METHOD OF FORMING APERTURED FILMS, RESULTANT FILMS AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF

摘要

A method for forming an apertured film from a stretchable thermoplastic polymeric material comprising: (a) providing a starting film comprising said stretchable thermoplastic polymeric material having an upper surface and a lower surface; (b) providing a backing member comprising localized support regions for supporting said starting film, recessed zones into which the film may be deformed by the application thereto of fluid forces; and means for allowing said applied fluid to be transported away from said backing member; (c) supporting said starting film on said backing member with portions of the lower surface of said film being in contact with the support regions of said backing member and with the upper surface of said film facing away from said backing member; (d) directing a fluid in the form of columnar streams from at least two sets of orifices against the upper surface of said starting film in a zone of contact, the orifices of the first set having a diameter greater than ten mils and the fluid supplied thereto having a pressure less than 500 psig to cause the formation of large sized holes in said starting film, the orifices of the second set having a diameter less than or equal to ten mils and the fluid supplied thereto having a pressure of at least 500 psig, to cause the formation of micro-holes in said starting film; (e) moving said film from said contact zone; and (f) removing said now-apertured film from said backing member. 3496 כ" ו בכסלו התשס" ג - December 1, 2002