The present disclosure provides systems and methods for forming a composite structure comprising rotating a base layer of an apparatus for forming the composite structure about an axis of rotation, transferring carbon short fibers from a first vibratory feed ramp onto the base layer in order to form a plurality of fibrous layers in the composite structure, and vibrating the first vibratory feed ramp during the transferring the carbon short fibers. The base layer may comprise an annular shape.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for forming a composite structure comprising rotating a base layer of an apparatus for forming the composite structure about an axis of rotation, transferring carbon short fibers from a first vibratory feed ramp onto the base layer in order to form a plurality of fibrous layers in the composite structure, and vibrating the first vibratory feed ramp during the transferring the carbon short fibers. The base layer may comprise an annular shape.

An industrial fabric (30, 40, 45) is provided, in particular for transporting a nonwoven web while producing same, having a product side (PS), which is in contact with the nonwoven, and a machine side (MS), which is in contact with transport devices of a system (1) for producing the nonwoven. The fabric (30, 40, 45) has MD threads (32, 33, 43, 44, 48, 50), which run in the running direction of the nonwoven web, and CMD threads (31, 41, 42, 52), which run perpendicularly to the MD threads, said threads being woven together. At least two layers of MD threads (32, 33, 43, 44, 48, 50) are provided which are stacked one over the other in pairs and form product contact MD threads (32, 43, 50) and non-product contact MD threads (33, 44, 48). At least the material of each product contact MD thread (32, 43, 50) facing the product side (PS) forms a contact angle, measured according to the Wilhelmy plate method, of at least 80°, preferably at least 90°, more preferably at least 100°. In order to prevent the adhesion of threads to the fabric (30, 40, 45) and in order to reduce the air permeability, the fabric has a single layer of CMD threads (31, 41, 42, 52), and the cross-section of each product contact MD thread (32, 43, 50) has at least two regions, a first region of which is formed of the first material and a second region of which is formed of the second material. A substantial proportion, preferably a predominant proportion, of a tensile force acting on each product contact MD thread (32, 43, 50) can be transmitted from the second region, and the cross-section of the product contact MD threads (32, 43, 50) have a second region in the form of a core (61) and a first region in the form of a casing (62) which surrounds the core (61). The product MD threads (32, 43, 50) are preferably coextruded or are extruded in two successive steps. The MD threads (32, 33, 43, 44, 48, 50) have a flattened cross-section, preferably a rectangular cross-section, wherein a ratio of a height of the cross-section to a width of the cross-section preferably ranges from 1:1.2 to 1:10, preferably from 1:1.5 to 1:4. The invention further relates to a method for producing a nonwoven and to the use of an industrial fabric (30, 40, 45).

A top sheet for an absorbent personal care product is a water-permeable composite web produced by hydro-entangling a web of chemical free natural and/or cellulosic staple fibers and/or blend of natural and cellulosic staple fibers and a web of man-made continuous filament yards such that a first side of the composite web exposes the chemical free natural and/or cellulosic staple fibers and/or blend of natural and cellulosic staple fibers and an opposite second side of the composite web has the man-made continuous filament yarns. The web of chemical free natural and/or cellulosic staple fibers and/or blend of natural and cellulosic staple fibers is hydrophilic and the web of man-made continuous filament synthetic yarns is hydrophobic. The composite web weights between about 20 gsm and about 40 gsm.

A top sheet for an absorbent personal care product is a water-permeable composite web produced by hydro-entangling a web of chemical free natural and/or cellulosic staple fibers and/or blend of natural and cellulosic staple fibers and a web of man-made continuous filament yards such that a first side of the composite web exposes the chemical free natural and/or cellulosic staple fibers and/or blend of natural and cellulosic staple fibers and an opposite second side of the composite web has the man-made continuous filament yarns. The web of chemical free natural and/or cellulosic staple fibers and/or blend of natural and cellulosic staple fibers is hydrophilic and the web of man-made continuous filament synthetic yarns is hydrophobic. The composite web weights between about 20 gsm and about 40 gsm.

Polyethylene compositions and finish-free, ultra-fine denier, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW PE) fibers and tapes are provided. The fibers and tapes are made from said compositions that are usable in medical, in-body applications, as well as a process of their making.

Polyethylene compositions and finish-free, ultra-fine denier, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW PE) fibers and tapes are provided. The fibers and tapes are made from said compositions that are usable in medical, in-body applications, as well as a process of their making.

An article comprising a fabric comprising: (a) a blended yarn comprising: (i) from about 10% to about 85% by weight of at least one biregional fiber comprising an oxidized polymer selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile based homopolymers, acrylonitrile based copolymers, acrylonitrile based terpolymers, and combinations thereof; (ii) at least one companion fiber selected from the group consisting of FR polyester, FR nylon, FR rayon, FR treated cellulose, m-aramid, p-aramid, modacrylic, novoloid, melamine, wool, nylon, regenerated cellulose, polyvinyl chloride, antistatic fiber, poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO), polybenzimidazole (PBI), polysulphonamide (PSA), and combinations thereof; and (b) optionally including a companion yarn different from said blended yarn; wherein said companion yarn includes p-aramid in an amount less than 20% of the fabric weight; and
wherein the fabric has a weight from about 3 oz/yd.sup.2 to about 12 oz/yd.sup.2.

An article comprising a fabric comprising: (a) a blended yarn comprising: (i) from about 10% to about 85% by weight of at least one biregional fiber comprising an oxidized polymer selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile based homopolymers, acrylonitrile based copolymers, acrylonitrile based terpolymers, and combinations thereof; (ii) at least one companion fiber selected from the group consisting of FR polyester, FR nylon, FR rayon, FR treated cellulose, m-aramid, p-aramid, modacrylic, novoloid, melamine, wool, nylon, regenerated cellulose, polyvinyl chloride, antistatic fiber, poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO), polybenzimidazole (PBI), polysulphonamide (PSA), and combinations thereof; and (b) optionally including a companion yarn different from said blended yarn; wherein said companion yarn includes p-aramid in an amount less than 20% of the fabric weight; and
wherein the fabric has a weight from about 3 oz/yd.sup.2 to about 12 oz/yd.sup.2.

Apparatus for producing nonwovens, comprising a card drum (1) rotated in a first direction of rotation, a transfer cylinder (2) rotated in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation, at least one doffer (3, 4), at least one condenser (5, 6), at least one stripper roll (7, 8), a first endless conveyor belt (9), a suction drum (10) and a second endless conveyor belt (10).