Importance

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Abstract

A stabilized absorbent rayon web which may be used alone or which may serve as outer plies for absorbent structures. The rayon web may be a spunbonded web or an air laid, wet laid or carded web of staple length or longer fibers, with substantial fiber orientation in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the web by virtue of the way in which the web is formed or by virtue of mechanical or hydraulic needling. The thermoplastic web is melted into the rayon web from the bottom surface thereof to a controlled penetration depth of from about 10% to about 40% and preferably from about 10% to about 25%. As a result, the cross over points of the rayon fibers are effectively stabilized from the bottom of the rayon web to the controlled penetration depth therein while the aesthetics of the upper surface of the rayon web are undisturbed. The thermoplastic web may be of any appropriate polymer and any structural form having an open area of at least about 40%. The stabilized rayon web demonstrates improved resistance to surface abrasion, improved tensile strength, improved wet bulk and resiliency and improved dimensional stability, both wet and dry. The bottom surface of the stabilized rayon web can be heat bonded to other webs without the use of additional thermoplastic material.

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First Claim