LAYERED PLASTIC NETTING

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a layered plastic netting. The netting can include a first outer layer comprised of a first polymeric material, an inner layer comprised of a second polymeric material, and a second outer layer generally opposed to the first outer layer and comprised of a third polymeric material. The first polymeric material can be comprised of first relatively low melt temperature (LMP) polymeric material. The second polymeric material can be comprised of a relatively high melt temperature (HMP) polymeric material. The third polymeric material can be comprised of a second relatively LMP polymeric material differing from the first relatively LMP polymeric material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a layered plastic netting according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmented, sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of the layered plastic netting of FIG. 1 bonded to a first and second substrate according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmented, sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Claims

1. A layered plastic netting comprising: a first outer layer comprised of a first polymeric material;an inner layer comprised of a second polymeric material; anda second outer layer generally opposed to the first outer layer and comprised of a third polymeric material,the first polymeric material comprised of first relatively low melt temperature (LMP) polymeric material, the second polymeric material comprised of a relatively high melt temperature (HMP) polymeric material, and the third polymeric material comprised of a second relatively LMP polymeric material differing from the first relatively LMP polymeric material.

2. The layered plastic netting of claim 1, wherein the layered plastic netting is a network of intersecting extruded polymeric strands.

3. The layered plastic netting of claim 2, wherein the first and second outer layers are bonded to the inner core layer by fusion adhesion.

4. The layered plastic netting of claim 1, wherein the HMP polymeric material is polypropylene.

5. The layered plastic netting of claim 1, wherein the first LMP polymeric material is ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA).

6. The layered plastic netting of claim 1, wherein the second LMP polymeric material is polypropylene-polyethylene copolymer (PP-PE).

7. The layered plastic netting of claim 1, wherein the HMP polymeric material is PP, the first LMP polymeric material is EVA, and second LMP polymeric material is PP-PE.

8. The layered plastic netting of claim 1, wherein the layered plastic netting is comprised of 10 to 15 weight % of the first LMP polymeric material, 60 to 80 weight % of the HMP polymeric material, and 10 to 15 weight % of the second LMP polymeric material.

9. The layered plastic netting of claim 1, wherein the layered plastic netting is comprised of substantially equal weight percentages of the HMP polymeric material, the first LMP polymeric material and the second LMP polymeric material.

10. A netting-substrate composite material comprising: a layered plastic netting comprising: a first outer layer comprised of a first polymeric material;an inner layer comprised of a second polymeric material; anda second outer layer generally opposed to the first outer layer and comprised of a third polymeric material, the first polymeric material comprised of first relatively low melt temperature (LMP) polymeric material, the second polymeric material comprised of a relatively high melt temperature (HMP) polymeric material, and the third polymeric material comprised of a second relatively LMP polymeric material differing from the first relatively LMP polymeric material;a first substrate adhesively bonded to the first LMP polymeric material; anda second substrate disposed oppositedly from the first substrate and adhesively bonded to the second LMP polymeric material.

11. The netting-substrate composite of claim 10, wherein the layered plastic netting is a network of intersecting extruded polymeric strands.

12. The netting-substrate composite of claim 11, wherein the first and second outer layers are bonded to the inner core layer by fusion adhesion and coextrusion of the strands.

13. The netting-substrate composite of claim 10, wherein the HMP polymeric material is polypropylene.

14. The netting-substrate composite of claim 10, wherein the first LMP polymeric material is ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA).

15. The netting-substrate composite of claim 10, wherein the second LMP polymeric material is polypropylene-polyethylene copolymer (PP-PE).

16. The netting-substrate composite of claim 10, wherein the HMP polymeric material is PP, the first LMP polymeric material is EVA, and second LMP polymeric material is PP-PE.

17. The netting-substrate composite of claim 10, wherein the first and second substrate materials are different.

18. The netting-substrate composite of claim 10, wherein the first substrate material is comprised of a microporous membrane.

19. The netting-substrate composite of claim 18, wherein the second substrate material is comprised of a spunbound nonwoven material.

20. A method for adhesively boding a plastic netting to a first substrate and a second substrate to obtain a netting-substrate composite, the method comprising: providing a layered plastic netting comprising: a first outer layer comprised of a first polymeric material; an inner layer comprised of a second polymeric material; anda second outer layer generally opposed to the first outer layer and comprised of a third polymeric material,the first polymeric material comprised of first relatively low melt temperature (LMP) polymeric material, the second polymeric material comprised of a relatively high melt temperature (HMP) polymeric material, and the third polymeric material comprised of a second relatively LMP polymeric material differing from the first relatively LMP polymeric material;providing a first substrate comprised of a first substrate material and a second substrate comprised of a second substrate material;adhesively bonding the first LMP polymeric material to the first substrate; andadhesively bonding the second LMP polymeric material to the second substrate.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising selecting the first LMP material and the first substrate material based on the ability of the two materials to form a relatively strong adhesive bond to each other.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising selecting the second LMP material and the second substrate material based on the ability of the two materials to form a relatively strong adhesive bond to each other.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the first adhesively bonding step is accomplished through a lamination process.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the second adhesively bonding step is accomplished through a lamination process.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the lamination process is comprised of a thermal lamination process.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the lamination process is comprised of a thermal lamination process.