METHOD FOR FORMING AN ELASTIC LAMINATE

摘要

An efficient, in-line method for forming an elastic laminate is provided. To form the laminate, a polymer composition containing an elastomeric polymer is extruded as a film (10a). In one embodiment, the film is uniaxially oriented in the machine direction ("MD"), or optionally, biaxially oriented in the machine direction and the cross-machine direction ("CD"). Regardless, the elastic film (106) is then laminated to a nonwoven web material (150). Prior to lamination, the percent stretch of the nonwoven web material is generally no more than 25% when 500 grams-force is applied per 3 inches of the material in either the cross-machine or machine direction. Such a relatively inextensible nonwoven web material may restrict the overall extensibility of the laminate. Thus, to improve extensibility, the resulting laminate (40) is mechanically stretched in the cross-machine and/or machine directions (182, 84). Extensibility may also be improved by allowing the laminate to relax (57) and retract prior to winding so that the nonwoven web material gathers or forms buckles.