Wettable soft polyolefin fibers and fabrics

Abstract

A wettable fiber or filament comprises a melt additive to a thermoplastic polyolefin such as polypropylene. The melt additive is a polyethylene oleiyl ether having the formula: R—O—{—CH 2 —CH 2 —O} x —CH 2 —CH 2 —O—H where x is an integer from 1-15, and R═CH 3 —(CH 2 ) 7 —CH═CH—(CH) 8 When the foregoing ether is added to a melt of polypropylene at levels of 2-15% by weight prior to the extrusion of the fibers or filaments, and the fibers or filaments are formed into fabrics, the fibers, filaments, or fabrics will exhibit permanent wettability, as well as excellent drape and softness. Such fabrics are useful, for example, as the skin contacting inner lining fabric of sanitary articles such as diapers, feminine hygiene products and the like.

1 . A soft, durably wettable nonwoven fabric, said fabric comprising bonded fibers or filaments of a thermoplastic polyolefin, said fibers or filaments comprising a melt additive polyethylene glycol oleiyl ether in an amount from about 2 to 15 percent by weight and about 98 to 85 percent of the thermoplastic polyolefin, said ether providing softness and surface wettability to said fabric.  
     
     
         2 . A nonwoven fabric of    claim 1    where the thermoplastic polyolefin is polypropylene.  
     
     
         3 . A nonwoven fabric of    claim 1    where the thermoplastic polyolefin is polyethylene.  
     
     
         4 . A nonwoven fabric of    claim 1    comprised of bicomponent fibers comprising a polyolefin component, and wherein the polyethylene glycol oleiyl ether is an additive in the polyolefin component.  
     
     
         5 . A fabric of    claim 1    wherein said polyethylene glycol oleiyl ether is present in the amount from about 3 to about 7 percent.