US Patent 7772137 Breathable materials comprising low-elongation fabrics, and methods

Breathable materials comprise a low-elongation fabric layer and a microporous coating thereon. The microporous coating comprises a crystalline polymer composition and a filler. The materials are suitable for use in various applications including housewrap and other construction embodiments. Methods of making a breathable material comprise extrusion coating a low-elongation fabric layer with a composition comprising a crystalline polymer composition and a filler to form a coating on the low-elongation fabric layer, and incrementally stretching the coated nonwoven layer to render the coating microporous.