Abstract: A nonwoven fabric of chemically bonded non-cellulose fibers having improved wet tensile properties. The fabric includes a random arrangement of non-cellulose fibers and an essentially formaldehyde free latex binder. The latex binder contains at least about 6.7 wt. % vinyl cyanide monomer to bond the non-cellulose fibers and form a nonwoven fabric having at least a 10% improvement in wet tensile strength over a comparable nonwoven fabric having a latex binder essentially free of formaldehyde and free of vinyl cyanide monomer in the monomeric mixture.