A preparation method of self-crimping elastic combined filament yarns for knitting is disclosed, wherein the combined filament yarns are extruded from the same spinneret; a first fiber-forming polymer melt is divided into two ways, one is directly extruded after distribution; and the other is extruded after distribution by side-by-side composite spinning together with a second fiber-forming polymer melt; the first fiber-forming polymer and the second fiber-forming polymer are compatible or partially compatible; on the same spinneret, a ratio of the number of spinneret holes m for direct extrusion to the number of spinneret holes n for extrusion after distribution by side-by-side composite spinning is 1:(5-10); the self-crimping elastic combined filament yarns for knitting are prepared according to specific spinning processes, wherein the combined filament yarn mainly comprises a first fiber-forming polymer monofilament and a first/second fiber-forming polymer side-by-side composite monofilament; wherein the monofilament crimping directions are randomly distributed.

A preparation method of self-crimping elastic combined filament yarns for knitting is disclosed, wherein the combined filament yarns are extruded from the same spinneret; a first fiber-forming polymer melt is divided into two ways, one is directly extruded after distribution; and the other is extruded after distribution by side-by-side composite spinning together with a second fiber-forming polymer melt; the first fiber-forming polymer and the second fiber-forming polymer are compatible or partially compatible; on the same spinneret, a ratio of the number of spinneret holes m for direct extrusion to the number of spinneret holes n for extrusion after distribution by side-by-side composite spinning is 1:(5-10); the self-crimping elastic combined filament yarns for knitting are prepared according to specific spinning processes, wherein the combined filament yarn mainly comprises a first fiber-forming polymer monofilament and a first/second fiber-forming polymer side-by-side composite monofilament; wherein the monofilament crimping directions are randomly distributed.

A nonwoven web is made by displacing an air-permeable mesh-belt conveyor in a horizontal travel direction and spinning and then depositing crimped continuous filaments as a web at a deposit region on the air-permeable mesh-belt conveyor. A first preconsolidation stage is provided downstream of the deposit region and a second preconsolidation separated by a suction gap from the first stage. Air is drawn air through the web and the conveyor at the deposit region at a first predetermined speed, the first and second consolidation stages at a second and third predetermined speeds, and at the suction gap either not at all or at a fourth predetermined equal to at most substantially less than the second predetermined speed.

The improved multifilament structure is a low denier, heat treated multifilament structure that provides for advantageous mechanical properties, including fray resistance, low shrinkage, high tensile strength and low elongation.

Multi-component fibers or filaments that are ribbon shaped are provided having polymer components positioned in a side-by-side fashion. For example, the multi-component fibers may be bicomponent fibers having ribbon shape. The polymer components of the fibers are selected to have differential shrinkage behavior. Nonwovens are also provided that are manufactured from such ribbon shaped multi-component fibers or filaments.

A nonwoven web is made by displacing an air-permeable mesh-belt conveyor in a horizontal travel direction and spinning and then depositing crimped continuous filaments as a web at a deposit region on the air-permeable mesh-belt conveyor. A first preconsolidation stage is provided downstream of the deposit region and a second preconsolidation separated by a suction gap from the first stage. Air is drawn air through the web and the conveyor at the deposit region at a first predetermined speed, the first and second consolidation stages at a second and third predetermined speeds, and at the suction gap either not at all or at a fourth predetermined equal to at most substantially less than the second predetermined speed.

The invention provides migration resistant batting that includes a nonwoven web comprising a first surface parallel to a second surface, and a fiber mixture that includes: 35 to 65 wt % synthetic polymeric fibers having a denier of less than or equal to 1.0, wherein 50 to 100 wt % of said synthetic polymeric fibers are siliconized fibers; 10 to 30 wt % spiral-crimped synthetic polymeric fibers having a length of greater than or equal to 60 mm, wherein 50 to 100 wt % of said spiral-crimped synthetic polymeric fibers are siliconized fibers; 20 to 50 wt % elastomeric fibers having a denier between 2.0 and 7.0; and 5 to 25 wt % synthetic binder fibers having a denier of 1.5 to 4.0, said binder fibers have a bonding temperature lower than the softening temperature of the synthetic polymeric fibers, wherein said first and second surfaces comprise a cross-linked resin. Also provided are articles comprising the batting and methods of making the batting.

The invention provides migration resistant batting that includes a nonwoven web comprising a first surface parallel to a second surface, and a fiber mixture that includes: 35 to 65 wt % synthetic polymeric fibers having a denier of less than or equal to 1.0, wherein 50 to 100 wt % of said synthetic polymeric fibers are siliconized fibers; 10 to 30 wt % spiral-crimped synthetic polymeric fibers having a length of greater than or equal to 60 mm, wherein 50 to 100 wt % of said spiral-crimped synthetic polymeric fibers are siliconized fibers; 20 to 50 wt % elastomeric fibers having a denier between 2.0 and 7.0; and 5 to 25 wt % synthetic binder fibers having a denier of 1.5 to 4.0, said binder fibers have a bonding temperature lower than the softening temperature of the synthetic polymeric fibers, wherein said first and second surfaces comprise a cross-linked resin. Also provided are articles comprising the batting and methods of making the batting.

A method of creating a soft and lofty continuous fiber nonwoven web is provided. The method includes providing first and second, different molten polymers to a spinneret defining a plurality of orifices and flowing a fluid intermediate the spinneret and a moving porous member. The method includes using the fluid to draw the first and second molten polymers, in a direction toward the porous member, through at least some of the plurality of orifices to form a plurality of individual continuous fiber strands. The method includes depositing the continuous fiber strands onto the porous member at a first location to produce an intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web, and intermittently varying, in at least two different zones, a vacuum force applied to the moving porous member and to the intermediate web downstream of the first location and without the addition of more continuous fibers and without any heat applied.

Smoking articles including filter elements formed from two or more fibrous inputs with different physical properties are provided. The two or more fibrous inputs are provided in the form of staple fibers, which are at least partially entangled with each other to form a mixed fiber sliver. The mixed fiber sliver includes a first plurality of cellulose acetate staple fibers blended with a second plurality of staple fibers comprising a polymeric material different from the first plurality of staple fibers, such as staple fibers of a degradable polymeric material. The entangled fibers of the mixed fiber sliver may be sufficiently separated from one another such that blooming operations typically required in filter element production may not be necessary prior to incorporating the mixed fiber sliver into a filter element. Related methods, apparatuses and mixed fiber products are also provided by the disclosure.