Hydroengorged spunmelt nonwovens
View Patent ↗A hydroengorged spunmelt nonwoven formed of thermoplastic continuous fibers and a pattern of fusion bonds. The nonwoven has either a percentage bond area of less than 10 percent, or a percentage bond area of at least 10% wherein the pattern of fusion bonds is anisotropic.
1. A hydroengorged spunmelt nonwoven consisting of thermoplastic continuous fibers and a pattern of fusion bonds, said hydroengorged spunmelt nonwoven having one of
i a positive percentage fusion bond area of less than 10%, and
ii a percentage fusion bond area of at least 10% wherein said bonding pattern of fusion bonds is anisotropic.
2. A hydroengorged spunmelt nonwoven consisting of thermoplastic continuous fibers and a pattern of fusion bonds, said hydroengorged spunmelt nonwoven having a percentage fusion bond area of at least 10% wherein said bonding pattern of fusion bonds is anisotropic.
3. The nonwoven of claim 2 which is orthogonally differentially bonded with fusion bonds.
4. The nonwoven of claim 2 wherein said nonwoven after hydroengorgement exhibits both an increased caliper and an increased softness relative to said nonwoven prior to hydroengorgement.
5. The nonwoven of claim 2 wherein said nonwoven after hydroengorgement exhibits an increase of at least 50% in caliper relative to said nonwoven prior to hydroengorgement.
6. The nonwoven of claim 2 wherein said bonds have a maximum dimension d, and a maximum bond separation of at least 4d.
7. The nonwoven of claim 2 having a basis weight of 5-50 gsm.
8. The nonwoven of claim 2 wherein said nonwoven exhibits a tensile strength after hydroengorgement of at least 75% of the tensile strength prior to hydroengorgement.
9. An absorbent article including the nonwoven of claim 1 .
10. A non-absorbent article including the nonwoven of claim 1 .