Highly resilient, dimensionally recoverable nonwoven material

Abstract

The present invention provides a microcreped wet laid nonwoven with recoverable stretch suitable for apparel applications such as waistbands and interlinings. The microcreping and heat setting improves dimensional stability after washing and drying cycles, minimizes shrinkage and substantially eliminates the surface wrinkling phenomenon, known in the industry as ''alligatoring'', associated with wet laid and other apparel nonwovens.

Description

Background of the invention

[0001] Wet laid nonwoven fabrics have been widely used in apparel applications as various interlinings and interliners. Wet laid nonwoven fabrics provide more dimensional stability and uniformity in all directions than other types of nonwoven fabrics such as carded webs. However, wet-laid nonwoven fabrics have only very limited stretchability, typically about 10%-15% in MD (machine direction) and 20% in CD (cross direction) before breaking. The tensile properties of wet-laid nonwoven fabrics result from fiber separation and binder deformation, if present. The stretch properties of wet-laid nonwovens are inelastic, so a wet-laid nonwoven stretched 10% (stretched to 110% of its original length) will remain at 110% length after the tension is removed. The use of wet-laid nonwovens has therefore been limited in certain applications, such as trouser waists, which require a certain amount of elasticity or recoverable stretch properties in their machine ...

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