Abstract: An improved process for making point-bonded nonwoven fabric composed of crimped filaments is described. The process involves melt spinning a side-by-side bicomponent filament which develops crimp at precisely the right instant so as to provide a uniform, high quality nonwoven fabric having a soft hand and other desirable apparel qualities.

Abstract: A process for controlling a bonding gas system is disclosed. The process controls temperature and composition of an activating gas used for bonding a nonwoven web of continuous nylon filaments and for supplying the gas to a gas box at a temperature just above its dew-point. A monitored concentration of liquid HCl, maintained at a predetermined temperature, is supplied to a stripper column; an HCl-water-air mixture which contains a low volume percent of HCl is circulated through the stripper column so that the mixture evaporates a portion of the liquid HCl wherein the volume percent of HCl in the mixture is increased thereby forming a bonding gas having the desired HCl concentration; the temperature of the gas leaving the stripper column is controlled so that the HCl concentration of the gas is just above its dew-point and then the gas is fed into a gas box.