Abstract: A multilayer nonwoven fabric includes a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer laminated and arranged on a first surface of the first fiber layer. A plurality of groove portions are formed along a prescribed direction in a shape depressed in a thickness direction of the multilayer nonwoven fabric. A plurality of raised ridge portions are formed adjacent to the plurality of groove portions in a shape projected in the thickness direction. The basis weight of the raised ridge portion is greater than the basis weight in regions, which include the bottoms of the groove portions. The second fiber layer including each of the plurality of raised ridge portions is in such a shape that a surface, on the side of the first fiber layer, of the second fiber layer is projected in the same direction as the direction in which the second surface of the first fiber layer is projected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nonwoven fabric which is bonded at selected points by use of a binder containing particles composed of filler material (a phase change material, among others) and which is not bonded at other selected points. The nonwoven fabric is characterized by a soft touch and good flexibility, and may be used as an interlining material or an intermediate layer.

Abstract: A pliable reinforcement carrier membrane for use in a coated membrane composite includes a pliable non-woven fibrous mat of entangled polymeric fibers and a hydrophobic binder. The membrane is made so that a first surface of the mat has portions of a portion of the polymeric fibers of the mat protruding therefrom in extent and in sufficient amounts to give the first surface of the mat a fuzzy characteristic to facilitate adhesion of a coating material and a second surface of the fibrous mat has a generally smooth, non-fuzzy surface. A pliable waterproof composite, including the membrane, has a bottom surface formed by a filled asphalt, modified bitumen, or non-asphaltic polymeric coating that overlies and is adhered to the first surface of the mat to provide a barrier against liquid water transmission through the composite and a top surface formed by the second surface of the mat.

Abstract: A method of making an electret article, from a polymeric article that has a zeta potential of greater than or less than ?7.5 millivolts. The article is charged by contacting it with an aqueous liquid that has a pH and conductivity as follows: (i) if the article has a zeta potential of ?7.5 mV or less, then the contacting liquid has pH greater than 7 and a conductivity of 5 to 9,000 microSiemens per centimeter; and (ii) if the article has a zeta potential of greater than ?7.5 mV, then the contacting liquid has a pH of 7 or less and a conductivity of 5 to 5,500 microSiemens per centimeter. An electret article made in this manner can provide improved electret performance, particularly in electret filtration articles.

Abstract: New nonwoven fibrous webs are taught which comprise a collected mass of a) directly formed fibers disposed within the web in a C-shaped cross-sectional configuration and b) staple fibers having a crimp of at least 15% dispersed among the directly formed fibers in an amount of at least 5% the weight of the directly formed fibers. The web is lofty but free of macrovoids. Preferably, the web has a filling ratio of at least 50 and a light transmittance variation of about 2% or less. Typically, fibers within the web are bonded together at points of fiber intersection, preferably with autogenous bonds, to provide a compression-resistant matrix. The webs are especially useful as acoustic and thermal insulation.

Abstract: A filter media formed in accordance with the present invention comprises hydroentangled, predominantly polyester staple length fibers having a basis weight of no more than about 12 oz/yd2. The filter media exhibits a Mullen burst strength of at least about 395 psi, and machine-direction and cross-direction shrinkage of less than about 3%, preferably less than about 2% . The filter media exhibits a machine-direction tensile strength of at least about 105 lb/in, and a cross-direction tensile strength of at least about 110 lb/in.

Abstract: This invention relates to a nonwoven article comprising a heterogeneous blend comprising: 1) from 60 to 99 weight percent of one or more semi-crystalline polymers (based upon the weight of the semi-crystalline and semi-amorphous polymers), each semi-crystalline polymer comprising propylene and from 0 to 5 weight % alpha-olefin comonomer (based upon the weight of the polymer), said semi-crystalline polymers each having a melting point between 100 and 170° C. and a melt flow rate of 2000 dg/min or less; and 2) from 1 to 40 weight % of one or more semi-amorphous polymers (based upon the weight of the semi-crystalline and semi-amorphous polymers), each semi-amorphous polymer comprising propylene and from 10 to 25 weight % of one or more C2 and or C4 to C10 alpha-olefin comonomers, said semi-amorphous polymers each having: a) heat of fusion of 4 to 70 J/g; b) a Melt Flow Rate of 0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a decorative panel comprising a carrier layer and a decorative layer on one or both surfaces of said carrier layer, which decorative layer comprises a synthetic resin layer with a base of one or more radiation-curable components. In addition to that, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing the decorative panel.

Abstract: In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, an improved acoustical, compressible, polymer fiber blanket of enhanced performance characteristics is provided. The polymer fiber blanket of the present invention is constructed of a plurality of individual pieces of polymer fiber blanket that have been bonded together via heat and pressure.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric comprises a first layer formed of staple fibers having a smooth outer surface, a second layer formed of staple fibers having an outer surface with a roughened texture and a third, spunbond layer sandwiched between the first and second layers. A binder material is applied to the second layer which substantially covers its textured surface and is effective to resist deformation under the application of pressure even in the presence of liquid.

Abstract: A filter media formed in accordance with the present invention comprises hydroentangled, predominantly polyester staple length fibers having a basis weight of no more than about 12 oz/yd2. The filter media exhibits a Mullen burst strength of at least about 395 psi, and machine-direction and cross-direction shrinkage of less than about 3%, preferably less than about 2%. The filter media exhibits a machine-direction tensile strength of at least about 105 lb/in, and a cross-direction tensile strength of at least about 110 lb/in.

Abstract: A composite fabric and a method for manufacturing the composite fabric that includes at least one planar structure and at least one nonwoven fabric thermally bonded to the planar structure via a plurality of welds arranged in a predetermined pattern. A sheet of parallel elastic threads is disposed between the nonwoven fabric and the planar structure, wherein portions of the elastic threads are embedded in the plurality of welds in a stretched state. The composite fabric can be used for manufacturing hygienic products, in particular diapers, including diaper pants.

Abstract: An entangled fabric that contains a nonwoven web hydraulically entangled with a fibrous component is provided. The nonwoven web is formed from staple fibers and is creped. For example, in one embodiment, the nonwoven web is a creped, point bonded, carded web. Excellent liquid handling properties can be achieved in accordance with the present invention without resulting in the poor liquid handling capabilities often associated with point bonded nonwoven webs. In fact, the entangled fabric of the present invention can have improved bulk, softness, and capillary tension.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric includes a cohesively integrated web of hydrodynamically entangled short-staple or “waste cotton” fibers. A batt of waste cotton fibers is hydrodynamically needled by high-pressure streams of water. The hydrodynamic energy of the streams causes the fibers to cohere and to become mutually entangled, which in turn results in a fabric of sufficient strength to be used for, among other things, a bag for a bulk material and particularly a bag or cover for a cotton bale.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a novel non-woven fabric characterized by high stretch recovery and a process for preparing said fabric by employing fibers of latent crimp.

Abstract: New nonwoven fibrous webs are taught which comprise a collected mass of a) directly formed fibers disposed within the web in a C-shaped cross-sectional configuration and b) staple fibers having a crimp of at least 15% dispersed among the directly formed fibers in an amount of at least 5% the weight of the directly formed fibers. The web is lofty but free of macrovoids. Preferably, the web has a filling ratio of at least 50 and a light transmittance variation of about 2% or less. Typically, fibers within the web are bonded together at points of fiber intersection, preferably with autogenous bonds, to provide a compression-resistant matrix. The webs are especially useful as acoustic and thermal insulation.

Abstract: An elastically stretchable nonwoven fabric including thermoplastic elastomer filaments; the filaments being heat-sealed and/or mechanically intertwined together to form the nonwoven fabric that has crimped regions and non-crimped regions wherein each of the crimped regions has fine crimps in the rate of 50/cm or higher.

Abstract: An insulating material is constructed in weight percent from about 20-60% low melt bicomponent fiber, 10-40% high melt bicomponent fiber and 20-60% staple fiber. The material provides a unique combination of strength, acoustical insulating and even thermal insulating properties heretofore unavailable in the art.

Abstract: The present invention relates to carbon-matrix composites, such as carbon-carbon composites, and a method for forming them by forming a fabric of fusible and infusible fibers which can be processed and carbonized to form a composite. The methods disclosed herein permit preparation of composites which are particularly thin, uniform, and highly pure. The invention also relates to preprocessed fabrics and precarbonized composites, such as those comprising carbon or oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers and fusible polyacrylonitrile fibers.

Abstract: A meltblown web having meltblown fibers and particles is provided. The particles are embedded in and retained by one or more meltblown fibers as a result of surface penetration of the particles into one or more meltblown fibers. The surface penetration of any particle into one or more meltblown fibers is generally slight thus leaving a substantial amount of the surface area of any particle available for interaction with any medium to which the web is exposed.

Abstract: Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) tetrachannel cross-section staple fibers, as well as yarns, fiberfill webs, batts and products, and fabrics made therewith. Also, the process of making such staple fibers, yarns, fiberfill webs, batts and products, and fabrics.

Abstract: A reinforcing structure adapted for use in the manufacture of a pultruded part where the reinforcing structure is pulled through a pultrusion die in a continuous longitudinal pull direction. The reinforcing structure includes a permeable transport web of staple fibers and a plurality of first reinforcing fibers attached to the permeable transport web. The portion of the first reinforcing fibers extending in a transverse direction comprises at least 40% of a volume of materials comprising the reinforcing structure.

Abstract: A pultruded part having a uniform cross-section and a longitudinal axis. The pultruded part comprises a plurality of longitudinal rovings oriented along the longitudinal axis, a reinforcing structure and a resin matrix. The reinforcing structure comprises a permeable transport web of staple fibers attached to a plurality of first reinforcing fibers oriented so that the portion of the first reinforcing fibers oriented in a transverse direction comprises at least 40% of a volume of materials comprising the reinforcing structure. The resin matrix substantially surrounds the longitudinal rovings and the reinforcing structure.

Abstract: A non-woven fabric comprising staple fibers, having a fiber length of 3 to 25 mm and a single fiber fineness of 1 to 100 denier, and is produced by the fibers being dropped while being dispersed to be accumulated and adhered at the intersection point of the staple fibers. The non-woven fabric has a specific volume of 40 to 200 cm3/g, and the number of fiber lumps having a volume of not less than 1 mm3 is not more than 5 lumps per 20 g of the non-woven fabric. The bulky non-woven fabric of the present invention in which the sufficient contribution to bulkiness by fibers is exhibited is suitable for sanitary materials, such as disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, incontinence pads, nursing pads or the like, or wipes etc.

Abstract: A nonwoven composite web suitable for use, after post-treatment with a wetting agent, as a battery separator is formed by a wet process on a papermaking machine. One nonwoven composite material is made from a furnish of polyolefin binder fibers and polyolefin staple fibers. The web coming off the papermaking machine is dried using infra-red dryers followed by heated dryer cans. After drying, the web is thermally bonded using heated calendar rolls. The polyolefin binder fibers melt as the web passes through the calendar rolls and thermally bond the polyolefin staple fibers of the web when the melted binder fiber material fuses upon cooling.

Abstract: A staple fiber web is disclosed which contains pleats having staple fibers which are commingled with staple fibers from adjoining pleats. The commingling permits denser packing of pleats on the web and increases filtering efficiency and stability of the web. Methods of manufacturing the pleated staple fiber web are disclosed.