Abstract: The invention provides a sheet filter medium having autogenously bonded uncrimped conjugate fibers which contain a polyolefin and another thermoplastic polymer that have different melting points. The filter medium has a density between about 0.07 g/cm.sup.3 and about 0.2 g/cm.sup.3. The invention additionally provides a three-dimensionally thermoformed filter medium that has a density between about 0.07 g/cm.sup.3 and about 0.5 g/cm.sup.3.

Abstract: A fabric substrate comprising thermoplastic polyolefin fibers is printed with a printing composition comprising a room temperature curable latex polymer, a pigment and a cure promoter, which retains a colorfastness above 3 when exposed to liquids with a pH between about 2 and about 13. The mixture may be applied to the fabric as an aqueous mixture with a pre-cure pH adjusted to above 8 using a fugitive alkali and then cured at room temperature.

Abstract: There is provided in accordance with the present invention a process for making a helically crimped conjugate fiber containing at least a first polymeric composition and a second polymeric composition. The first and second polymeric compositions respectively contain different thermoplastic polymers having different solidification periods. The degree of latent helical crimp is controlled by selective addition of a nucleating agent to at least one of the first and second polymeric compositions. Addition of the nucleating agent to the polymeric composition with a faster solidification period increases the latest crimp and addition of the nucleating agent to the polymeric composition with a slower solidification period decreases the latent crimp.