Claims
- 1. A process for the production of a fiber which comprises melt spinning at a temperature in the range of 205.degree. to 265.degree. C. and at a speed of greater than 1740 meters/min a blend consisting essentially of low density polyethylene and crystalline polypropylene wherein the polyethylene amounts to 65 to 95% by weight of the blend and has a density in the range of 0.90 to 0.92 g/cm.sup.3, a melting temperature of less than 107.degree. C. and a melt index of at least 25, and the polypropylene amounts to 5 to 35% by weight of the blend and has a melt flow rate of at least 3 and a ratio of weight-to-number average molecular weight of at least 4.
- 2. A process for producing a nonwoven fabric which comprises producing a first fiber in accordance with the process of claim 1, quenching said first fiber, forming a composite web of said first fiber and a second fiber having a higher melting point than the polyethylene component of said first fiber, and compressing said web while heating the web to a temperature above the melting point of the polyethylene component of said first fiber.
- 3. The process of claim 2 in which the second fiber is a polypropylene fiber.
- 4. The process of claim 2 in which the second fiber is a polyester fiber.
- 5. A nonwoven fabric containing a fiber made from a blend consisting essentially of low density polyethylene and crystalline polypropylene wherein the polyethylene amounts to 65 to 95% by weight of the blend and has a density in the range of 0.92 g/cm.sup.3, a melting temperature of less than 107.degree. C. and a melt index of at least 25, and the polypropylene amounts to 5 to 35% by weight of the blend and has a melt flow rate of at least 3 and a ratio of weight-to-number average molecular weight of at least 4.
- 6. The nonwoven fabric of claim 5 in which the only type of fiber in the fabric is that which is defined in claim 5.
- 7. The nonwoven fabric of claim 5 in which the fabric is pattern bonded.
- 8. The nonwoven fabric of claim 5 in which the fabric is uniformly bonded.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a division of application Ser. No. 788,351, filed Oct. 22, 1985, which application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 686,917, filed Dec. 27, 1984, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
W. H. Skoroszewski, "Parameters Affecting Processing of Polymers and Polymer Blends," Plastics and Polymers, V. 40, No. 147, 142-152 (Jun. 1972). |
P. Robson et al., "Drawing Behavior of Polyethylene-Polypropylene Blends," Journal of Applied Polymer Science, V. 26, 3515-3521 (1981). |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
788351 |
Oct 1985 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
686917 |
Dec 1984 |
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