Abstract: A fibrous structure comprising a batt of a loose assemblage of fibers, having an initial density, that is embossed to produce a batt having a discrete pattern of hydrogen-bonded, compressed or densified portions and regions between the compressed portions. The regions have an average density greater than the average initial density of the batt and less than the density of the batt and less than the density of the compressed portions so as to form discrete density gradients across the surface of the batt. The batt has an initial average density of from about 0.03g/cm.sup.3 to about 0.15 g/cm.sup.3. The compressed portions have an average density in the range of from about 0.40 g/cm.sup.3 to about 1.00 g/cm.sup.3 and have a size in the range of from about 0.0002 cm.sup.2 to about 0.12 cm.sup.2. The regions defined between the compressed portions occupy from about 97 percent to about 99.5 percent of the area of the surface of the batt.

Abstract: An absorbent material is produced by exposing an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol and a low molecular weight, water soluble copolymer containing polymerized oxyethylene and oxypropylene units, to sufficient electromagetic or corpuscular ionizing radiation to form a gel.

Abstract: A non-woven fabric having a plurality of patterns of groups of fiber segments that alternate and extend throughout the fabric. One pattern is disposed in discontinuous portions of the fabric, each of which portion include at least one pivotal packing of fiber segments protruding out of the general plane of the fabric and a yarn-like bundle of fiber segments attached to said pivotal packing by ribbon-like groups of aligned fiber segments extending from the pivotal packing. The discontinuous portions of the fabric are interconnected by highly entangled fibrous areas which form a continuous pattern throughout the fabric.