Importance

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Abstract

A breathable non-woven fabric having barrier capabilities to biological liquids comprised of at least one non-woven layer bonded to at least one surface of a thermoplastic microporous film, the non-woven composite fabric providing a barrier to passage: (a) of biological liquid when the composite fabric is subjected to contact with synthetic blood under the dictates of testing procedure ASTM ES21-92; and (b) to viral penetration when the composite fabric is subject to contact with .phi.X174 bacteriophage suspension at a titer of 10.sup.3 PFU/mL for 5 minutes with no applied pressure, 1 minute at 13.8 kPa (2.0 PSIG), and 54 minutes with no applied pressure while maintaining a moisture of vapor transmission rate of greater than about 450 grams per square meter for 24 hours at about 75.degree. F. and about 65% relative humidity, the non-woven composite fabric which has been thermally bonded by unwinding and contacting at least one continuous thermoplastic non-woven web to at least one side of a continuous thermoplastic microporous film, continuously transporting said contacted webs and film through a thermal bonding zone and thermally bonding the webs and film at multiple spaced-apart locations, said bonding having a dwell time sufficient to thermally bond said composite while avoiding burn-through degradation of the film and webs.

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First Claim