis weight by using spunbond webs that have a heavbr basis weight than would normally 35 be required by the particular arplic~tion if the web had a more uniform coverage and basis wei~ht~ This, of course, adds to the cost of the composite 2- 2~2820 product and contributes undesirl~le features to the cG,--posile such as stiffness and bulk.
In view of the limitations of spunbond non~\oven webs in multi-layer cGI~pGsites and laminates, there is a need for ir..prùJ0d non~ oven web 5 eomposites and, particularly. those wherein at bast one layer of a self-bonded.
fibrous nonwoven web having very uniform basis wei~ht and covarags adl,er~d to at bast one layer of a cross-laminated ll,e-~,oplastie net-like web.U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,554 d;~closes a method for attaching plastic nets to nonwoven blank~ts without the use of ~Ihe.,;les.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,929,303 ~:~loses a br~d~hable polyolefin film laminated to a nonwoven cross-laminated open mesh fabric su~table as a housewrap.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,0~ ~J ~ ~oses a laminate material suitable for use in place of a safety mesh used in construction of roofing which has at least one inner layer of a woven material or an equivalent cross-laminated airy fabric 15 ;~Jheei~Gly bonded to each ad)acent layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,243 ~J ~'oses a method for producing a cross-lam~nated cloth-like produet from wide warp and weft webs cG",posed of fibers, filaments or yams of organic or inorganic origin.
The patents deso-il,ed above do not d;~.,lose the inJont~d self-bonded 20 non~oven web and cross-laminated tl,ermop'~~tic net-like web c~ po~ites cG.-.,Gr;s'ng at least one layer of a uniform basis weight self-bonded, substantially r~nd~--.ly d~posed, substantially continuous tl-er---oplastic filaments fibrous nonwoven web cG.-.pr;sing a high degree of basis weight ufiifor-.-ity to which is bonded at least one layer of a cross-laminated 25 ther Gplastic net-like web.
An objeot of the present invention is to provide i",~,r~ved co",posite fabric structures.
Another object of the present im/ention is to provide an i,,,pru,~Gd self-bGnd~J nonwoven web composite stnucture co.,.pris;ng at least one layer of a uniform basis wei~ht self-bonded, fibrous non: ov~n web having a plurality of substantially rando,.,ly .lisposed, substantially continuous ther",Gpl-stic filarnents ~Jher~l to at least one layer of a ll,er",oplastic net-like web.
The objects of the pfesent invention are attained with a self-bonded nonwoven web and ther,-,oplastic net-like web composite c~l,-prising, at least one layer of a uniform basis weight self-bonded, fibrous nonwoven web cû",prising a plurality of suL.;,tantially randomly disposed, substantially continuous ll,er",oplastic filaments wherein ihe w~b has a Basis 3 c~2~

Weight Uniformity Index (BWUI) of 1.0 i 0.05 determined from average basis weights having slanda.~l deviations of less than 10% and is ~heled to at least one layer of a ther",oplastic net-like web.
The objects of the pr~sen~ invent'on are further attained with a self-5 bonded nonl~v~n web and cross-laminated thermoplsstic net-like web c~...posite having a basis weight of at~out 0.2 oztyd2 or greater cG""~r~s'ng, at least one layer of a uniform basis weight self-bonded fibrous nonwoven web having a basis weight of about 0.1 oz/yd2 or greater and a BWUI of 1.0 i 0.05 determined from ~ver~e basis weights having slandard 10 deviations of less than 10% cG",pnsing a plurality of sul,stantially randomly ~;sposed substantially continuous ther",Gplastic filaments wherein the filaments cG",prise a ll,er,.,opl~-tic sslsoted trom the group consisting of poly"ropylene, a random copoly."er of pr~pJlene and ~I,JIene and a blend of poly~r~pJlene and polybutene or linear low density polyetl,~lene said layer 15 being ~Jher~ to at least one layer of a cross-laminated ther",opl~slic net-like web having a basis weight of about 0.1 oz/yd2 or greater.
The objects of the present invention are still further attained with a self-bonded nonwov~n web and cross-laminated ll.er",opl~-lic net-like web 20 composite having a basis weight of about 0.4 oz/yd2 or greater cG~ Jris;ng at least one layer of a uniform basis weight self-bonded, fibrous nonwoven web having a basis weight of about 0.1 oz/yd2 or greater and a BWUI of 1.0 i 0.05 determined from avGrage basis weights having standard da~ ''cns of less than 10% cG",prislng a plurality of sul,sIanl;ality randomly 25 dispersed, substantially continuous ther".Gpl~stic filaments wherein the fils..,onts cci,-.prise a ll,er",opl-stic ss'eoted from ~he group consisting ot poly"n~pylene, a random cepGly."er of propJlene and e~l"rlGne and a blend of polypropybne and polybutene or linear low density polyethylene, a layer of a cross-laminated ll,er",opl~=tic net-like web having a basis 30 weight in the range of about 0.1 oztyd2 or greater cG",pr,sing a Il,er",opla~Iic selected trom the group consisting of polyolefins, comb'nations of polyolefins and polye6ters, and a layer of a poly",eric coating cGIllpGsitiGn having a basis weight o~
about 0.2 oztyd2 or greater cGi"prising a cG",posiIion ss's~t~d from the group 35 consisting of ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copoly",er and linear low density polyethylene located betv:ean and integral~

~4' 20S282a ~JI,er~ to the selt-bonded non~ 3ven web layer and to the cross-laminated ~her."opl~stic net-like web layer.
Among the advan~ages obtained from the self-bonded nonwoven web and cross-laminated net-like web composites ot the present invention are 5 i,.",r~vod strength and stability, in both ",~ch'ne and lr~ns~r~e dir~1;ons, and lower basis weights. These i,npr~Je."enls are ach'3v~d due to the very unihrm basis weight pn~p6,ty of the selt-bonded fibrous non~oven webs cG",prising a plurality of substantially randomly disposed, sul,slanlially continuous lher",opl~--tic fib",ents t~tl,er with the exce"~nl machine and 10 cross machine direction stlan~lh and flexibility of the net-like web. The very uniform basis weight of the self-bonded web enables a lower basis weight self-bonded web to be used co",pared with other ".ater;als such as spunbond fabrics and the like to provide cov~rage to the composites. The uniform basis weight and covGr~ of the self-bonded nonwoven web also enables lower 15 bas~s weight pGly.neric coating CGn-rOsitiGnS to be used to bond cross-laminated thermoplastic net-like webs to the self-bonded nonr,oven webs.
The use of blends of ,olypr~pylGne and polybutene and/or linear low density ,~ly~tl,~lene provides the self-bonded non. oven web layers of the cGi.l,cs;tss with a softer fabric hand such that the nonwoven webs have 20 greater fbxibility and/or less sl;ffl)ess.
~mAcy of the Inventhn Briefly this invenlion pru~;des an i",pr.,vGd self-bonded nonwoven web co"-po~i1e stnucture con,prising at least one layer of a uniform basis weight self-bonde-J, fibrous nonwoven web cG",prising a plurality of substantially 25 ~nJul.~ ~06~, substantially continuous the.",ûpl--lic filaments wherein the web has a Basis Weight Uniformity index of 1.0 + 0.05 determined from av~r_~ basis weights having standard deviations of less than 10% adhered to alt bast one làyer of a ll,er",opl~ t;e net-like web.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a self-bonded 30 nom~oven web and cross-laminated II,er~"Gpl~ctic net-like web co",posite having a basis weight of about 0.2 oz/yd2 or greater cGI"prisin~, at least one layer of a uniform basis weight self-bonded, fibrous nonwoven web having a basis weight of about 0.1 oz/yd2 or greater and a BWUI of 1.0 i 0.05 deler"lined from average basis weights having standard 35 dGv;?ticns of less than 10% co"~prising a plurality of substantially randomly .Jisposed substantially continuous thermoplastic filaments wherein the -5- 2~282~

f~laments co",prse a ll,en-,Gplast~c ss'scted trom the group cons~st~ng ot polyprupylene, a random copoly..,ar of propylene and ~ lene and a blend of poly"rupylene and polybutene or l~near low dens~ty po~etl,yl~ne.sa~d layer being ~her~d to S at least one layer of a cross-laminated ll,er",Gpl~stic net-like web having a basis weight of about 0.1 ozlyd2 or greater.
In a further aspect, the invention provides a self-bonded non.lovon web and cross-laminated lher,--Gplastic net-like web cG,..pos;le having a basis weight of about 0.4 ozlyd2 or greater comprising, at least one layer of a uniform basis weight self-bonded fibrous nonwoven web having a basis weight of about 0.1 oz/yd2 or greater and a BWUI ot 1.0 i 0.05 determined from average basis weights having slanda,d dov:~tiens of less than 10% cGIllp~is;ng a plurality of substantiality r~ndo."lydispersed, substantially continuous ll,er-.,Gpl~tic f;la."ents wherein the 15 tilaments cG",prise a lher,.,Gplastic selected from the group consisting of poly~rupybnei a random copGly."er of propybne and ~I,/Iene and a blend of polypropybne and polybutene or linear bw density Fo~e~hJIene, a layer of a cross-laminated lhe.",oplastb net-like web having a basis weight in the range of about 0.1 ozlyd2 or greater co",prising a ll,er..,op' -Atic 20 sebcted from the group consisting of polyolefins, comb nations of poly~lsfins and polyesters, and a layer of a poly."eric coating co-,~pos~tion having a basis weight of about 0.2 ozlyd2 or greater con,prDsing a composition sala~ed from the group consisting ot ethylene-methyl acrylate copcly."er, e~l,ylene-vinyl acetate 25 copob~mer and linear low densily polyethylene located between and integrally adhered to the selt-bonded nonwoven web layer and to the cross-la.":nale~l thermoplastk net-like web layer.
Rfief n~ tion of the n~Win~
FIG.1 is a schematic illustration of the system used to produce the 30 unitorm b~is weight self-bonded, fibrous nonwoven web used for at least one layer of the self-bonded nonwoven web and cross-laminated ll,er."opl~c~ic net-like web composite of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the system of FIG. 1.

-6- 2~5282~

Q~led n~ n of the Invention The self-bonded, 1ibrous nonwoven web and ll,er",oplastie net-like web composite of the present invontion eG..,pris~s at Isast one layer of a uniform basis weight selt-bonded, fibrous nonwoven web having a plurality of 5 substantially ,;andGi.,ly d;sposed, substantially continuous ll,er,..Gpl2stic filaments and at least one layer of a ~her,.,oplastie net-like web.
By ~nonwoven web~ it is meant a web of ~-.aterial which has been formed without the use of ~ ~~vin~ prvcesses and which has a construetion of individual fibers, filaments or lhreads which are substarltially randomly 1 0 J;~posed By ~uniform basis weight nonwoven web~ it is meant a nonwoven web cG."prising a plurality of substantially ran~o,.,ly ~isposed, sul,stan~ially eontinuous p o~,..aric filaments having a Basie Weight Uniformity Index (BWUI) of 1.0iO.05 determined from average basis weights having s~andar<J
15 devi~tions of less than 10%. BWUI is defined as a ratio of an ~verdge unit area basis weight determined on a unit area sample of web to an average basis weight determined on an area of web, N times as large as the unit area, wherein N is about 12 to about 18, the unit area is 1 jn2 and wherein alandar~
deviations of the a~er~ge unit area basis weight and the average basis weight 20 are less than 10% and the number of samples is suffieient to obtain basis wei~hts at a 0.95 eonfidenee interval. As used herein for the determination of BWUI, both the averdg.. unit area basis weight and the average area basis wei~ht of the area N times must have st,mda~l dovi~t:ons of less than 10%
where ~average~ and ~standard d~v: -;on~ have the defiriiliGns generally 25 ascribed to them by the scienee of statisties. Materials having BWUl's of determined from avera~d basis weights having standard dovi~tions of less than 10% whieh are determined from ~vera~a basis weights having alanda-J
deviations greater than 10% for one or both of the averages do not lepr~sen~ a uniform basis weight nonwoven web as defined herein and are poorly suited 30 for use in making the in-onled cG,..posites beceuse the nonunifcr",i~y of basis wei~hts may require heavier basis weight materials to be used to obtain the desired co~erd~a and fabrie aeall,~ties. Unit area samples below about 1 in2 in areafor webs whieh have partieularly nonuniform basis weight and coJerdse would ,eprese,lt areas too small to give a meaningful inte,l,retalion 35 of the unit area basis weight of the web. The samples on which the basis weights are doter",;ned ean be any convan ~n~ shape such as square.
cireular, ulia,--Gnd and the like, with the samples cut randomly from the fabric 2~28~3 by punch dies, sc;ssGr~ and the like to assure uniformity of the sample area size. The larger area is about 12 to about 18 times the area of the unit area.
The larger area is required to obtain an average basis weight for the web which will tend to "average out" the thick and thin areas of the web. The BWUI
5 is then calculated by determining the ratio of the average unit area basis weight to the average larger area basis weight. For example, for a nonwoven web in which 60 sa",rles of 1 in2 squares deto.",ined to have an average basis weight of 0~993667 oz/yd2 and a standard da~,:qticn (SD) of 0.0671443 (SD of 6.76% of the average) and 60 samples of 16 jn2 squares (N was 16) 10 deter",ined to have an average basis weight of 0.968667 oz/yd2 and a slandar~ dovi~tion of 0.0493849 (SD of 5.10% of avGrdge), the c~lcul~ted BWUI was 1.026. A BWUI of 1.0 + 0.05 indicates a web with a very uniform basis weight. Materials having BWUI values of less than 0.95 or more than 1.05 are not considered to have uniform basis weights as defined herein.
15 r~' rably, the uniform basis weight nonwoven web has a BWUI value of 1.0 +
0.03 determined from average basis weights having standard deviations of less than 10% and a basis weight of about 0.1 oz/yd2 or greater.
By ~self-bonded" it is meant that crystalline and orientad ll,er",opl~-stic filaments or fibers in the nonwoven web adhere to each other at their contact 20 points, thereby forming a self-bonded, fibrous, nonwoven web. A.ll,esion of the fibers may be due to fusion of the hot fibers as they contact each other, toentanglement of the fibers with each other or to a combination of fusion and entanglement. Of course, bonding does not occur at all contact points.
Generally, however, the bonding of the fibers is such that the nonwoven web, 25 after being laid down but before further lreatn,en~, has sufficient machine d~rection (MD) and cross-",achine direc~iGn (CD) tensile stltlngtl, to allow handling of the web without additional l,eat-"ent. No foreign ",aterial need be pre~snl to promote bonding, and essentially no polymer flows to the intersection points as distinguished from that which occurs during the process 30 of heat-bonding tl,er,-,Gpl~;lic filaments. The bonds are weaker than the filaments as e~id~nced by the observation that an exe,~ion of a force tending todisrupt the web, as in tufting, will fracture bonds before break:ng filaments. Of course, the self-boncJed web can be prebonded. e.g., by a calendering operdtiGn or with adhesive, if desired, but pr~bor,.ling is not necessary due to35 the integr;ty of the self-bonded web as produced By ~substantially continuous," in reference to polymeric filaments of the self-bonded webs, it is meant that a majority of the fila",enls or fibers formed -8- 2~2~2~

are as substantially continuous nonbr.lsen tibers as they are drawn and formed into the self ~onded web.
By "ther",Gpl ~tic net-l~ke web" it is meant a net-like structure CG~-~priSin9 a multiplicity ot aligned ll,er",oplasUc elements wherein a f~rst 5 seg..,.,nl of elements is aligned at about a 45~ to about 90~ angle to a second ses;..,enl of the elements and define a border for multiple void arsas of the net-like nonwoven structures. The border which defines the void areas can be paralleogram-shaped such as a squarte, ruc~E.n3 ~ or dia,-,ond, or ellipse-shaped such as a circle or ellipse depending on the prucess of ~rn,dtion of 10 the net-like web. The ~!e...enls which define the border can be in the same plane or di~fer- nnt planes. ~le...ents in Jilf~rl,nl planes can be lal,.;na~ed to each other. A prefer.ed II,er",opl~-tic net-like web is a "cross-laminated hcr...Gpl- lic net-like web" having a uniaxially orienled ll crl"opl~lic film laminated to a second Grient~ J film of a tl.er.-,op'-- lic such that the angle 15 between the direction of orientation of each film is about 45~ to about 90~. The webs can have continuous or discontinuous slits to form the void areas of the of the net-like web and can be formed by any suitable slitting or fibrillation prucess. The net-like structure can also be fommed by other means such as for."ing on one side of a ll,el",opla~ lic film a plurality of parallel continuous 20 main ribs and forming on the oppo5it9 side of the film a plurality of parallel Ji~Gntinuous t~e ribs with the film being drawn in one or two ~irel;tions to open the film into a network structure, punching or stamping out l"a~er,al from a fi~m to form a pattem of holes in the film and stretching the film to elongatethe spaces between the holes. The net-like structure can also be formed by 25 extrusiûn with the net being oriented by a stretching operdtion. U.S. Pat. No.

4,929,303 discloses non.~oven cross-laminated fibrillated film fabrics of high density polyethybne as being further desc,ibed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,681 781.
The ther.,.ople ~ic net-like webs are made from film forming materials made into film which for cross-laminated tl,en"opl lic net-like webs the films 30 are olienled. slit and laminated together. Among the film forming materials wh~ch can be employed in making the cross-lal"inalecl ther",opl~-slic net-like webs used for at least one layer of the composites of the instant invention are the""ûpl~ lic synll.atic polymers of polyolefins such as low density polyetl,ylGne linear low density polyethylene polypropylene, high density 35 polyethylene random copolymers of ethylene and propylene and comb ndtions of these polymers; polyesters; polya"~ ~s; polyvinyl polymers such as polyvinylalcohol polyvinylchloride polyvinylacetate 9 2~2~

polyvin,lidenecl,loride and copolymers of the monomers of these polymers.
rl~fer.ed materials are polyesters and poly~l~f:ns such as polypropylene, rdndo", copcly.,-ars of propylane and ethylene, and a combination of high density poly~tl,ll~ne and low density polyuthllene.
These ll,er"-opl-~tic syntl, t c poly."ara may contain a~liti~os such as stabilizers, pl~-stici~ers, dyes, pigments, anti-slip agents and foaming materials for foamed films and the like.
The ll,er,--opl~~lic material can be formed into a film by extrusion coextrusion, casting, blowing or other film-forming ~-,etl,Gds. The ll,i~ ness of the film can be any workable thickness with a typical thickness in the range of about 0.3 to about 20 mil. Coextruded films can be used containing two or more layers of l1,6r"-Gplastic ...aterial such as a layer of polypropylene and alayer of low density poq~l,/lane wherein one layer can have about 5 to about 95% of the thickness and the second layer the remaining thickness.
Another type of coextruded film construction has a three-layer construction wherein each of the three layers can be a dill_re"t ll,er,--opla~tic ,oly...er. More often ho.~a-er, the throo la~er coextruded film is made with thesame ,..ater al for the exterior two layers and a different poly...er for the interior layer. The interior layer can occupy about 5 to about 95% of the film thickness 20 and typically ranges from about 50 to about 80% of the thickness with the outer two layers making up about 20 to about 50% of the thickness with the outer two layers typically having about equal thickness. Co-extruded films are typically used for making cross-la,--;nated ll,e""Gplastic net-like webs in which one layer of film is cross-l~"~;nated (and bonded to a second layer of film with25 the exterior layers of the films containing cG,--pdtible and easily bond-~le th~-,.,oplastic materials) such as low density pGly~thylene or linear low density polyethylene.
The film can be ori6ntecl by any suitable orien~a~ion prucess with typical stretch ratios of about 1.5 to about 15 dependent upon factors such as the 30 lI,er,..oplastic used and the like. The temperature range for orienting the film and the speed at which the film is oriented are int6r,ela~ed and dependent upon the lI.e.".opla~tic used to make the film and other process para",dlers such as the stretch ratio.
Cross-laminated ther"-opl~lic net-like webs can be made by bonding 35 two or more layers of uniaxially oriented network structure films together wherein the angle bet~G~n the direction of uniaxial orientation of the oriented films is belweGn about 45~ to about 90~ in order to obtain good strength and -10- 2~ 3 tear resistance prope,lies in more than one direction. The orientation and/or formation of the network stnucture in the films can be completed before the bonding operation or it can be done during the bonding process. Bonding of two or more layers of net~ rk structure films can be made by applying an 5 ~I.es:vG between the layers and passin~ the layers through a heating chamber and calender rolls to bond the layers togeth6r, or by passing the layers throu~h heated calender rolls to thermally bond the layers to~alher, or by using ultr~son'c bon~-iing, spot bonding or any other suitable bonding technique.
As deso~ ri in U.S. Pat. No. 4,929,303, the cross-laminated net-like webs can be nonwoven cross-laminated fibrillated film fabrics as desc~ibe~i in U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,781. The cross-laminated tibrillated films are ~ oseci as hi~ih density ,olyetl-llene (HDPE) tilms having outer layers of ~I-IIena-vinyl acetate coextnJded on either side of the HDPE or heat seal layers. The films 15 are tibrillated, and the resulting fibers are spread in at least two l.dn-wer~e directions at a strand count of about 6-10 per inch. The spread fibers are then cross-laminated by heat to produce a non wovan fabric ot 3-5 mils thickness with about equal excellent machine direction and t~dnsver~e direction ~l-eri-JU-properties used to form a thin, open mesh fabric ot e~Geptional st~efis~th and 20 durability. As d'~ ~osed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,929,303, the open mesh fabric canbe lamina~ed to material such as paper, film, foil, foam and other materials by lamination and extrusion coating techniques, or by sewing or,heat sealing, adding significantly to the sIren~tl- of the reinforced ",~ter;al without add~ngsubstantial buU~. The fabric may be of any suitable ~-,aler,al, but is pr~r~bly 25 low density polyethylene, linear low density polyetl-~lldne, poly~.ropJlene, blends ot these r ol~l-.er~ and pol~eslors. The open mesh fabric should have an ebngation (~STM D1682) less than about 30%; an Cl~"en~,l tear sl~ehJ~h (ASTM D689) of at least about 300 9; and a breakload (ASTM D1682) of at least about 15 Ib~7n. nap~,teJ uses of cross-laminated fibrillated film tabrics 30 include shipping sacks for cement, fertilker and resins, shopp'ng, beach and tote bags, consumer and industrial packaging such as en-~'opss form, fill and seal pouches, and tape backing, disposable clothing and sheeting, construction film and wraps, insu'~tion backing, and reinforcement for r~flecl;~e sheJtin~, tarpaulins, tent floors and geote--liles, and agricultural 35 ground covers, insulation and shade cloth. Cross-lai"inaled thar"~oplastic net-iike webs are available from Amoco-Nisseki CLAF, Inc. under the designation of CLAF with product designations of CLAF S, CLAF SS, CLAF
SSS, CLAF HS and CLAF MS.
The self-bonded, fibrous nonwoven web of substantially randomly disposed, substantially continuous polymeric filaments used in the multilayer 5 self-bonded nonwoven web and cross-laminated thermoplastic net-like web composites of the present invention can be formed by the apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,736, In a preferred embodiment, the self-bonded, fibrous nonwoven webs are prepared by:
(a) extruding a molten polymer through multiple orifices located in a rotating die;
(b) contacting said extruded polymer while hot as it exits said orifices with a fluid stream to form substantially continuous filaments and to draw said filaments into fibers having deniers in the range of about 0.5 to about 20; and (c) collecting said drawn fibers on a collection device whereby the filaments extruded through the die and drawn strike the collection device and self-bond to each other to forrn the uniform basis weight self-bonded, fibrous nonwoven web.
A source of a liquid fiber forming material such as a thermoplastic melt 20 is provided and pumped into a rotating die having a plurality of orifices such as spinnerets about its periphery. The rotating die is rotated at an adjustable speed such that the periphery of the die has a spinning speed of about 150 to about 2000 m/min. The spinning speed is calculated by multiplying the periphery circumference by the rotating die rotation speed measured in 25 revolutions per minute.
The thermoplastic polymer melt is extruded through the plurality of orifices such as spinnerets located about the circumference of the rotating die.There can be multiple spinning orifices per spinneret and the diameter of an individual spinning orifice can be between about 0.1 to about 2.5 mm, 30 preferably about 0.2 to about 1.0 mm. The length-to-diameter ratio of the spinneret orifice is about 1:1 to about 10:1. The particular geometrical configuration of the spinneret orifice can be circular, elliptical, trilobal or any other suitable configuration. Preferably, the configuration of the spinneret orifice is circular or trilobal. The rate of polymer extruded through the 35 spinneret orifices can be about 0.05 Ib/hr/orifice or greater. Preferably, for ~0~2~20 uniform production the extruded polymer rate is about 0.2 Ib/hr/orifice or greater.
As the fibers extrude hGri~onlally through spinneret orifices in the circu...felence of the rotating die, the fibers assume a helical orbit as the 5 distance incr~ases from the rotating die. The tluid stream which contacts the fibers can be directed downward onto the fibers, can be directed to surround the fibers or can be directed essentially parallel to the extruded fibers. The fluid stream is typically ambient air which can be conditioned by processes such as heating, cooling, humidifying or dehumidifying. A pressure blower fan 10 can be used to generate a quench flu~d stream such as an air stream. Polymer fibers extnuded through the spinneret orificés of the rotary die are cGntdcted by the quench fluid stream.
The quench fluid stream with air as the flu~d can t~e .~;rected radially above the fibers which are drawn toward the high velocity air stream as a 15 result of a panial vacuum created in the vicinity of the fibers by the air stream.
The poly...er fibers then enter the high velocity air stream and are drawn, quenched and t~anspGIled to a ~oll~cticn surface. The high velocity air, r~ca'erated and distributed in a radial manner, contributes to the attenuation or drawing of the radially extruded ll,el--,opl~ tic melt fibers. The ? X aleraled 20 air v,s'o~ities contribute to the place."enl or "laydown" of fibers onto a collection surface such as a circular fibemco'lactor surface or coll~tor plate such that self-bonded, fibrous, nonwovan webs are formed that exhibit i(,.provod prope~ties, including increased tensile sl,en.J~I-, lower elongalion and more balanced ph1sical ~rope.ties in the machine direction and cross-25 maehine directbn from filaments having diz.--eter~ ranging from about 0.5 to about 220 microns as well as webs which have a very uniform basis weight with BWUl's of 1.0 + 0.05 del6r---;ned from average basis we,3h~s having standard deviations of less than 10%. rl3f~rdbly, the filament den~ers are in the ran~e of about 0.5 to about 20, which tor polypropylene cGr-asponds to 30 diameter of about 5 to about 220 microns.
The fibers are con~eyod to the ~collsctor surface at ~13vat0d air speeds which prumole entanglement of the fibers for web intey,ity. The fibers move at a speed depenclent upon the speed of rotation of the rotating die as they are drawn down, and by the time the fibers reach the outer diameter of the orbit, 35 they are not moving circumferentially, but are merely being laid down in thatparticular orbil b~s;c~lly one on top of another. The particular orbit may change depending upon variation of ,ota~ional speed of the die, polymer 13- 2~2~2~

extrudate rate, poly."er extrudate te",per~ture and the like. Cxlon-al forees sueh as electrostatie eharge; air pressure and the like ean be used to alter theorbit and, therefore, deflect the fibers into .litl6ren~ patterns.
The unnorm basis wei~ht selt-bonded, f~brous nonwoven webs are 5 produced by albwing the extruded lher,"oplast~c fibers to contact each other as they are deposited on the collection surfaee. Many of the fibers, but not all, adhere to each other at their contact points, thereby forming a self-bonded, fibrous nonwoven web. ~he~ion of the fibers may be due to material bonding such as fusion of hot fibers as they eontact each other, to entanglement of 10 fibers with each other or to a combination of fusion and entanglement.
Generally, the ~Jhesion of the fibers is sueh that the non./o~on web, aner being laid down but before further treat"-enl, has sufficient MD and CD
at~en,Jth to allow handling of the web without additional tf~at~.,ent, sueh as prebonding as generally required by spunbond nonwoven webs.
The uniform basis weight self-bonded nonwoven fabrie conlor".s to the shape of the collection surface whieh ean have various shapes, such as a eone-shaped in~.tKI bucket, a moving sereen or a flat surfaee in the shape of an annular strike plate located slightly below the sl3vr~;0n of the die and withthe inner diameter of the annular strike plate being at an ad~ustable, lower ebvation than the outer diameter of the strike plate and the like.
When an annular strike plate is used as the collection surtaee, fibers are bonded to~ether during contact with each other and with the annular strike plate, and a nonwoven fabric is produced which is drawn baek through the apenure of the annular strike plate as a tubular tabric. A stationary sprea~ler can be supported bebw the annular strike plate to spread the fabric into a flat,two-p~ fabric whbh can be col'~cted by a take-up means such as a pull roll and winder and the like. In the altemative, a knife a"c nge--,ent can be used toeut the tububr, two~ly fabric into a single-ply fabrie whieh ean be e~l'acted bya similar take-up means.
Temperature of the lher,--oplastie melt ean affect the pr~,cess stability tor the partieular lher .-Gplastie used. The te---per~ture must be suffie~ently high so as to enable drawdown. but not too high so as to allow excessi~e thermal d~.~tion of the ther...oplastie.
Proeess parameters which can eontrol fiber formation from 35 tl.er".Gplastie poly..,er~ inelude: the spinneret orifice design, di,--ension and number, the extrus~on rate of poly",er through the orifices, the quench air veloeity and the ~tational speed of the die. The filament diameter can be -14- 20~2820 intluencecl by all ot the above parameters wlth tllament J:a..,e~er typically increasing w~th larger spinneret oritices, higher extrusion rates per or~flce, lower air quench velocity and lower rotary die rotat~on with other pard.,.aler~
remaining constant. Productivity can be influenced by process parameters 5 such as the di..,ension and number of spinneret ori~css, the extrusion rate and, for a given denier fiber, the rotary die rotation and the like.
In general, any suitable lher.--oplastic resin can be used in making the self-bor.dad, fibrous nonwoven webs used to make the co...po~ites of the pres~nl invention. Suitable ll-er--.Gpl~;lic resins include polyolef;ns of 10 brdncl.ed and straight-chained olefins such as low density poly~,;l,llene, linear low density poly&tl.~lene, high density polyetl-llene, polypropylene, polybutene, polyamides, polyesters such as polyetl-ylene terephtl-alate, comb ndtions thereof and the like.
The term ~o~/cl3f~ns~ is meant to include hG,..opoly...e.s, copoly.--e-~
15 and blends of pGly...e~ prepared from at least 50 wt~o of an unsaturatedhydrocarbon ..-ono,--er. Examples of such polyolefins include po~tl-~lene, pGlysty.ena, polyvinyl chloride, ,olyvjnyl acetate, polyvin,l;dsne chloride, polyacrylic acid, poly...eU.ac~y!ic acid, pGly...~tl.~l ~--atl-6cl1h~a, polyethyl acrylate, polyaclylanlide, polyacrylonitrile, poly~,rvpJlene, polybutene-1, 20 polybutene-2, polypentene-1, polypentene-2, poly-3-,-,etl,~ entene-1, poly-4- methylpenbne-1, ,olyisopnane, polyeh'or,prene and the l~ke.
Mixtures or blends of these tl.er-..opl~stic resins and. optionally, lher-.-Gplastic elastomers such as polyurethanes and the like, elasto---eric poly...er~ such as copolymers of an isoolefin and a conjugated pol~'~l n, and 25 cDpDly...er~ of isobulylenes and the like can also be used.
Preferred thermopl~stic resins include polyolefins sueh as polypropylena, random cop~ly...ers of etl,1lane and propJl~ne, blends of poi~y"~pylene and polybutene or linear low density poly~,tl.flena, polyd",:~es and pol~3stors.
The ,~lyr.r~.p~lene used by itself or in blends w~th polybutene (PB) and/or linear low density polyeth/lene (LLDPE) pr~ rably has a melt tlow rate in the range of about 10 to about 80 ~10 m~n as measured by ASTM D-1238.
Blends of polypropylena and polybutene and/or linear low density polyJthJlene provide uniform basis weight self-bonded non~ovon webs with soRer hand such that the web has greater flexibility and/or less s~ilf"ess.
Additives sueh as eo~ar~nts, pigments, dyes, opac;1:~rs such as TiO2, UV stabilizers, fire retardant eompositions comprising one or more , %~ 82~
-1s-polyhalogenated organic compounds and antimony trioxide, processing stabilizers and the like can be incorporated into the polypropylene ll,er."opl~t;c resins and blends.
The blends of poly"r.pylane and PB can be formulated by ",etering PB
5 in liquid form into a compounding extruder by any suitable ,~,elering device by which the amount of PB being metered into the extruder can be cont, Jll~ PB
can be obtained in various ",ole~L~'~r weight grades with high IIIDbCUIar weight ~rades typically requiring heating to reduce the viscosi~ for ease of - t~_nster-ing the PB. A stabilizer additive ~cL~e can be added to the blend of 10 poly~,rupJlene and PB if desired. Polybutenes suitable for use can have a number average n,D ecul-~ weight measured by vapor phase osi"o",et,~ of about 300 to about 3000. The PB can be pr,7pared by well-known techniques such as the Friedel-Crafts polymerization of feedstocks comprising isobutylene, or they can be pu-cl~ased from a number of co--""el-;;al S~Fp'~
15 such as Amoco Chemical Company, Chicago, Illinois which markets polybut~nes under the l,~ename IndopGla. A prefer,eJ number average JIar weight for PB is in the range of about 30û to about 2500.
PB can be added directly to polypr~pylene or it can be added via a masterbatch prdpa~d by adding PB to polypr~pylane at weight ratios of 0.2 to 20 0.3 based on polyprupylene in a mixing device such as a compounding extruder with the resulting ",aslerl,atch blended with polypropylene in an amount to ach sve a desired level of PB. For making the self-bonded webs used in making the cG".posites of the present invention the weight ratio of PB
typically added to polypropylane can range from about 0.01 to about 0.15.
25 When a weight ratio of PB below about 0.01 is added to poly~rupylene, little beneficial effects such as bener hand and improved sofl"ess are shown in the fabrics, and when polybutene is added at a weight ratio above about 0.15 minute amounts of PB can migrate to ~he surface which may detract from the fabric app~ar_nce. Blends of poly~,rupylene and PB can have a weight ratio of 30 poly"ropyl~ne in the range of about 0.99 to about 0.8S, preferdbly about 0.99to about 0.9, and a weight ratio of PB in the range of about 0.01 to about 0.15,pr~f r'~ly about 0.01 to about 0.10.
Blends of polyprupylene and LLDPE can be formulated by blending polypropylene resin in the form ot pellets or powder with LLDPE in a mixing 35 device such as a dnum tumbler and the like. The resin blend of polypropylene and LLDPE with optional sleb.~ 7er additive package can be introduced to a polymer melt mixing device such as a compounding extruder of the type -16- 2~82~

typically used to produce poly,r~pylene product in a polypr~pylene production plant and compounded at te...perdtures between about 300~F and about 500~F. Although blends of polypropylene and LLDPE can range from a weight ratio of nearly 1.0 for poly"ropylena to a weight ratio of nearly 1.0 for LLDPE,5 typically, the blends of poly~,rupylene and LLDPE useful for making self-bonJed webs used in the cG."posites of the present invention can have a weight ratio of polypropylene in the range of about 0.99 to about 0.85 preferably in the range of about 0.98 to about 0.92, and a weight ratio of LLDPE in the range ot about 0.01 to about 0.1S, preferably in the range of 10 about 0.02 to about 0.08. For weight ratios less than 0.01 the softer hand properties imparted from the LLDPE are not obtained and far weight ratios above 0.15 less desirable phys;cal properties and a smaller process;ng window are obtained.
The linear low density polye~l-ylenes which can be used in the self-15 bGnded, fibrous, nonwoven webs used in making the composites of thepresenl invention can be random copoly.,.er~ of etl,Jlene with 1 to 15 weight percent of higher olefin co-",GnG".ers such as prup~lene, n-butene-1, n-hexene-1, n-octene-1 or 4-"-ethyl~,en~ene-1 produced over transition metal coordination catalysts. Such linear low density polye~hfl~nes can be 20 produced in liquid phase or vapor phase prucesses The p~fqr,ed density of the linear low density pGlyu~ lene is in the range of about 0.91 to about 0.94 g/cc.
One embodiment of the uniform basi~ weight self-bonded, fibrous nonwoven web used for at least one layer ot the self-bonded nonwoven web 25 and cross-laminated lher".~pbstic net-like web composite of the prvscnl inventbn can be produced by a system 100 sche...atically shown in FIG. 1.
System 100 includes an extruder 110 which extrudes a fiber forming ,.,alerial such as a themloplastic poly...er men through feed conduit and ? 1ptar 1 12 to a rotary union 115. A posiUve displace,,,vnt melt pump 114 can be located in 30 the feed conduit 112 for greater accuracy and uniformity of poly."er melt delivery. An sl~cl ical control can be pro~ided for selecting the rate of extrusion and displace",ent of the extrudate through the feed conduit 112.
Rotary drive shaft 116 is driven by motor 120 at a speed s~lectoJ by a control means ~not shown) and is coupled to rotary die 130. Radial air aspirator 135 35 is located around rotary die 130 and is connected to air blower 125. Air blower 125, air aspirator 135, rotary die 130, motor 120 and extruder 1 10 are SUppGlt~ on or dtla~hed to frame 105.

~17- 2~2820 In operation,1ibers are extruded through and thrown from the rotary die 130 by centrifugal action into a high velocity air stream provided by air aspirator 135. The air drag created by the high velocity air causes the libers to be drawn down from the rotary die 130 and also to be stretched or attenuated.
5 A web torming plate 145 in the shape o1 an annular ring surrounds the rotary die 130. As rotary die 130 is rotated and tibers 140 are extruded, the tibers ~40 strike the web forming plate 145. Web forming plate 145 is dltached to frame 105 with support arm 148. Fibers 140 are self-bonded during contact with each other and plate 145, thus fomming a tubular nonwoven web 150. The 10 tubular nonwoven web 150 is then drawn through the annulus of web forming plate 145 by pull rolls 1-70 and 165, through nip rolls 160 SUppG-l~ below rotary die 130 which spraads the fabric into a flat two-ply COin~5-~ 155 which is collected by pull rolls 165 and 170 and can be stored on a roll (not shown) in a slandarJ fashion.
FIG. 2 is a side view of system 100 of FIG. 1 scl.c.,-d!ically sho~~ ing fibers 140 being extruded from rotary die 130, attenuated by the high velocity air from air aspirator 135, and contacting of fibers 140 on web forming plate 145 to form tubular non~rvoven web 150. Tubular nonwoven web 150 is drawn through nip rolls 160 by pull rolls 170 and 165 to form flat two-ply cGIllposite20 155.
The self-bonded, nonwcvon web and cross-laminated thermopl~-stic net-like web composites of the present invention can be produced from at least one layer of a uniform basis weight self-bonded web having a plurality of sub~larnially r~r,do".ly d;~posed, substantially continuous f;la.nents having a 25 basis weighn of aboun 0.1 oz/yd2 or greater bonded to at least one layer of across-laminated lher",oplastic net-like web having a basis weight of about 0.2 ozlyd2 or greater. A layer of a poly."aric coating coi"position can be used to pro~ide a combination fluid r~s;slant and adhesive coating layer bet- een the s~'l bond~d nonwoven web and the cross-laminated the-",opl~slic net-like 30 web. In one embodiment for making the self-bonded, nonwo~en web and cross-laminated ll;cr",Gplastic net-like web composites of the present in~entOan, a coating ~rocess with a film lon"ing apparatus such as a melt extruder is used to extrude a moltan 1ilm from a die having a slit opening di",ension in the range of about 1 to about 30 mils. The extrusion pressure 35 within the die can be in the range of about 1 000 to 1 500 psi, and the molten film as it exits the die can be at a te",perature in the range o1 about 500~F to580~F for ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer as a polymeric coating -18- 20~2~20 cG.,.position. The molten extruded film can then be contacted with a self-bGfided non~Dv~n web s~Fplisd from a primary unwind roll and passed through two eounter rotating rolls such as a nip roll and a ch~ll roll hav~ng dia...a~6.~ typically in the range of about 4 to 12 inches. The seH-bonded web 5 ean be in direct eontaet with the nip roll, and the molten extruded film can make eontaet with the self-bonded web between the nip and chill rolls. The - eross-laminated ~I.er..,oplastic net-like web ean be surp -~d from an aux~liary unwind roll sueh that a ce",posite co..,pris;~g a layer of a self-bonded web, a layer of a poly".erie eoating eomposition and a layer of a cross-lam~nated 10 ll.er ..op'~ lie net-ake web is eontinuously forrned be~vaan the nip and chill rolls. A pressure in the range of about 25 to 200 Ibs/linear inch can be appliedin the nip. The te,nperdture ot the chill roll can be in the range of about 60 to 75~F. The rate at which the self-bonded nonwoven web and cross la...ifia~ed lher---Gpl~ net-like web can be formed in the nip can be in the range of 15 about 75 to 900 fUminute.
Factors such as the ll-er---opla :-c used for the various web layers the de_:red CG..-posite productiQn rate, the eGn,posite basis weight; process parameters sueh as the te.--perd~,lre of the nip and ch~ll rolls; the pressure exerted on the composite by the rolls and the speed of the nonwoven webs fed 20 through the rolls can be varied to aehieve the desired results.
The unitorm basis weight selt-bonded nonwoven web ean be s~plisd directly from the pr~cess dase,il~d above or from an unwind roll. The web can be either a single-ply or a multi-ply fabrie. Preferably, the nonwoven web has a sin~le or multiple two-ply structure such that a selt-bonded web hav~ng a 25 nominal basis weight of about 1.0 oz/yd2 can co..,prise two pl~es of a self-bonded web each having a nominal basis weight of about 0.5 oz/yd2 or two two-pq selt-bonded web fabries with each of the four pl~es having a nominal basis weigm ot about 0.25 oz/yd2. A self-bonded web having a total basis we~ght of 5.0 ozlyd2 would require 10 two-ply self-bonded web fabrics with 30 eaeh ply having a nominal basis weigm of 0.25 oztyd2 For setf-bonded webs produeed from po~p,op~bne. two-ply fabries are made with single ply basis weights of about 0.1 to about 0.25 oz/yd2 and self-bonded webs having heav~er bas~s we~ghts are formed from mult~pb layers of these two-ply fabrics in order to obtain self-bonded webs with the desired softness, drapability and 35 st~n~th. For bbnds of polyprop~lene with polybutene or linear low densi~y polyetl,11ane the single ply basis weight of the nonwoven web can be greater than for poly"ropJlene while still retaining soll"ess and drapability properties .19 2Q~2~.0 Additionally, the basis weight ot the two-ply self-bonded web is enhaneed by the e~-c~"snl uniforrn basis weight ot the single plies that make up the two-plyself-bonded webs.
The self-bonded nonwoven web cG,--pfis;ng a plurality of substantially 5 rarK~ disposed, substantially continuous tl,er",oplastie filaments used as the layer providin~ exeellent coJGr~ge and good st,dri~l, to the cG",posite has a very uniform basis weight. The uniform basis weight self-bonded nonwoven web albws lower basis weight self-bonded nonwoven webs to be used and benefits the eonsumer with a lighter weight and more eeonomical CGIllpO5;~e 1 0 produet.
Among the embodiments of the self-bonded nonwoven web and cross laminate CGIl~,c95-lcs of the pr~_Gn~ in~ontion is a multilayer cG---posite CG..Ip~iS'l9 a layer of a eross-laminated tl,ei""op'a :;e net-like web located between and adhe~red to two layers of the same or Jilferent uniform basis 15 weight self-bonded non.voven webs. Using an inter,.,e.liale layer of a cross-laminated II,~r,.-oplastie net-like web as a further strength and fabric stabilization layer, a light weight eover fabrie with unitorm eoverage and good ~ben~Jth ean be made cG---plising two layers of self-bonded, nonwoven webs bonded to a layer of a eross-laminated ll,er",o,cla~tie net-like web inse~,te~
20 between the nonwoven webs. The two layers of uniform basis weight self-bonded nonwoven webs ean be the same or different in terms of basis weight material ot eonstruetion, addilives ineorporated into the material of eonstruetion, surfaee l~eat~"e"~ of the nonwoven webs and the like. For exampb, a composite ean be eonstrueted for use as proteetive covers for items 25 sueh as automobiles. trueks, reereation vehieles, vans, mobile homes motoreyeles, air eonditioners, eleetrie motors and the like. The self-bonded nonwoven layer wh~eh may eome ~n eontaet with the item covered can CG..I~-i5e a thel-"Gpl~tie ",alerial sueh as blends of polypropylene and polybutene and/or linear low density polyetl,jlcne and which produce a 30 nonwoven layer havin~ a softer hand. The other self-bonded nonwoven web layer of sueh a multilayer co",posite ean be made from the same ,-,alerial or a Jifler~nt ",atarial sueh as a material having a different thermoplastic co",p~sitien, a ...alerial whieh has been surfaee treated with subslznces to improve a"ti;.ldtie, antimierobial pr~pe.ties and the like, and a material which35 ineludes additives sueh as fire retzrJanls, UV stabilizers cc!crdn~s, dyes, fillers and the like.

20~28~0 ~20-Another advantage ot the cG...p3s't~s ot the present in~n:'on is that previously prepared self-bGnclad nonwoven webs and cross-laminated lher--.Gplastic net-like webs can be used from unwind rolls to produce a composite with the desired basis weight and ph~si~l properties. This enables 5 CG~ DSit8S to be produced in which various layers of the s~'l bGnded nonwoven webs of the composites can have dtfferent basis welghts, Ji~f~rant pigments or different surface t-~t,.,~nts before the desired composites are pro~uced In the embodiment where blends ot poly,.ropJlena and polybutene and/or LLDPE are used to make the self bonded nonwoven webs, self bonded 10 nonwoven webs are formed which can have a soner hand than webs formed from only pGlyprvpylene.
Other self-bonded nonloven web and cross-laminated ll,er.l.o,plasl;c net-like web co--~posiles can be formed, including cGIl~rostes having a uniform basis weight self-bonded web and a cross-laminated ll,er,l,oplasac 15 net-like web laminated together by tl,el,--al bonding using heat and pressureof a cabn<~ri,~ operation or by using a po~J.l,aric coating c~"lposition layer as an ~heXve layer. These self-bonded nonwoven web and cross laminate composites are particularly useful, for example, as a stable fabric for primary carpet ba~kin~ in which carpets are printed with a geometric panem after a 20 tuning operation and before the aWition of a secon~ary ba~ing as a finishing step. By usin~ the above desc,il~d embodiment of the instant invontion, a primary carpet b~in~ is pr~vided that has sufficient fabric stability to allow ~eometric prin1ing ot a panern on the carpet without mis-aligned prints.
Subsa~u~nt to the p~nting operation, a secondary backing, for example of 25 woven synthetic or natural yams can be added to the carpet.
The above deoc,ibed cG~Il,63s;te cGmp~ising a cross-laminated thermoplastic net-like web adh6s:vely bonded to a layer of a unifomm basis wei~ht self-bords~ nonwoven web is panicularly useful as wallcovering b~ng wherein the cross-laminated lhermopl~stic net-like web layer of the 30 cG---posite is next to the wallboard and the self-bonded web is next to the wallcovariny ".~terial. This C0..lpOSitd structure allows the w~l~covering material which is aJhes;vGly bonded to the wallboard to be removed when desired such that nea~y all of the wallcovenng and c~"lposita Illd~erial is ,~.--oJ~d from the wall and with minimal disnuption of the wallboard.
If desired, the self-bonded non~voven web and ll,er"lopl~-l;c net-like web cG~I"~osites of the present inven~iGn can have various other layers laminated or bonded to the c~lllposite such as coating l,-atenals, carded webs, 20~282~
-2~-woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, porous films, impervious films, metallic foils and the like.
In addition to the product applications desclil,ed above the co,-,pos~tes of the pr~sGnl i, vo.~ticn can find use in such diverse arplicqtiQns as 5 upholstery bbric for the bottom sides of furniture to mask sprln~s, etc., li~ht wei~ht fence structures, erosion control fabric, ~round cover, material tor bagsand containers, and the like.
The preparations of various uniform basis weight self-bonded nonwoven webs used in making the composites of the present invention and 10 exampbs appeanng below are given for the purpose of further illustrating the present invention and~are not to be intencled in any way to limit the scope of the invention. Test pr~ceJures used to determine prup.,-ties r~pG~ted in the examples below are as folkws:
Tensile and Clon~dtion - Test sp~;."ens are used to determine tensile 15 sl!,~h and ebngation according to ASTM Test Method D-1692. Grab tensile strength can be: measured in the MD on 1 inch wide samples of fabric or in the CD and is repg~l~l as a peak value in units of pounds or ~rams. A high value is desired for tensile strength.
Ebngat~on can also be measured in the MD or CD and is repG,t~ as a 20 peak value in units of percent. Lower values are des~red for elongat~on.
Trapezo~dal Tear St-~l, - The trapezoidal tear st~ens~th (Trap Tear) is determined by ASTM Test Method D-1117 and can be measursd in the MD or CD and is ,~pG~d in units ot pounds. Hi~h value are desired for Trap Tear.
Fiber Denier - The fiber diameter is determined by co..,paring a fiber 25 specimen sample ~o a calibrated re~icle under a mic,uscops with suitable magnificathn. From known p o ~ ~..er densities, the flber denier is cakulated.
Basis Weight - The basis weight hr a test sample is determined by ASTM Test Method D-3776 Option C.
Basis Wei~ht Unihrn,ity Index - The BWUI is determined for a 30 nonwoven web by cutting a number of unit area and larger area samples from the nonwoven web. The method ot cutting can range ~rom the use o~ 5c;ssGr5 to stamping out unit areas ot ."zluial with a die which will produce a consistently uniform unit area sample of nonwoven web. The shape of the unit area sampb can be square, circular. ~Jia"-ond or any other con~nbnl shape.
35 The unit area is 1 ~n2, and the number ot samples is sufficient to give a 0.95 contidence intelval tor the weight of the samples. Typically, the number of samples can range from about 40 to 80. From the same non.- oven web an 2~2~2~

equivalent number of larger area samples are cut and weighed. The larger samples are obtained with apprupriale equipment with the samples having areas which are N times larger than the unit area samples, where N is about 12 to about 18. The average basis weight is cabulated for both the unit area 5 sample and the larger area sample, with the BWUI ratio determined from the average basis weight of the unit area divided by the average basis weight of the lar~er area. Materials which have unit area and/or area average basis weights determined with standard devia~ions greater than 10% are not cons;dereJ to have uniform basis weights as detined herein.
10Preparation exa"-r'as of uniform basis weight self-bonded nonwoven webs of poly"r.pylGne, of a blend of poly,ur~p/lcne and polybutene, of a blend of pGlypropylene and linear low density polyethylene and co-"pardli~/e examples of commercially available poly~.ropylene spunbond nonwoven materials are given below.
15~FI F R-~Fn NONWOVF~ POI Yr~Or~l F~L WFR PRFPARATION
A polyprùp/lcne resin, having a nG",:nal melt flow rate of 35 g/10 min, - was extruded at a conslan~ extrusion rate into and through a rotary union, ~ss~es of the rotating shaft and manifold system of the die and spinnerets to an annular plate similar to the equipment as shown in FIG. 1 and desc-ribed 20 above.
The ~r~ss conditions were:
Extrusion conditions Temperature, ~F
Zone-1 450 Zone-2 500 Zone-3 580 Adapter 600 Rotary Union 425 Die 425 Pressure, psi 200-400 Rotary die con~l;tions Die rotation, rpm 2500 Extnudate rate, Ib/l,r/Grifice 0.63 Air ~uench con~iIjQns Air quench pressure, inches of H2O52 20~2~2~

Un;f~r~ Index Ihis~'~ness. T~
Number ot Samples 60 Average Thickness 11.04 Coefficient of Variation 1.50075 Standard Davi~tion 1.22505 Range 6 Basis Weight Number of Samples 60 Test S~.--en Area, in2 Weight, g Average 0.02122 Coefficient of Variation 1.9578x10-6 Standard l~eviat,on 1.3992x10-3 Range 5.3x10-3 Basis Weight, oz/yd2 0.9692 Number of Samples 60 Test Sp~;n.en Area, in2 16 Weight, g Average 0.3370 Coefficient of Variation 2.6348x10-4 Standard r)eVialion - 1.6232x10-2 Range 0.068 Basis Weight, oz/yd2 0.9620 Basis Weight Uniformity Index (BWUI) 1.0075 A nomlnal 1.0 oz/yd2 polypropylene self-bonded non~o~,en web was prepared by the method describecJ above and calenJe~ecl with a hard steel, e..~l,ossed calender roll and a hard steel, smooth calender roll with both rolls30 maintained at a te,-,per~ture of 260~F with an e,mbossing pattern o~ 256 squares/in2 with the squares angled diagonally such that the squares present a Jia.-.ond-like appearance in the ~-,achine or cross-",ach.ne direction with the bonding area being a nominal 16 percent of the surface area of the composite A pressure of 400 psi was maintained on the web. Filament denier, basls 3S weights for 1 in x 1 in square and 4 in x 4 in square samples, cross machine 2~52~20 direction and ~--achine direction tensile st,~n~tl,s were deter",lned for this self-bonded nom,~ov~n web as well as for nominal 1.0 oz/yd2 basis weight spunbond matefials such as Ki.-lberly Clark's Accord (Co,-.parati~,0 A), James River's Celestra (CG,--pzr~ti~a B) and Wayn-Tex's Elite (Comparative C).
5 These properties are su---.--ar;~ad in Tables l-V below.

-25- 2~52~2~

-- O ~a O O
o ~ o 'J~ E

~ ~~ ~ I' g ~
d~ o o 1.~ ~

~ ~ C
Z ~ ~

3;~ ~ ~ ~ o~ o N, 't, ~q ~, ~ O

~~ DO OO~~O0,~, g~ O ~ O
a u~ o -26- 20~2~

"~ o ~ o o "~ too o o o ~n ~

0 ~ ~ ~ - o ~ o C ~ o o o Z ~n ~ ~' ~ à~
~ o m B ~ ~ ~x ~ ~ O aO
~ 8 0 0 ~t ~ o . '_ .
~ ~ c , ~ . o C
~ O

Table 111 NONWOVEN WEB PROlJtH I ItS
Filament Denier Self-bonded prnna~ NonwwenW~ UT~ r~veAl'nr~r~tiveB Con~:
NwTber d Samples100 100 100 100 .~e~ ' Average 2.254 2.307 3.962 5.295 Median 1.7 2.2 4.2 5.8 1 0 Variance 1.22473 0.206718 0.326622 0.82048 Mmimum 0.9 1.2 2.8 2.2 ~; ~ 5.8 4.2 5.8 7.7 Range 4 9 3 3 5 5 S~anrgrd Devialion (SD)1.106680.454663 0.571509 0.905803 1 5 SD, ~h d ANerage49.10 19.71 14.42 17.11 -28- 2~15~82~

~ ~ U~ U~ U~
C O ~ ~o O

. ' m cn a~
r ~ ~

~ C ~ U

Z C~
LU ~D ~t 3 '~ ~ o ~ C'~ r o 0 ~ ~ ~ ~ 0 0 U~ ' ~o 0 U~
C~ ~

~3 0 r~ r N
- ~ ~ o o a ~ O

Table V
NONWOVEN WE~ PROrtH I ItS
Machine Direction Tensile Strength Selt-bonded r,-~ Nonwov~nW~h r~ veA G~rqhes ~ r~y Nurrber d Sampbs 30 30 30 18 Avera~e 4.7511 5.51813 8.569076.93222 1 0 Median 4.7675 5.4755 8.76756.4725 N
Variance 0.078954a 0.686962 1.227625.84547 I~uunum 4.15 3.71 6.489 3.436 Maxinum 5.251 7.04 10.21 12.16 P~ange 1.101 3.33 3.721 8.724 1 5 Standard D~vialion (SD)0.280989 0.828832 1.10798 2.41774 SD,YOdAv~ra5~e 5.91 15.02 12.93 34.88 o~
o 2~2~2~

SELF-BONDEDNONWOVEN WEBPREPARATION
FROM A Rl F~ OF p~l YPROPYI F~ A ~ PCIlYRllTF~~
A blend of 93 wt%of a poly"r~pJlGne havin~ a nominal melt flow rate of 38 g/10 min and 7 wt%of polybutene havin~ a no",inal number average 5 molecular wei~ht of 1290 was melt-bl~nded in a Werner & Pfleiderer ZSK-57 twin-screw extruder and Luwa gear pump tinishin~ line. The resulting product was extruded at a constant extrusion rate into and through a rotary union, p~s~es of the rotating shaft and manifold system of the die and spinnerets to an annular plate in the equipment as shown in FIG.1 and desc,il,ed above.
The process conditions were:
FYtrusion conditions Temperature, ~F
Zone-1 Zone-2 450 Zone -3 570 Adapter 570 Rotary Union 550 Die 450 Screw rotation, rpm 50 Pressure, psi 800 ~otan~ die conditions Die rotation, rpm 2100 Extnudate rate, Ib/hr/orifice 0.78 p~l 1~ ~qJSi~'Al l~hAr~- ~41 istics Filamentdenier (average) 3-4 Basis wei~ht, oz/yd2 1.25 Grab tensile MD, Ibs 13.4 CD,Ibs go Elon~4tion MD, % 150 CD, % 320 Trap tear MD, Ibs 7.5 CD, Ibs 5.B

20~2~29 ~31-SEU-~O~;C'~n NONWOVEN WEB PREPARATION FROM A BLEND
OF p(~l Y~ F~IE AND LINF~R I f~W n~l~lslTy p~-l YFTHYI F~,E
A blend of 95 Wt~oOt a poly~r.,pylene hav~ng a nominal melt nOw rate of 38 9/10 min and 5 wt%Of a linear low density polyetl,llene hav~n~ a nominal 5 density of 0.94 g/cc was melt-blinde~l in a 2.5 in Davis Stand~rJ single-screwextnuder. The resulting product was extnuded at a cofi~lanl extrusion rate into and through a rotary union, p~s~ es of the rotating shaft and manifold system of the die and spinner~ts to an annular plate in the equipment as shown in FIG. 1 and desc,il~J above.
The pr~cess conditions were:
f~usion con~itions Templerature, ~F
Zone-1 490 Zone-2 540 Zone-3 605 Adapter 605 Rotary Union 550 Die 450 Screw rotation, rpm 40 Pressure, psi 1000 Rotaly die c~onditions Die rotation, rpm 2100 Extn~b rate, Ib/hr/orifice 0.65 enrll con~fflQ~
Air quench pressure,in of H2O 55 P~ h:~rz~
Basis weight, ozlyd2 0.25 -32- 20~20 ~xam~
A two-layer self-bonded nonwoven web and cross-laminated Iher..,Gplastic net-like web cG""~osite was made using a layer ot a unitorm basis wei~ht selt-bonded. flbrous nonwoven web and a layer ot cross-S laminated tl,er-"oplastic net like web. The selt-bonded nonwov~n web was prep~r~J in the torm of a two-ply web from a PP havin~ a nominal melt tlow rate of 3S 9/10 min with 0.2 wryo of an organb yellow pigment and having a uniform basis we~ht of 0.55 oz/yd2 (nominal 0.25 oz/yd2 per ply with a BWUI
and standard deviation of basis weights similar to the self-bond~d web 10 desc,il~î in Tabb ll and was wound on an unwind roll. The cross-laminated ~I,er,..op~stic net-like web obtained from Nippon r,tr~l,e..lical~ Co. Ltd. was a p o Iy~th/lene fabric cross bminated airy tabric c~s;ç, naled as CLAF S havinga basis webht of 0.84 oz/yd2 and wound on an unwind roll. The layers of the self-bonded web and cross-laminated ll,er,.,oplastic net-like web were fed 15 from the unwind rolls to a calenderin~ line and then..obor~ed on an in-line 120-inch wide calender with two calender rolls maintained at a te...perdture of 149~F for the top roll and 284~F for the bottom roll. A pressure of 320 pounds per linear inch (pli) was maintained on the layers to thermally bond the layers and form a self-bonded nonwoven web and cross-laminated lher",oplastic 20 net-like web composite at a speeds of 200, 300, 400 and 500 feet per minute ~fpm) . The physi~l properties of the composite and composite cG",~nents are given in Table Vl.
T~RI F Vl ~'1 Oond~d b 1~ ~Lla ~~ _lQ E~_lg CLAFS Web Cabndbr Speed, tpm 200 300 400 500 - -Bads We~pn, O~ 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.3 0.84 0.55 D 28.028.4 32.3 26.4 21.0 8.3 C D 48.452.8 40.1 41.9 34.0 8.3 Ebngahon, %
~D 12 13 13 13 13 129 ~r P0rmeai~y, dm 634 556 592 620 ,760 ,760 . ~.

20~2~20 Example 2 A two-layer self-bonded nonwoven web and cross-laminated ther."opl~-slic net-like web composite was made using a layer of a uniform basis weight self-bonded, fibrous nonwoven web and a layer of cross-5 laminated ~I.er",oplastic net-like web. The self-bonded nonwov~n web was in the form of three two-ply webs calsnderbd together made from a PP having a n~". nal melt tlow rate of 35 ~10 min with 0.2 wt% of an organic yellow pigment and having a uniform basis weight of 1.52 oz/yd2 (nominal 0.25 oz/yd2 per ply) with a BWUI and standald dovial;on of basis weights similar to 10 the self-bonded web described in Table ll and was wound on an unwind roll.
The cross-laminated the,.,.oplaslic net-like web obtained from Nippon r.lt-ucl,e"licals Co. Ltd. was a polyethylene fabric cross laminated airy fabricdesignaled as CLAF S having a basis weight of 0.84 oz/yd2 and wound on an unwind roll. The layers of the self-bonded web and cross-laminated 15 ll,er",oplastic net-like web were fed from the unwind rolls to a calendering line and ll,e,--,obonded on an in-line 120-inch wide calender with two calender rolls maintained at a te,.,pelat~lre of 149~F for the top roll and 284~F for thebottom roll. A pressure of 320 pli was maintained on the layers to thermally bond the layers and form a self-bonded nonwoven web and cross-laminated 20 Iller-"opl~tic net-like web cGI"posite at a speeds of 200, 300, 400 and 500 fpm . The phfs~l properties of the cGInpQs t~ and composite cG",ponents are given in Table Vll.
T~RI F Vll S~lt Bonded l E~a ~ ~Q ~ CLAF S W e b Cabrldar Speed, tpm 200300 400 500 -- --Basis W~ghl oz/yd2 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.2 0.84 1.52 Grab Str~r gth, Ib M D 41.837.0 36.5 34.7 21.0 22.2 C D 5.3049.4 52.3 52.4 34.0 25.9 Elongalion, %

Air Pern~ability, ctm 192172 167 145 ~760 348

Claims (10)

1. A self-bonded nonwoven web and thermoplastic net-like web composite comprising, at least one layer of a uniform basis weight self-bonded, fibrous nonwoven web comprising a plurality of substantially randomly disposed, substantially continuous thermoplastic filaments wherein said web has a Basis Weight Uniformity Index of 1.0 ? 0.05 determined from average basis weights having standard deviations of less than 10%, adhered to at least one layer of a thermoplastic net-like web.

2. The composite of claim 1 wherein said uniform basis weight self-bonded nonwoven web comprises a thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, blends of polyolefins, polyamides and polyesters.

3. The composite of claim 2 wherein said polyolefins comprise a polypropylene having a melt flow rate in the range of about 10 to about 80 g/10 min as measured by ASTM D-1238.

4. The composite of claim 2 wherein said blends of polyolefins comprise a polypropylene and a polybutene or a linear low density polyethylene wherein said polypropylene has a melt flow rate in the range of about 10 to about 80 g/10 min as measured by ASTM D-1238, said polybutene has a number average molecular weight in the range of about 300 to about 2,500 and said linear low density polyethylene has a density in the range of about 0.91 to about 0.94 g/cc.

5. The composite of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic net-like web comprises a cross-laminated net-like web comprising a thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, combinations of polyolefins and polyesters.

6. The composite of claim 5 wherein said cross-laminated net-like web comprises a polypropylene.

7. The composite of claim 5 wherein said cross-laminated net-like web comprises a high density polyethylene and a low density polyethylene.

8. A self-bonded nonwoven web and cross-laminated thermoplastic net-like web composite having a basis weight in the range of about 0.2 oz/yd or greater comprising, at least one layer of a uniform basis weight self-bonded fibrous nonwoven web having a basis weight of about 0.1 oz/yd or greater and a Basis Weight Uniformity Index of 1.0 ? 0.05 determined from average basis weights having standard deviations of less than 10% and comprising a plurality of substantially randomly disposed, substantially continuous thermoplastic filaments wherein said thermoplastic filaments have deniers in the range of about 0.5 to about 20 and comprise a thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, a random copolymer of propylene and ethylene and a blend of polypropylene and polybutene or linear low density polyethylene wherein said web is adhered to at least one layer of a cross-laminated thermoplastic net-like web having a basis weight of about 0.1 oz/yd2 or greater comprising a thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, combinations of polyolefins and polyesters.

9. A self-bonded nonwoven web and cross-laminated thermoplastic net-like web composite having a basis weight of about 0.4 oz/yd2 or greater comprising, at least one layer of a uniform basis weight self-bonded, fibrous nonwoven web having a Basis Weight Uniformity Index of 1.0 0.05 determined from average basis weights having standard deviations of less than 10% comprising a thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, a random copolymer of propylene and ethylene and a blend of polypropylene and polybutene or linear low density polyethylene having a basis weight of about 0.1 oz/yd2 or greater, a layer of a cross-laminated thermoplastic net-like web having a basis weight in the range of about 0.1 oz/yd2 or greater comprising a thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, combinations of polyolefins and polyesters, and a layer of a polymeric coating composition having a basis weight in the range of about 0.2 oz/yd2 or greater comprising a composition selected from the group consisting of ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and linear low density polyethylene located between and integrally adhered to said self-bonded nonwoven web layer and said cross-laminated thermoplastic net-like web layer.

10. The composite of claim 9 in the form of a primary carpet backing.