Abstract: A stitchbonded washable towel made from a stitchbonded fabric having a cellulosic nonwoven sheet of cellulosic fibers, and an integrated nonwoven sheet of an outer sublayer of wood pulp fibers, and an inner layer of textile fibers substantially entangled with the wood pulp fibers, and confronting the cellulosic nonwoven sheet of cellulosic fibers. The stitchbonded fabric as uses a pattern of stitching yarns that fixes the cellulosic nonwoven sheet to the integrated nonwoven sheet. A post-treatment of the stitchbonded fabric in a heated aqueous solution containing soil release polymer gathers the fabric into the towel, and provides stain and soil re-deposition resistance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a porous sheet and a method for manufacturing the porous sheet. A porous sheet including a fine-fiber web layer and a support layer and a method for manufacturing the same are provided, and it is possible to implement a porous sheet with sufficient strength and thickness to be used in peeling and laminating processes of a multilayer ceramic capacitor.

Abstract: Porous fibrous sheets are provided that are useful in end uses requiring microbial barrier properties such as medical packaging and medical gowns and drapes. The porous fibrous sheets may contain nanofibers and wood pulp.

Abstract: A separation membrane support substrate characterized by being composed of a laminated nonwoven fabric comprising a front layer as the resin coating layer, a middle layer and a back layer which are integrally formed by heat bonding, and by satisfying the following conditions (1) to (5): (1) The front layer has at least one layer comprising thermoplastic resin filaments with a single filament diameter of 7-30 ?m; (2) the middle layer has at least one layer comprising melt blown fibers with a single fiber diameter of no greater than 5 ?m, and a fiber basis weight of at least 1 g/m2 and comprising no more than 30 wt % of the total fiber basis weight; (3) the back layer has at least one layer comprising thermoplastic resin filaments with a single filament diameter of 7-20 ?m, and has a fiber basis weight of 3-40 g/m2; (4) the laminated nonwoven fabric has an apparent density of 0.67-0.91 g/cm3; and (5) the laminated nonwoven fabric has a thickness of 45-110 ?m.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fibrous nonwoven structure comprising meltblown fibrous materials and at least one secondary fibrous material and method of preparing. In one aspect, the fibrous nonwoven structure has a formation index of between 70 and 135. In another aspect, the fibrous nonwoven structure has an opacity that is greater than 72 percent at a basis weight of between about 35 and 55 grams per square meter. The fibrous nonwoven substrate may be utilized as a moist wipe.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laminated nonwoven fabric wherein the nonwoven fabric is a laminated one formed by integrating, through compressive bonding, a stacked nonwoven fabric structure comprising an upper and a lower thermoplastic synthetic filamentary fiber layer that have a fiber diameter from 7 ?m or more to 20 ?m, and an intermediate layer composed of thermoplastic synthetic fine fibers that have a fiber diameter of 5 ?m or less, the laminated nonwoven fabric having an intimately mixed structure in which a portion of the fine fibers is intruded into at least one face side of the filamentary fiber layers with an intrusion index of 0.36 or more to bond, surround or interlace the filamentary fibers, a basis of weight of from 10 g or more to 250 g/m2, and a bulk density of 0.20 g/cm3 or more.

Abstract: This invention relates to a nonwoven fabric for filters, in which a melt blown nonwoven fabric formed of polybutylene terephthalate or polypropylene terephthalate fibers with an average fiber diameter of 1 to 8 ?m and a spunbonded nonwoven fabric formed of polyester-based fibers with an average fiber diameter of 10 to 30 ?cm are laminated for integration.

Abstract: A nanofiber membrane is formed on a microfiber membrane. The nanofiber membrane may be electro sprayed directly onto the microfiber membrane and becomes integrated with the microfiber membrane to form a filter. The microfiber membrane provides structural integrity to for the nanofiber membrane, and an additional microfiber membrane may be added to sandwich the nanofiber membrane.

Abstract: A non-woven fabric with melange-type visual appearance and endowed with high-durability comprising a fiber part and a matrix binder characterized by the binder matrix being a polyurethane characterized by the presence of soft segments and rigid segments, the former constituted from mixtures of polycarbonate-polyols and polyester-polyols, and the latter, from urethane groups deriving from the reaction of isocyanates with ureic polyols, and groups deriving from the reaction between the free isocyanate groups and water, and the fiber part comprises a fiber of melange appearance that is a mixture of two or more fibers with different dyeability characteristics.

Abstract: A stretchable composite nonwoven web is provided which is formed by mechanically needling a crimped multiple component spunbond web to an elastomeric spunbond web. The composite nonwoven has improved softness and stretch properties with good surface stability compared to similar materials that are thermally bonded.

Abstract: The present invention provides multicomponent fine fiber webs and multilayer laminates thereof having an average fiber diameter less than about 7 micrometers and comprising a first olefin polymer component and a second distinct polymer component such as an amorphous polyolefin or polyamide. Multilayer laminates incorporating the fine multicomponent fiber webs are also provided such as, for example, spunbond/meltblown/spunbond laminates or spunbond/meltblown/meltblown/spunbond laminates. The fine multicomponent fiber webs and laminates thereof provide laminates having excellent softness, peel strength and/or controlled permeability.

Abstract: Improved filtration media or filter bodies can be made from fine fiber and can be formed into a filtration structure having no internal defects. The filter media or filter body comprises a collection of spot in fiber with defined fiber diameter, layer thickness and media solidity. The fine fiber is formed into a media body and obtains substantial flux and filtration efficiency. The filtration media or body can comprise single or multiple layers of fine fiber combined into the improved filter body.

Abstract: Improved filtration media or filter bodies can be made from fine fiber and can be formed into a filtration structure having no internal defects. The filter media or filter body comprises a collection of spot in fiber with defined fiber diameter, layer thickness and media solidity. The fine fiber is formed into a media body and obtains substantial flux and filtration efficiency. The filtration media or body can comprise single or multiple layers of fine fiber combined into the improved filter body.

Abstract: An integrated nonwoven laminate material suitable for use as a filter medium having a microfiber layer integrated with a low loft multicomponent spunbond layer and a high loft multicomponent spunbond layer and a method of producing the integrated nonwoven laminate material. In one embodiment of this invention, a laminate material is through-air bonded to form an integrated nonwoven laminate material which is then electret treated to enhance attraction between particles being filtered and the fibers of the integrated nonwoven laminate material. In one embodiment of this invention, the integrated nonwoven laminate material is used as a filter having an ASHRAE Standard 52.1-1992 Dust Spot Efficiency of about 40% to about 95% and an ASHRAE Standard 52.2-1999 MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) of 12 to 16.

Abstract: In one aspect the present invention provides medical devices 10 that each include a plurality of fibers 22, substantially all of the plurality of fibers 22 each including a portion having a maximum diameter of at least five micrometers, wherein substantially all of fibers 22 form a layer on at least one external surface of medical device 10. In another aspect, the present invention provides methods of manufacturing medical devices 10, the methods including the steps of: (a) applying a layer comprising a plurality of fibers 22 to at least one surface of medical device 10; and (b) matching the value of the Young's modulus of the layer to ±35% (in some embodiments to ±20%) of the value of the Young's modulus of an animal tissue.

Abstract: A sound absorption material excellent in moldability, wherein a filament nonwoven fabric (A) having a weight of 20 to 200 g/m2 and including fiber having a fiber diameter of not more than 15 &mgr;m and a staple fiber nonwoven fabric (B) having a weight of 50 to 2000 g/m2 and a fiber diameter of 7 to 40 &mgr;m are laminated and integrated, and 5 to 50% by mass of the staple fiber nonwoven fabric (B) is a thermally adhesive fiber having a melting point of 100 to 190° C.

Abstract: A method of making a spunbond nonwoven fabric embodying the principles of the present invention contemplates use of an aliphatic-aromatic polyester resin, such as Eastar BioGP, for formation of fabrics which exhibit desirable softness and drapeability characteristics, excellent gamma-radiation stability and, where required, desirable elasticity. In distinction from previous formation techniques, the present invention contemplates formation of such fabrics by spunbonding at relatively low filament spinning speeds, thus facilitating practice of the present invention with generally available and conventional spunbonding equipment.

Abstract: Nonwoven fabrics and fabric laminates are formed from continuous filaments or staple fibers of a select blend of specific grades of polyethylene and polypropylene which give improved fabric performance not heretofore recognized or described, such as high abrasion resistance, good tensile properties, excellent softness and the like. Furthermore, these blends have excellent melt spinning and processing properties which permit efficiently producing nonwoven fabrics at high productivity levels. The polymers are present as a lower-melting dominant continuous phase and at least one higher-melting noncontinuous phase dispersed therein. The lower-melting continuous phase forms at least 70 percent by weight of the fiber and comprises a linear low density polyethylene polymer of a melt index of greater than 10 and a density of less than 0.945 g/cc. At least one higher-melting noncontinuous phase comprises a polypropylene polymer with melt flow rate of greater than 20 g/10 min.

Abstract: An outdoor protective fabric is disclosed having (i) a UV stable outer nonwoven web of multicomponent sheath/core fibers having a polyethylene polymer sheath component and a polypropylene polymer core component; (ii) a breathable barrier layer such as a meltblown web or microporous film; and (iii) an interior nonwoven web of multicomponent fibers comprising a polyethyfene polymer component and a nylon component.

Abstract: There is provided a fully elastic, breathable, barrier fabric comprising a nonwoven web layer of fibers of less than 40 microns in average diameter, where the web has a hydrohead of at least 10 mbar, a Frazier Permeability of at least 100 CFM, a basis weight of less than 68 gsm and which is made from an elastic polymer. If the fabric is a laminate it may be an SMS, SBL or NBL laminate. This fabric is particularly well suited to use as a containment flap for personal care products such as diapers, incontinence products and feminine hygiene products and in infection control products.

Abstract: An enhanced filtering media composite formed of a first electret media layer attached uniformly onto a second non-woven fibrous media layer by a special needling construction and procedure, so as to provide a needled media composite having increased mechanical strength and particle retention capacity. The first media electret layer is composed of about 50 wt. % mixture of polypropylene and modacrylic fibers, and the second media layer is composed of 80% 3 denier.times.3 inch polyester staple and 1.4 denier.times.1.5 inch polyester staple fibers, the fibers of one layer being selectively needled into the other layer using controlled needling density penetration, depth and repetitions to provide a composite having improved mechanical strength and filtration performance.

Abstract: Composite non-woven material through which liquid can pass at a high speed and having an excellent resistance to rewetting and fluffing. The material comprises at least one first layer (2) of combed-type fibres and a second layer (3) of combed-type fibres, the fibres of the of the first layer having a denier greater than that of the fibres of the second layer, the layers being joined to one another by needling. Appplication to absorbent sanitary articles.

Abstract: A breathing mask fabric is provided which has between 50 and 95 weight percent of a through-air bonded, electret treated, nonwoven microfiber first web of fibers where the fibers have an average diameter of between about 10 and 25 microns and where the first web has a Frazier Permeability above about 100 CFM/SF, a density of between about 0.015 and 0.15 gms/cc, and a basis weight between about 67 gsm and about 340 gsm, and between about 5 and 50 weight percent of an electret treated microfiber second web of fibers where the fibers have an average diameter of less than about 10 microns.

Abstract: Degradable multilayer melt blown microfibers are provided. The fibers comprise (a) at least one layer of polyolefin resin and at least one layer of polycaprolactone resin, at least one of the polyolefin or polycaprolactone resins containing a transition metal salt; or (b) at least one layer of polyolefin resin containing a transition metal salt and at least one layer of a degradable resin or transition metal salt-free polyolefin resin. Also provided is a degradable web comprising the multilayer melt blown microfibers.

Abstract: Multicomponent thermoplastic continuous filaments are provided, including hollow core multicomponent filaments. The filaments are at least partially splittable into smaller filaments in the absence of mechanical treatment or application of high pressure water jets. The surface energy of the components can be controlled to control separation of the multi-component filaments. Sub-denier and micro-denier filaments of low orientation can be produced from relatively high molecular weight polymers to produce nonwovens of surprising strength, barrier, and cover.