A stretchable flame barrier panel including an interior stretch zone having elastomeric yarns extending across a fibrous base layer of textile fibers and optionally substantially stable lateral selvage zones outboard of the interior stretch zone. In a finished state, the interior stretch zone has substantial stretch and recovery in both the machine direction and the cross-machine direction.

Disclosed is a melt-blown fiber web with improved concentration force and elasticity, whereby a melt-blown fabric is cut and sealed at predetermined intervals using knives having arbitrary patterns so that concentration force and elasticity of the melt-blown fiber web can be improved without degrading the inherent function of the fiber web. Further disclosed are a method and apparatus for manufacturing the melt-blown fiber web. The melt-blown fiber web includes thermoplastic filaments, wherein cutting portions and sealing portions are arranged on top and bottom surfaces of the fiber web at predetermined intervals along a thickness of the fiber web so that a concentration force and elasticity of the fiber web are improved.

Elastic laminates and methods of making same are provided, wherein the laminate includes an elastic film laminated to at least one substrate web, and wherein the elastic film has been stretched at least twice prior to bonding the film to the substrate layer. Such laminates possess improved bond strength between the film and the substrate web and have greater elongation versus laminates made with a film that has been stretched only once.

A nonwoven composite that exhibits latent elastic properties is provided. The composite is formed from a multi-layered, elastic film laminated to a nonwoven web facing. Latent elasticity is imparted to the composite through the use of at least one base layer that contains a thermoplastic elastomer and at least one skin layer that contains a propylene/α-olefin copolymer. During formation, the film is stretched in one or more directions to orient the elastomer chains. Without intending to be limited by theory, the present inventors believe that the oriented state of the chains may be held in place by the relatively stiff semi-crystalline domains of the propylene/α-olefin copolymer. The stretched elastic film may subsequently be relaxed and bonded to a nonwoven web facing to form the composite. The composite may be later activated (e.g., heated at or above the softening point of the copolymer) to soften the crystalline domains and allow the chains to return to their unoriented state. This causes the film to retract, which forms buckles in the nonwoven facing. In this manner, the resulting composite becomes elastic in that it has the ability to stretch and recover due to the “latent” buckle formation in the nonwoven facing.

[Problem] The objective of the present invention is to provide an elastic mesh structure having exceptional cushioning and reducing noise during compression or recovery. [Solution] A mesh structure comprising a three-dimensional, random-loop, joining structure formed by winding a continuous line of thermoplastic resin to form random loops, bringing the loops into contact with one another in a molten state, and fusing the majority of the contact area, wherein (a) the apparent density of the random-loop contact structure is 0.005-0.200 g/cm.sup.3, and (b) the number of contact points per unit weight of the random-loop contact structure is 500-1200/g.

A three-dimensional substrate has a central longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to a central lateral axis. A line taken in a direction parallel to or perpendicular to the central lateral axis of the three-dimensional substrate has a non-apertured, first visually discernible zone in the substrate and a second visually discernible zone in the substrate. The first visually discernable zone has a pattern of three-dimensional features on a first surface or a second surface. At least some of the three-dimensional features define a microzone having a first region and a second region. The first region and the second region have a difference in value for an intensive property. The second visually discernable zone defines apertures. The apertures have an Effective Aperture Area in a range of about 0.3 mm.sup.2 to about 15 mm.sup.2.

A stretchable flame barrier panel including an interior stretch zone having elastomeric yarns extending across a fibrous base layer of textile fibers and optionally substantially stable lateral selvage zones outboard of the interior stretch zone. In a finished state, the interior stretch zone has substantial stretch and recovery in both the machine direction and the cross-machine direction.

A stretchable flame barrier panel including an interior stretch zone having elastomeric yarns extending across a fibrous base layer of textile fibers and optionally substantially stable lateral selvage zones outboard of the interior stretch zone. In a finished state, the interior stretch zone has substantial stretch and recovery in both the machine direction and the cross-machine direction.

A stretchable flame barrier panel including an interior stretch zone having elastomeric yarns extending across a fibrous base layer of textile fibers and optionally substantially stable lateral selvage zones outboard of the interior stretch zone. In a finished state, the interior stretch zone has substantial stretch and recovery in both the machine direction and the cross-machine direction.

Disclosed is a melt-blown fiber web with improved concentration force and elasticity, whereby a melt-blown fabric is cut and sealed at predetermined intervals using knives having arbitrary patterns so that concentration force and elasticity of the melt-blown fiber web can be improved without degrading the inherent function of the fiber web. Further disclosed are a method and apparatus for manufacturing the melt-blown fiber web. The melt-blown fiber web includes thermoplastic filaments, wherein cutting portions and sealing portions are arranged on top and bottom surfaces of the fiber web at predetermined intervals along a thickness of the fiber web so that a concentration force and elasticity of the fiber web are improved.