Abstract: A nonwoven web comprising bicomponent fibers. The fibers have continuous phases each of a first polyarylene sulfide (PAS) component and a polymer component. The polymer component may also be a second polyarylene sulfide. The first polyarylene sulfide component contains a tin or a zinc additive or both, and the first polyarylene sulfide component of any given fiber is at least partially exposed to the external surface of that fiber.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for decreasing the complex viscosity of a polyarylene sulfide polymer melt while maintaining the molecular weight of the polyarylene sulfide with time. This invention also relates to polymer melt compositions comprising a polyarylene sulfide, wherein the complex viscosity of the composition is decreased relative to the complex viscosity of the native polyarylene sulfide measured under the same conditions, and the weight average molecular weight of the polyarylene sulfide is maintained. The methods of decreasing the complex viscosity of a polyarylene sulfide-containing polymer melt, and the polymer melt compositions so obtained, are useful in processes to produce fibers, films, nonwovens, and molded parts from polyarylene sulfides.