Abstract: Disclosed herein is a compressively resistant and resilient fibrous nonwoven web which is suitable for a wide variety of uses including, but not limited to, a portion of a personal care absorbent product which is located on the side of the absorbent core of the product which faces the wearer. The nonwoven web can include bicomponent fiber and has a thickness of 2.5 mm or greater at a pressure of 68.9 pascal, a specific volume of 14 cc/g or greater at a pressure of 6,895 pascal, and a Frazier air permeability of 100 cubic meters per square meter per minute or greater.

Abstract: A process for making a melt-blown nonwoven polymeric web for use as a liquid filter medium includes increasing the air (fluid) flow and the forming distance to produce a filter medium that is more bulky and more permeable and therefore resists plugging. The melt-blown process parameters include a polymer through-put between 1.8 and 2.9 PIH, a polymer melt temperature between 530.degree. and 600.degree. F., and air flow rate between 200 and 265 SCFM per square inch, air temperature between 500.degree. and 600.degree. F., forming distance between 12 and 23 inches, and a collector vacuum between 0.5 and 1.0 inch of water.