Barrier fabrics which incorporate multicomponent fiber support webs

摘要

A composite nonwoven fabric having at least one hydrophobic microporous layer and at least one other layer formed of multicomponent fibers. The multicomponent fibers comprise a lower melting thermoplastic resin component and one or more higher melting thermoplastic resin components, wherein a substantial proportion of the surfaces of the multicomponent fibers consists of the lower melting thermoplastic resin component. The microporous layer is composed in substantial part of at least one thermoplastic resin which is thermally miscible with and adherent, upon thermal activation, to the lower melting thermoplastic resin component of the multicomponent fibers. The layers are laminated together such that the lower melting thermoplastic resin component of the layer of multicomponent fibers is thermally bonded to the thermally miscible thermoplastic resin component of the hydrophobic microporous layer to form a unitary, cohesive bond combining the layers, and wherein at least one of the higher melting thermoplastic resin components retains a fiber-like integrity in the multicomponent fibers to impart strength to the laminated nonwoven fabric.