Abstract: Described herein is a wet wipe including a substrate and a lotion. The substrate includes from about 14.5% to about 100% cotton. The lotion includes from about 98% to about 99.5% water and has an Equivalence Value from about 30 to about 95.

Abstract: A workpiece processing arrangement comprises a spray booth (2) defining a work space (21), and operable to provide a controlled environment for spraying of material, a first oven (4) located adjacent a first end of the spray booth, the first oven defining an internal zone, and a second oven (5) located adjacent a second end of the spray booth, the second oven defining an internal zone (51). The arrangement also includes a transport rail (6) which extends from the internal zone (41) of the first oven (4), through the work space (21) of the spray booth (2) into the internal zone (51) of the second oven (5), the transport rail (6) being adapted for transport of a workpiece (10) between the work space (21) of the spray booth (2) to the internal zone of the first or second oven (4, 5). A corresponding method of processing a work piece in such an arrangement indicates the steps to be used when processing a first and a second workpiece The ovens may have both a baking and a curing zone.

Abstract: Novel composite materials are provided consisting of a substrate based on fibers of natural, mineral or vegetable origin, and of a mixture formed from a matrix of water-based resin and an expanding agent. The nature and the proportions of the various elements constituting these novel composite materials is also provided. A method of manufacture for making these novel composite materials starting from the constituent elements and the characteristics of the different steps of said method is also provided.

Abstract: A non-woven product containing organic and/or mineral particles has a volume density less than 1 and has at least two layers of synthetic fibers or filaments superposed in the Z direction perpendicular to the XY plane of the product, having undergone at least one needling operation, where the non-woven product integrates particulate feedstocks of mineral and/or organic particles distributed in a monomodal or multimodal manner in the product and at least partially coated or encapsulated by binding material that can point-connect the filaments or fibers to one another. At least one population or fraction of organic and/or mineral particles, has a size such that: 3×(?{square root over (SMf)})3?v, preferably 5×(?{square root over (SMf)})3?v, where SMf corresponds to the mean cross-section of the fibers or filaments that form the layers, and v represents the mean individual volume of the organic or mineral particles.

Abstract: A holding sealing material includes inorganic fibers, a longitudinal direction, a width direction, a thickness direction, a first main face, a second main face, and a structure. The first main face is substantially perpendicular to the thickness direction. The holding sealing material is to be wrapped along the longitudinal direction around an exhaust gas treating body housed in a casing of an exhaust gas purifying apparatus and disposed between the exhaust gas treating body and the casing so that the first main face faces an outer circumference face of the exhaust gas treating body and the second main face faces an inner circumference face of the casing. The structure is plastically deformed by applying a shear stress to the first main face and the second main face respectively in mutually opposite directions along the width direction.

Abstract: A fiber pad having a core non-woven layer is disclosed. The core layer can have an upper surface and a lower surface. The core layer can comprise at least one fiber layer. The at least one fiber layer can comprise a plurality of parallel fibers. Selected groups of the parallel fibers can be folded into desired pleated configurations. Optionally, the core layer can comprise post-consumer carpet materials.

Abstract: The composite microporour filter material comprises a base-cloth layer, an upper adhesion layer attached to a top side of the base-cloth layer, and a lower adhesion layer attached to a bottom side of the base-cloth layer. The base-cloth layer is made of either polymide yarn base-cloth, polysulfoneamide yarn base-cloth, or polytetrafluoroethylene filament base-cloth. The upper adhesion layer is made of a mixture of polysulfoneamide short-staple and polymide short-staple; the lower adhesion layer is made of a pure polysulfoneamide short-staple. The upper adhesion layer and the lower adhesion layer are attached to two sides of the base-cloth layer by entangling which is adopted by needle punching, spunlacing or a combination thereof. The present filter material is temperature-resistant and corrosion-resistant and has features of a low manufacturing cost and the high filter precision.

Abstract: The invention concerns a hygiene product comprising at least one layer of a nonwoven wherein the nonwoven layer comprises man-made cellulosic fibers wherein the layer or the layers has or have a rewet value of equal to or less than 30% and a liquid strike through time of equal to or less than 6 seconds for the use in disposable hygiene products, such as diapers, feminine pads and incontinence products or in wet wipes like toilet wipes, facial wipes, cosmetic wipes, baby wipes and sanitary wipes for cleaning and disinfection.

Abstract: A non-woven fabric (1) that is modified with activated carbon is needled on an elastic or inelastic textile sheet material (2), preferably a woven fabric or a knitted fabric. With this method, it is achieved that the strength of the textile sheet material (2) can be imparted to a non-woven fabric (1) that is otherwise not tear-resistant, whereby the adsorption properties of the activated carbon that are necessary in protective textiles are completely retained. During needling, the elastic or inelastic textile sheet material (2) is stretched or kept stretched, and stress is relieved after needling. The effect that is thus achieved is that the non-woven fabric (1) does not tear when the textile good or the molded part is stretched again, since the non-woven fabric then is stretched out from a compressed initial state.

Abstract: Fibers can include a polypropylene composition, which can include a metallocene random copolymer of propylene and a comonomer that is an alpha-olefin different from propylene. The metallocene random copolymer can have a comonomer content of from 1.2 wt % to 1.8 wt %, a molecular weight distribution of at least 1.0 and of at most 4.0 obtained without thermal or chemical degradation, and a melting temperature Tmelt of at most 140° C. A nonwoven can include the fibers, and a laminate can include the nonwoven. The fibers can be produced by polymerizing the propylene and comonomer in presence of a metallocene-based polymerization catalyst to obtain the metallocene random copolymer. The polypropylene composition can be melt-extruded to obtain a molten polypropylene stream, which can be extruded from capillaries of a spinneret to obtain filaments. A diameter of the filaments can be rapidly reduced to obtain a final diameter.

Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a method for draping on a form, which includes a step of deposition on the form of a first fold support in the form of one or more polymer nonwoven fabrics. The invention further relates to a thermoplastic nonwoven material manufactured with a nonwoven fabric of polymer fibers.

Abstract: A surface heat shield device may include at least one mat made from a fireproof material. The at least one mat may be hardened. The at least one mat may be placed on a rack. The rack may have a plurality of drain holes and may have a plurality of heat resistant feet attached to a bottom side of the rack. The surface heat shield device may be placed between a surface and a heat source to prevent damage to the surface from the heat source such as a fire pit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a completely new flame retardant planar element having a most suitable cushioning characteristic as well as flexibility and elasticity with improvement of a features which is hard to generate hazardous gas due to flame resistance as well as flame retardance and fire resistance, a floor covering hardly generating hazardous gas using the flame retardant planar element, and a production method of the floor covering hardly generating hazardous gas. The flame retardant planar element of the present invention has a flexible planar element, which can be used for a floor covering hardly generating hazardous gas, contains at least an inorganic substance such as sodium polyborate on at least any of one surface or other surface of the flexible planar element, and has a thermoplastic resin layer with at least either one of an acetyl group or a low-temperature dependence.

Abstract: Mechanically entangled, in-line formed, packs of glass fibers are mechanically entangled differently at different portions of the web. In one exemplary embodiment, in-line formed glass fibers are mechanically entangled by any combination of two or more entangling devices. The two or more entangling devices may be the same or different. In one exemplary embodiment, the glass fibers are mechanically entangled from at least a first side of a web by a first entangling device and are mechanically entangled from a second side of the web by a second entangling device.

Abstract: A mat member includes inorganic fibers, a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first surface has a plurality of needle penetration marks and/or a plurality of needle protrusion marks. The second surface has a plurality of needle protrusion marks and/or a plurality of needle penetration marks. A plurality of needle marks are formed in the mat member by needle punching and extend from the needle penetration mark to the needle protrusion mark. An inorganic fiber bundle which includes a plurality of the inorganic fibers oriented in a closed loop configuration is formed at the needle protrusion mark.

Abstract: An inorganic fiber containing silica and magnesia as the major fiber components and which further includes an intended iron oxide additive to improve the dimensional stability of the fiber. The inorganic fiber exhibits good thermal insulation performance at 1400° C. and greater, retains mechanical integrity after exposure to the use temperature, and which remains non-durable in physiological fluids. Also provided are thermal insulation product forms comprising a plurality of the inorganic fibers, methods of preparing the inorganic fiber and of thermally insulating articles using thermal insulation prepared from a plurality of the inorganic fibers.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an article made of a multilayer composite material comprising a central element (I) arranged between a first and a second reinforcement layer (B) to form a structure (B)-(I)-(B), said central element (I) comprising: a first and a second structural layer (A) each comprising at least one mat of needle punched fibres of the thermoplastic and/or natural type or else a mat of expanded thermoplastic polymer, said structural layers (A) being impregnated with a thermosetting resin; a third reinforcement layer (B) arranged between said two structural layers (A), said first, second and third reinforcement layer (B) consisting of a fibrous material, comprising one or more types of fibres selected from the group consisting of glass fibres, natural fibres, carbon fibres, basalt fibres, kevlar fibres, aramid fibres or a mixture of such fibres.

Abstract: Disclosed is an arc flash protection, multiple-use nonwoven fabric structure comprising one or more layers having fire resistant properties. The fabric structure has an arc flash facing nonwoven surface, and a nonwoven part of the fabric structure comprises non-inherent, and/or inherently fire resistant fibers, said fibers being mechanically, chemically, or thermally bonded, whereby the fabric structure has a minimum Arc Thermal Protection Value (ATPV) to fabric basis weight ratio of 250 cal/g, preferably greater than 350 cal/g, more preferably greater than 500 cal/g, when measured in accordance with ASTM F1959—Standard Test Method for Determining the Arc Rating of Materials for Clothing, and the fabric structure maintains said ATPV to fabric basis weight ratio through at least 25 washing cycles when washed according to AATCC Method 135 (3, IV, A iii).

Abstract: An anti-vandalism fabric having at least one thread intertwined with itself forming a mesh, the thread in turn being formed by a bundle of between 3 and 14 filaments or a combination of filaments and yarns not plaited with one another, of which at least 3 are metal filaments, the metal filaments of the bundle having a diameter between 0.05 mm and 0.09 mm. The fabric can include more than one mesh. In one variant the mesh or meshes are embedded in a panel of non woven fabric.

Abstract: A material for use as a wound dressing, the material being in the form of a roll and comprising gel forming fibers and the material having lines of longitudinal stitching.

Abstract: An impact resistant membrane and methods of preparing and utilizing the membrane are disclosed. The membrane comprises a loft layer, a first polymeric layer bonded to a first surface of the loft layer, and a second polymeric layer bonded to a second surface of the loft layer. The membrane can be fabricated by providing a loft layer and applying a polymeric layer on a first surface and on a second surface of the loft layer. The membrane has a higher resistance to failure due to impact and thus protects the underlying structure membrane for a longer time. A method of facilitating protecting a structure comprises providing a single ply membrane having a loft layer and a polymeric layer disposed on at least two surfaces of the loft layer.

Abstract: A filler cloth includes cellulosic fibers treated with a flame retardant chemistry such that the filler cloth has a char length of less than about nine inches when tested in accordance with NFPA 701, such that thermal shrinkage of the filler cloth at 400° F. is less than about 35% in any direction, and such that the filler cloth maintains flame and heat resistant integrity when impinged with a gas flame in accordance with testing protocols set forth in Technical Bulletin 603 of the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs. The filler cloth cellulosic fibers are treated with a flame retardant chemistry such that the filler cloth has a Frazier air permeability of less than about 400 cfm and a thermal resistance rating of at least about 3 when tested according to NFPA 2112.

Abstract: Systems for producing bulked webs and/or nonwoven materials may include at least one extruder having a plurality of nozzles and a master air jet in communication with at least one extruder to receive a plurality of polymer melt filaments from at least one extruder to form a bulked web. Producing bulked webs may include at least the steps of forming a plurality of polymer melt filaments; passing the plurality of polymer melt filaments through a master air jet thereby forming a bulked web; and collecting the bulked web.

Abstract: A filler cloth includes cellulosic fibers treated with a flame retardant chemistry such that the filler cloth has a char length of less than about nine inches when tested in accordance with NFPA 701, such that thermal shrinkage of the filler cloth at 400° F. is less than about 35% in any direction, and such that the filler cloth maintains flame and heat resistant integrity when impinged with a gas flame in accordance with testing protocols set forth in Technical Bulletin 603 of the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs. The filler cloth cellulosic fibers are treated with a flame retardant chemistry such that the filler cloth has a Frazier air permeability of less than about 400 cfm and a thermal resistance rating of at least about 3 when tested according to NFPA 2112.

Abstract: A filler cloth includes cellulosic fibers treated with a flame retardant chemistry such that the filler cloth has a char length of less than about nine inches when tested in accordance with NFPA 701, such that thermal shrinkage of the filler cloth at 400° F. is less than about 35% in any direction, and such that the filler cloth maintains flame and heat resistant integrity when impinged with a gas flame in accordance with testing protocols set forth in Technical Bulletin 603 of the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs. The filler cloth cellulosic fibers are treated with a flame retardant chemistry such that the filler cloth has a Frazier air permeability of less than about 400 cfm and a thermal resistance rating of at least about 3 when tested according to NFPA 2112.

Abstract: A cushion material for a hot-press is provided. The cushion material comprises: a substrate; and a fiber material, the thermal conductivity coefficient of which is lower than about 0.15 W/m·K at about 20° C. and increases with increasing temperature, for example, the thermal conductivity coefficient may be higher than about 0.20 W/m·K at about 160° C., wherein the fiber material is needle-punched on the substrate.

Abstract: A hydroentangled nonwoven material (8), includes a mixture of randomized continuous filaments (3) and natural fibers (5), wherein at least part of the staple fibers and/or the continuous filaments includes thermoplastic material. The nonwoven material is bonded in a non-random bonding pattern including a plurality of bonding sites (14) in which thermoplastic material included in the nonwoven material has been caused to at least partly soften or melt to create thermal bonds between the continuous filaments. The nonwoven material includes no other thermal bonds between the filaments than provided by the non-random bonding pattern. The nonwoven material may also contain synthetic staple fibers (6).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a press felt for a machine for the production and/or processing of a fibrous web including a carrier structure which fundamentally influences the dimensional stability of the felt. The carrier structure includes a flat manufactured textile fabric formed from longitudinal threads, transverse threads crossing the longitudinal threads, and sewing threads which connect the longitudinal and transverse threads with each other at the crossing points. The textile fabric is longer than the carrier structure and is laid onto itself in sections such that the carrier structure is formed by several layers of the textile fabric, extending respectively along the entire length of the carrier structure. The layers are connected with each other, at least in sections.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a felting device for felting fiber materials including a needle receiving means for receiving and holding a felting needle for performing the felting operation, a drive motor for moving the needle receiving means for moving the inserted felting needle and a housing for movably holding and guiding the felting device with a hand.

Abstract: There is provided an inorganic fiber formed article in which the thickness and the surface density can be easily controlled and which has excellent workability and handleability and prevents the deterioration of the work environment when the inorganic fiber formed article is processed for applications, e.g., a heat insulator or a mat. The inorganic fiber formed article includes a mat-like aggregate of inorganic fibers, the inorganic fiber formed article being subjected to needling treatment. The needling density of a surface of the mat exceeds 50 punches/cm2. One or more of requirements (1) to (3) described below is satisfied. (1) The ratio of the number NA of fiber bundles to the number NB of fiber bundles, i.e., NA/NB, is 0.5 or less, the fiber bundles extending in the thickness direction and being observed in regions with a predetermined width W of section A in the longitudinal direction and section B in the transverse direction.

Abstract: A garment includes a breathable composite fabric between outer and inner fabric layers. The breathable composite fabric comprises two nanofiber web layers and a porous fluid drainage layer disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A filler cloth includes cellulosic fibers treated with a flame retardant chemistry such that the filler cloth has a char length of less than about nine inches when tested in accordance with NFPA 701, such that thermal shrinkage of the filler cloth at 400° F. is less than about 35% in any direction, and such that the filler cloth maintains flame and heat resistant integrity when impinged with a gas flame in accordance with testing protocols set forth in Technical Bulletin 603 of the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs. The filler cloth cellulosic fibers are treated with a flame retardant chemistry such that the filler cloth has a Frazier air permeability of less than about 400 cfm and a thermal resistance rating of at least about 3 when tested according to NFPA 2112.

Abstract: This invention relates to high surface area materials, such as nanoparticles, that are coated with metal ions. These modified nanoparticles have active sites that bind various gases and/or odorous compounds, thereby removing these compounds from a medium such as air or water. Metal ions are adsorbed onto the surface of the nanoparticle and bound strongly to the surface. By selection of the metal ion, specific gaseous compounds and/or odorous compounds can be targeted and removed efficiently and effectively from both aqueous phase and from the air. The modified nanoparticles are useful in numerous article of manufacture for industrial and consumer use.

Abstract: The invention provides durable nonwoven fabrics comprising staple fibers. Methods of preparing durable nonwoven fabrics based on staple fibers are also provided. The methods can include the steps of at least one of needle punching and hydroentangling. The durable nonwoven fabric can be subjected to additional bonding techniques, such as resin bonding and/or thermal bonding. The durable nonwoven fabrics of the invention provide improved durability over conventional nonwoven fabrics. Further advantages of the inventive nonwoven fabrics include maintaining the smooth surface qualities of the fabric and desirable feel of the fabric even with the enhanced durability. The inventive nonwoven fabrics can also be subjected to additional post-processing techniques that conventional nonwoven fabrics would otherwise be unable to withstand. Further, inks and/or dyes can more readily become adhered to the smooth nature of the surfaces of the inventive durable nonwoven fabrics.

Abstract: The invention relates to a needle-punched nonwoven fabric wherein short fibers of polylactic acid containing an epoxy compound account for 20 to 40 mass % while short fibers of polyethylene terephthalate account for 80 to 60 mass %, the metsuke (weight per unit surface area) being 100 to 200 g/m2, and the tensile strength per metsuke at 20° C. being 0.30 to 0.60 (N/cm)/(g/m2) in the longitudinal direction and 0.48 to 0.90 (N/cm)/(g/m2) in the lateral direction. The present invention provides needle-punched nonwoven fabrics that are low in environment load, high enough in durability to serve as interior finishing material for automobiles, and high in stretchability during molding.

Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a fluid filter that includes a first set of strips of a first filter material having a first density, and a second set of strips of a second filter material having a second density greater than the first density, wherein the first set and second set of strips are arranged in an alternating pattern to define a first filter layer. The system also includes a second filter layer comprising a third filter material having a third density greater than the second density, wherein the first filter layer is coupled to the second filter layer. In other embodiments, the system includes a fluid filter which includes a first filter material having a first density, a second filter material having a second density greater than the first density, and a third filter material having a third density greater than the second density.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flame-retardant leather-like sheet having a soft hand, excellent surface touch and excellent appearance, which includes an entangled nonwoven fabric of microfine polyester fibers having an average single-fiber fineness of 0.5 dtex or less, and an elastic polymer contained inside the nonwoven fabric, wherein a flame-retardant is exhausted into the elastic polymer and wherein a flame retarder solution containing bubbles forcibly formed is applied to a back surface of the leather-like sheet so that the flame retarder is present in a region extending from the back surface to an inside of the leather-like sheet but is not present on side of a front surface of the leather-like sheet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an absorbent personal care and/or cleansing product for cosmetic and/or dermatological applications comprising at least one non-woven absorbent sheet comprising 10 to 100 wt. % lyocell fibers and 0 to 90 wt. % of at least one other natural, man-made natural and/or synthetic fiber, wherein the lyocell fiber has a fiber titer in the range from 0.5 to 3.5 dtex, wherein the absorbent sheet has a basis weight in the range from 20 to 500 g/m2, and a tensile strength in the range from 5 to 1000 N/5 cm in machine direction and in cross direction.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for forming a wearable and functional fabric from a composite material comprising a nonwoven face layer containing a plurality of fibers, and at least one thermoplastic binder layer disposed underneath. The fibers are initially arranged in a generally planar web and subsequently needlepunched through at least one binder layer. The fiber layers can also be placed on both sides of one or more centrally-located binder layers, and further reinforced with scrims. In an innovative aspect of the invention, the composite is heated under low and uniform pressure to remove thermal stresses, resulting in at a least one relatively smooth face that can be coated to form a wearable fabric, e.g., artificial leather, odor absorbing fabric, and the like.

Abstract: This invention has as its object a non-woven product that contains organic and/or mineral particles and its process for production.

Abstract: In a clothing support for a card flat covering, the belt-shaped support is made of plastics material, and there is embedded in a base body at least one reinforcing insert which is also belt-shaped and which is arranged in the vicinity of the back of the support. In order to make possible stronger anchoring by simple means and to allow undisrupted oscillation of clothing wires, the base body has at least two layers (bottom layer and top layer) of different plastics materials connected to one another, and the bottom layer incorporates a fabric.

Abstract: To provide a nonwoven fabric containing ultra-fine fibers suitable as a leather-like sheet, and also a leather-like sheet with an excellent compactness. A nonwoven fabric containing ultra-fine fibers, characterized in that it contains staple fibers with a fiber fineness of 0.0001 to 0.5 decitex and a fiber length of 10 cm or less, and has a weight per unit area of 100 to 550 g/m2, an apparent density of 0.280 to 0.700 g/cm3, a tensile strength of 70 N/cm or more, and a tear strength of 3 to 50 N.

Abstract: An hydroentangled integrated composite nonwoven material, includes a mixture of randomized continuous filaments, and synthetic staple fibers, where there are no thermal bonding points between the continuous filaments. The nonwoven material exhibits a cumulative pore volume, measured by PVD in n-hexadecane, in the pore radius range 5-150 ?m, where at least 70% of the cumulative pore volume is in the pores with a pore radius above 45 ?m. The nonwoven material also exhibits a cumulative pore volume, which when the synthetic staple fibers are chosen from the group of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide, and polylactide staple fibers is at least 9 mm3/mg, and when the synthetic staple fibers are lyocell staple fibers is at least 6 mm3/mg.

Abstract: An electrically conductive non-woven fabric (10) for heating applications is described and comprises a three-dimensional network (11) of non-woven synthetic fibers (12) which are non-electrically conductive and electrically conductive strands (13) of synthetic fibers or fine metal wires consolidated therewith. The fabric has an intrinsic resistivity in the range of from about 0.05 to 5 m2/kg.

Abstract: Provided is a planar paper for an adhesive tape, and an adhesive tape utilizing such planar paper as a backing, which has an elongation sufficient to allow the adhesive tape to be favorably adhered to an adherend surface without being accompanied by any lift and separation, but with consistently conforming to the curved surfaces and/or the rough surfaces; which is capable of providing a clear painting line left in a portion of a painted layer required in automobiles; which is capable of being easily cut by hand without requiring any tool as a blade; and which is also excellent in handleability. The planar paper comprises a polyvinyl alcohol-series fiber having a fiber breaking temperature in water of 92 to 125° C., a tenacity of 0.5 to 3.5 cN/dtex at 10% elongation, and a breaking elongation of 17 to 60%.

Abstract: There is described the use as textile material to produce cleaning devices of a “double-layer” non-woven fabric having a microfiber layer supported by a macrofiber layer wherein the layers are bonded by needle-punching and subsequent treatment of the microfiber surface with high pressure water jets.

Abstract: Discarded or recycled carpets or other textiles can be converted into wood-like materials, in sheets comparable to plywood. The carpets or textiles are shredded, combed, and layered across a conveyor to form a low-density mat, which is compressed and needle-punched to create a cohesive but flexible mat. An adhesive is applied to at least one and preferably two or more mats, by an applicator that spreads a liquid prepolymer onto one or more surfaces of the mat(s). The mat(s) travel through a press while the adhesive cures and hardens, and the use of foaming adhesives can ensure uniform permeation through dense fiber mats. The hardened sheets can be sawed, nailed, and otherwise handled like wood, and are strong, durable, and highly resistant to damage by water or insects.

Abstract: A fire-resistant fabric is provided that comprises a non-woven batt comprising an intertwined first plurality of flame-resistant fibers. The fire-resistant fabric further comprises one or more stitching yarns engaging the non-woven batt in the form of stitches configured for binding the intertwined flame-resistant fibers into a stitch-bonded fabric. The one or more stitching yarns include a yarn comprising a second plurality of flame-resistant fibers. At least one of the first and second pluralities of flame-resistant fibers comprises partially oxidized PAN fibers.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric 10 has a first layer 1 containing crimped fibers 11. In the layer 1, the crimped fibers gather in parts to form a large number of fiber clusters 12 that are distributed all over the layer 1. The clusters 12 interconnect to each other to form a network structure in the layer 1. The nonwoven fabric 10 further has another fiber layer as a second layer 2 disposed on a side of the first layer 1. The two layers are partly joined at a large number of joints 3. The second layer 2 protrudes outwardly between the joints 3 to form a large number of protrusions 20.

Abstract: An air filter material includes a laminate of an air inlet layer and an air outlet layer, and has a mean flow pore size of 20 ?m to 40 ?m, a minimum pore size of 2.4 ?m to 3.8 ?m, and a maximum pore size of 80 ?m or less. The air inlet layer is a needle punched nonwoven fabric layer having an areal fiber weight of 55 g/m2 to 100 g/m2. The air outlet layer is a laminated spunlace nonwoven fabric made by laminating at least two or more spunlace nonwoven fabric layers having an areal fiber weight of 20 g/m2 to 60 g/m2, a mean flow pore size of 50 ?m to 90 ?m, a minimum pore size of 3.0 ?m to 10.0 ?m, and a maximum pore size of 180 ?m or less.