IP Library Granted Patent US 11,390,972
Granted Patent B2
US 11,390,972 · App. 16/569,394 · Granted Jul 19, 2022

Fibers for non-woven fabrics having blends of polymers with high and low melt flow rates

Inventors: Prasad S. Potnis (Johns Creek, GA); Jeffrey L. McManus (Canton, GA)
Assignee: O&M Halyard, Inc.
D04H1/724D04H1/43914D04H1/5412D04H1/5418D04H3/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,390,972
App. No.
16/569,394
Granted
Jul 19, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A spunbond non-woven fabric includes a plurality of fibers. The fibers are formed from a polymer blend that includes at least one first polymer and at least one second polymer. A melt flow rate of the at least one first polymer is greater than a melt flow rate of the at least one second polymer, and the melt flow rate of the at least one second polymer is about 9 g/10 min to less than 18 g/10 min. The blend may include a percentage by weight of the second polymer that is greater than a percentage by weight of the first polymer.

Claims (12)

1. A spunbond non-woven fabric comprising a plurality of fibers, wherein the fibers are formed from a polymer blend comprising at least one first polymer and at least one second polymer,

wherein a melt flow rate (MFR) of the at least one first polymer is greater than a MFR of the at least one second polymer,

wherein the MFR of the at least one second polymer is from 9 g/10 min to less than 18 g/10 min,

wherein the MFR of the at least one first polymer is from 18 g/10 min to 40 g/10 min,

wherein the polymer blend comprises a percentage by weight of the second polymer that is greater than a percentage by weight of the first polymer, wherein the polymer blend comprises 20-30% by weight of the first polymer and 70-80% by weight of the second polymer, and

wherein an average diameter of each fiber is from 15 microns to 20 microns.

2. The spunbond non-woven fabric of claim 1 , wherein a weight of the fabric is from about 42.5 gsm to less than about 105 gsm, and wherein the fabric has a mechanical property that is greater than the mechanical property of a spunbond fabric comprising fibers formed from only the first polymer and under the same conditions, and wherein the mechanical property comprises at least one of a trap tear strength, a strip tensile strength, a puncture resistance, or a grab tensile strength.

3. The spunbond non-woven fabric of claim 2 , wherein the mechanical property is at least 20% greater than the mechanical property of the spunbond fabric comprising fibers formed from only the first polymer under the same conditions.

4. The spunbond non-woven fabric of claim 1 , wherein a weight of the fabric is less than about 105 gsm, and wherein the fabric has a mechanical property in a machine direction that is greater than the mechanical property in the machine direction of a spunbond fabric comprising fibers formed from only the first polymer and under the same conditions, and wherein the mechanical property comprises at least one of a trap tear strength, a strip tensile strength, a puncture resistance, or a grab tensile strength.

5. The spunbond non-woven fabric of claim 4 , wherein the weight of the fabric is from about 8 gsm to about 15 gsm.

6. The spunbond non-woven fabric of claim 1 , wherein the fibers each comprise a fiber body that surrounds and defines a cavity, wherein the fiber body and the cavity together define a total volume, and wherein the fibers comprise a hollowness of greater than 0% up to about 25% by volume of the total volume.

7. A non-woven fabric comprising the spunbond non-woven fabric of claim 1 as a first spunbond layer, wherein the non-woven fabric further comprises a second spunbond layer and a meltblown layer laminated between the first spunbond layer and the second spunbond layer, and wherein the second spunbond layer comprises a plurality of fibers, each formed from a polymer blend comprising the at least one first polymer and the at least one second polymer.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2026
From: O&M HALYARD, INC.; MEDICAL ACTION INDUSTRIES INC.; OWENS & MINOR DISTRIBUTION, INC.
To: PLC AGENT LLC
Reel/Frame 075647/0354 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: MEDICAL ACTION INDUSTRIES INC.; O&M HALYARD, INC.; OWENS & MINOR DISTRIBUTION, INC.
Reel/Frame 074203/0026 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2026
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: O&M HALYARD, INC.; OWENS & MINOR DISTRIBUTION, INC.
Reel/Frame 074212/0570 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Dec 31, 2025
From: MEDICAL ACTION INDUSTRIES INC.; O&M HALYARD, INC.; OWENS & MINOR MEDICAL, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS LEAD COLLATERAL AGENT; PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS CO-COLLATERAL AGENT; WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS CO-COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 074161/0401 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 29, 2022
From: O&M HALYARD, INC.; OWENS & MINOR DISTRIBUTION, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 059541/0024 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 12, 2021
From: MEDICAL ACTION INDUSTRIES INC.; OWENS & MINOR DISTRIBUTION, INC.; O&M HALYARD, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 055582/0407 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2019
From: POTNIS, PRASAD S.; MCMANUS, JEFFREY L.
To: O&M HALYARD, INC.
Reel/Frame 050650/0549 →