Abstract: A hollow fiber that extending along at least a portion of the fiber along a longitudinal axis thereof and is defined by an interior wall is provided. Through selective control over the manner in which it is formed, the present inventors have discovered that the hollow fiber can exhibit a unique combination of a high void fraction and small fiber size that makes it particularly suitable for use in certain applications, such as in nonwoven webs for absorbent articles.

Abstract: A nonwoven composite that has a dimension in a machine direction and a cross-machine direction is provided. The composite comprises a nonwoven facing positioned adjacent to an elastic film. The nonwoven facing contains a spunbond web that is formed by necking a base spunbond web. The base spunbond web includes a plurality of fibers generally oriented in the machine direction and exhibiting a machine direction tensile strength and cross-machine direction tensile strength. The ratio of the machine direction tensile strength to the cross-machine direction tensile strength is about 4:1 or more.

Abstract: A method of making nonwoven webs comprising providing a spinneret wherein the spinneret includes a pattern of conduits, the pattern of conduits forming an extrusion region; directing only a first stream of molten propylene polymer having a first temperature into a region adjacent of the first side of the spinneret, directing only a second stream of molten propylene polymer having a second temperature into a region distal to the first side of the spinneret, extruding only the first stream of molten propylene polymer through the exit openings in a first zone; extruding only the second stream of molten propylene polymer through the exit openings of a second zone; the second zone is distal to the first side with the first zone being between the second zone and the first side.

Abstract: A forming fabric having a first major outer surface including first land areas formed from entwined first filaments, an opposed second major outer surface distal to the first major outer surface, said second major outer surface including second land areas formed from entwined second filaments; and a foraminous interior area located between said first and second land areas, said interior area having third filaments extending downwardly from said first land areas to said second land areas.

Abstract: Spunbond fiber nonwoven webs (and methods for making the same) comprising small diameter filaments at high rates of production and with high process stability.

Abstract: A method of making nonwoven webs comprising providing a spinneret wherein the spinneret includes a pattern of conduits, the pattern of conduits forming an extrusion region; directing only a first stream of molten propylene polymer having a first temperature into a region adjacent of the first side of the spinneret, directing only a second stream of molten propylene polymer having a second temperature into a region distal to the first side of the spinneret, extruding only the first stream of molten propylene polymer through the exit openings in a first zone; extruding only the second stream of molten propylene polymer through the exit openings of a second zone; the second zone is distal to the first side with the first zone being between the second zone and the first side.

Abstract: Spunbond fiber nonwoven webs (and methods for making the same) comprising small diameter filaments at high rates of production and with high process stability.

Abstract: A nonwoven composite that has a dimension in a machine direction and a cross-machine direction is provided. The composite comprises a nonwoven facing positioned adjacent to an elastic film. The nonwoven facing contains a spunbond web that is formed by necking a base spunbond web. The base spunbond web includes a plurality of fibers generally oriented in the machine direction and exhibiting a machine direction tensile strength and cross-machine direction tensile strength. The ratio of the machine direction tensile strength to the cross-machine direction tensile strength is about 4:1 or more.

Abstract: A nonwoven composite that has a dimension in a machine direction and a cross-machine direction is provided. The composite comprises a nonwoven facing positioned adjacent to an elastic film. The nonwoven facing contains a spunbond web that is formed by necking a base spunbond web. The base spunbond web includes a plurality of fibers generally oriented in the machine direction and exhibiting a machine direction tensile strength and cross-machine direction tensile strength. The ratio of the machine direction tensile strength to the cross-machine direction tensile strength is about 4:1 or more.

Abstract: A nonwoven composite that has a dimension in a machine direction and a cross-machine direction is provided. The composite comprises a nonwoven facing positioned adjacent to an elastic film. The nonwoven facing contains a spunbond web that is formed by necking a base spunbond web. The base spunbond web includes a plurality of fibers generally oriented in the machine direction and exhibiting a machine direction tensile strength and cross-machine direction tensile strength. The ratio of the machine direction tensile strength to the cross-machine direction tensile strength is about 4:1 or more.

Abstract: A nonwoven composite that has a dimension in a machine direction and a cross-machine direction is provided. The composite comprises a nonwoven facing positioned adjacent to an elastic film. The nonwoven facing contains a spunbond web that is formed by necking a base spunbond web. The base spunbond web includes a plurality of fibers generally oriented in the machine direction and exhibiting a machine direction tensile strength and cross-machine direction tensile strength. The ratio of the machine direction tensile strength to the cross-machine direction tensile strength is about 4:1 or more.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a nonwoven fabric of continuous fibers that includes forming a nonwoven web on a highly porous woven or knitted forming fabric that defines a pattern of recesses that are bordered by spaced apart filaments extending between the outer surfaces of the fabric and that allows air to pass both downwardly and sidewardly through the forming fabric. Bonded nonwoven webs are formed having protrusions with very low density and high surface area.

Abstract: A method of making nonwoven webs comprising providing a spinneret wherein the spinneret includes a pattern of conduits, the pattern of conduits forming an extrusion region; directing only a first stream of molten propylene polymer having a first temperature into a region adjacent of the first side of the spinneret, directing only a second stream of molten propylene polymer having a second temperature into a region distal to the first side of the spinneret, extruding only the first stream of molten propylene polymer through the exit openings in a first zone; extruding only the second stream of molten propylene polymer through the exit openings of a second zone; the second zone is distal to the first side with the first zone being between the second zone and the first side.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a nonwoven fabric of continuous fibers that includes forming a nonwoven web on a highly porous woven or knitted forming fabric that defines a pattern of recesses that are bordered by spaced apart filaments extending between the outer surfaces of the fabric and that allows air to pass both downwardly and sidewardly through the forming fabric. Bonded nonwoven webs are formed having protrusions with very low density and high surface area.

Abstract: A hollow fiber that extending along at least a portion of the fiber along a longitudinal axis thereof and is defined by an interior wall is provided. Through selective control over the manner in which it is formed, the present inventors have discovered that the hollow fiber can exhibit a unique combination of a high void fraction and small fiber size that makes it particularly suitable for use in certain applications, such as in nonwoven webs for absorbent articles.

Abstract: A hollow fiber that extending along at least a portion of the fiber along a longitudinal axis thereof and is defined by an interior wall is provided. Through selective control over the manner in which it is formed, the present inventors have discovered that the hollow fiber can exhibit a unique combination of a high void fraction and small fiber size that makes it particularly suitable for use in certain applications, such as in nonwoven webs for absorbent articles.

Abstract: Spunbond fiber nonwoven webs (and methods for making the same) comprising small diameter filaments at high rates of production and with high process stability.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a nonwoven fabric of continuous fibers that includes forming a nonwoven web on a highly porous woven or knitted forming fabric that defines a pattern of recesses that are bordered by spaced apart filaments extending between the outer surfaces of the fabric and that allows air to pass both downwardly and sidewardly through the forming fabric. Bonded nonwoven webs are formed having protrusions with very low density and high surface area.

Abstract: A nonwoven web that contains a plurality of fibers formed from a polyolefin composition is provided. The polyolefin composition contains a rigid propylene polymer that has a relatively high melting temperature and modulus of elasticity, which can provide good strength and durability to the nonwoven web. The polyolefin composition also contains a ductile propylene polymer that has a relatively high melt flow index, which can help achieve relatively fine fibers that minimize the stiffness of the web. In addition to a rigid and ductile polymer, the polyolefin composition also contains a slip additive (e.g., fatty acid derivative). Among other things, such an additive can even further enhance the overall softness of the composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a SMS nonwoven laminate having a basis weight of less than about 20 gsm, said nonwoven laminate comprising outer layers of continuous spunbond filaments and an internal layer of from about 18% to about 43%, by weight of the nonwoven laminate of meltblown fibers, said nonwoven laminate having been hydroentangled to create visibly distinct patterns on the surface of at least one of the outer layers of said nonwoven laminate; and wherein prior to said hydroentangling, the content of meltblown fibers in the nonwoven laminate was from about 20% to about 45%, by weight of the nonwoven laminate.