| abstract |
Nonwoven fabric material, absorbent article, and method for forming a nonwoven compound is provided with an elastic material for use in absorbent articles. The elastic material 5 contains cross-linked network formed of branched block copolymer with the aromatic monoalkene intermediate block positioned between conjugated diene terminal blocks (e.g., triblock butadiene styrene-butadiene copolymer ("b-s10 b")). prior to crosslinking, branched block copolymers have relatively low viscosity and thus can be readily formed of precursor elastic material (e.g., film, filaments, web, etc.) which is subsequently cross-linked to achieve the desired mechanical and elastic properties. . In general, crosslinking is achieved by forming free radicals (unpaired electrons) that join together to form the plurality of carbon-carbon covalent alloys in the conjugated diene terminal blocks. |