Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite which is capable of use as a filter medium and a method for producing the same. The composite may include pulp fibers and conjugate glass fibers. The conjugate fibers are desirably composed of at least two glasses which have different thermal expansion properties. The difference in thermal expansion coefficients of the multicomponent fiber produces a fiber with a random helical crimp. The random helical crimp of the conjugate fibers reduces the packing efficiency of the glass itself and the other fibers. The reduced packing efficiency affords the opportunity to prepare pulp/conjugate glass fiber composite materials with higher porosity and higher permeability for a given basis weight. The addition of the polyester staple fibers to the composite lends sufficient stiffness to the web so as to allow pleating without further treatment such as with a binder material.

Abstract: A coated substrate which includes a first, second, and third layer. The first layer has first and second surfaces. For example, the first layer may be a film or a nonwoven web. Desirably, the first layer will be a cellulosic nonwoven web. The second layer overlays the first surface of the first layer. The second layer is composed of from about 25 to about 70 percent by weight of a latex binder, from about 25 to about 65 percent by weight of a hydrophilic silica, from about 5 to about 20 percent by weight of a latent base, and from about 1 to about 4 percent by weight of a water-soluble viscosity modifier, in which all percents by weight are based on the total dry weight of the second layer. The third layer overlays the second layer and is composed of a water-soluble cationic polymer. Additional layers may be present, if desired.