Abstract: A process for making a plurality of necked nonwoven strips having similar or identical cross-directional profiles includes the steps of slitting a neckable nonwoven web into a plurality of neckable nonwoven strips, passing the neckable nonwoven web between a first pair of nip rollers having a first surface velocity and a second pair of nip rollers having a second surface velocity greater than the first surface velocity, and necking the nonwoven web between the first pair of nip rollers and the second pair of nip rollers.

Abstract: There is provided a new structural composite comprising nonwoven fabric, compressed in the presence of a temporary bodily-fluid soluble binder, which will spring back upon insult of body fluids to nearly its original, uncompressed thickness, in order to decrease the gap between the product and the wearer's body. A suitable web is a vertically oriented or “Z-directonally” oriented web which may be made from a variety of synthetic polymeric fibers. Suitable bodily-fluid soluble binders include polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polyvinyl pyrrilidone (PVP), polyethylene oxide (PEO), and blends thereof. The binder may be added to the nonwoven by various means such as spraying, dipping, and the like. The soluble binder is present in an amount effective to hold the nonwoven in a compressed state until sufficient body fluid passes through the nonwoven, dissolving the temporary binder, and releasing the nonwoven to almost its original thickness.