Stretch modified elastomeric netting

Abstract

Extruded netting having at least some elastomeric strands, the properties of which have been modified by stretch conditioning.

What is claimed is as follows:  
     
         1 . Extruded net comprising at least some elastomeric strands the strands having been subjected to stretch modification.  
     
     
         2 . The net of  claim 1  wherein the elastomer is selected from the group consisting of styrenic block copolymers, thermoplastic olefins and blends, elastomeric alloys, thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic copolyesters and thermoplastic polyamides.  
     
     
         3 . The extruded net of  claim 1  wherein all of the strands in one direction are elastomeric.  
     
     
         4 . The extruded net of  claim 3  wherein the direction is the MD.  
     
     
         5 . The extruded net of  claim 3  wherein the direction is the TD.  
     
     
         6 . The net of  claim 4  wherein the elastomer is a polyether ester block copolymer.  
     
     
         7 . The net of  claim 2  wherein the elastomer is VLDPE.  
     
     
         8 . The extruded net of  claim 1  wherein all of the strands are elastomeric in both directions.  
     
     
         9 . Method of stretch modifying properties of elastomeric strands in extruded net comprising stretching the net.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  carried out at RT.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  carried out at elevated temperature.  
     
     
         12 . The method of modifying the properties of elastomeric extruded net comprising: 
 providing extruded net of extruded strands in which at least some of the strands are of the elastomeric composition, and    stretching those strands to a predetermined degree to provide modified stress/strain properties in the elastomeric strands and the net.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  carried out at RT.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  carried out at elevated temperature.  
     
     
         15 . The method of modifying extruded net containing elastomeric strands, comprising: 
 providing extruded net having extruded strands, at least some of which are elastomeric strands;    selecting predetermined final properties for the elastomeric material making up the elastomeric strands in the net;    determining the stretch conditions necessary to achieve the final properties, and stretching the elastomeric strands under the determined conditions to achieve the final properties in the elastomeric strands.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  carried out at RT.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  carried out at elevated temperatures.  
     
     
         18 . In a composite material comprised of a plurality of layers, one of which is an extruded net of intersecting polymeric strands, the improvement comprising a net including at least some elastomeric strands, the strands having been stretch modified.  
     
     
         19 . The composite of  claim 18  wherein the elastomeric strands are in one direction.  
     
     
         20 . The composite of  claim 18  wherein the elastomeric strands are in both directions.