A nonwoven comprising a pattern of thermal bonds with anti-fuzz properties according to at least three and preferably all four of the following conditions: a) the pattern comprises thermal bonds disposed in parallel rows having a pitch angle (P) of from 0.5 to 15 relative to the machine direction or the cross-machine direction; and/or b) the bonding area of all the thermal bonds ranges from 17% to 30% of the area of the nonwoven, and/or c) the pattern comprises larger bonds and smaller bonds having different individual area, and/or d) the pattern comprises elongated bonds having different major directions.

Provided is a nonwoven fabric and a laminated nonwoven fabric suitable as the skin material of a composite sound-absorbing material. The nonwoven fabric and laminated nonwoven fabric are easily formable, thin, and lightweight and excel in form stability, and can nevertheless be controlled within a given range of aeration after being formed into shape. A nonwoven fabric having a laminate structure in which at least one ultra-fine fiber layer (M) having an average fiber diameter of 0.3 to 7 m (inclusive) and a basis weight of 1 g/m.sup.2 to 40 g/m.sup.2 (inclusive) and at least one continuous filament layer (S) having an average fiber diameter of 10 to 30 m (inclusive) are integrated together by partial thermocompression bonding.

An apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material generally includes a first bonding module and a second bonding module. The second bonding module is positionable in close proximity to the first bonding module for receiving a first nonwoven fabric, a second nonwoven fabric, and at least one elastic strand therebetween. The second bonding module has a face with a width dimension and a circumferential axis and is rotatable about a rotation axis. The face has a plurality of ridges includes a first ridge and a pair of second ridges positioned on opposing sides of the first ridge along the circumferential axis. The first ridge defines a plurality of interspaced lands and notches, and the second ridges are configured to sever the at least one elastic strand when in close proximity to the first bonding module.

An apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material generally includes a first bonding module and a second bonding module. The second bonding module is positionable in close proximity to the first bonding module for receiving a first nonwoven fabric, a second nonwoven fabric, and at least one elastic strand therebetween. The second bonding module has a face with a width dimension and a circumferential axis and is rotatable about a rotation axis. The face has a plurality of ridges includes a first ridge and a pair of second ridges positioned on opposing sides of the first ridge along the circumferential axis. The first ridge defines a plurality of interspaced lands and notches, and the second ridges are configured to sever the at least one elastic strand when in close proximity to the first bonding module.

The present invention relates to a fiber-containing structure comprising an interwoven and welded base material and a welded elastomer layer, and at least one part of the base material and the welded elastomer layer are welded to each other. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the fiber-containing structure and a shoe structure containing the fiber-containing structure.

Absorbent laminated materials that include two spunbond nonwoven layers with a cellulose layer arranged in between the spunbond nonwoven layers are disclosed. The different layers of the absorbent laminated material are bonded through an ultrasonic treatment, and can further undergo an embossing step. In addition, the absorbent laminated materials may be used as disposable wiping products, among other applications.

Absorbent laminated materials that include two spunbond nonwoven layers with a cellulose layer arranged in between the spunbond nonwoven layers are disclosed. The different layers of the absorbent laminated material are bonded through an ultrasonic treatment, and can further undergo an embossing step. In addition, the absorbent laminated materials may be used as disposable wiping products, among other applications.

A nonwoven extending in a machine direction and a perpendicular cross-machine direction and having fibers bonded by a pattern of thermal bonds. The thermal bonds comprise larger bonds having an individual area of at least 1.0 mm.sup.2, in particular at least 1.5 mm.sup.2; and smaller bonds having an individual area of less than 1.0 mm.sup.2, in particular from about 0.10 mm.sup.2 to about 1.0 mm.sup.2. There are at least as many smaller bonds as larger bonds, the ratio of the number of smaller bonds may be in particular about two.

A nonwoven extending in a machine direction and a perpendicular cross-machine direction and having fibers bonded by a pattern of thermal bonds. The thermal bonds comprise larger bonds having an individual area of at least 1.0 mm.sup.2, in particular at least 1.5 mm.sup.2; and smaller bonds having an individual area of less than 1.0 mm.sup.2, in particular from about 0.10 mm.sup.2 to about 1.0 mm.sup.2. There are at least as many smaller bonds as larger bonds, the ratio of the number of smaller bonds may be in particular about two.

Disclosed herein are improvements to processes and equipment for the manufacture of composite nonwoven webs comprising a mixture of two or more different fibers and formed from at least two streams of air-entrained fibers. Adjacent the perimeter of an exit port of one of the fiber streams are located a series of spaced tabs and apertures. As a first stream of air-entrained fibers pass the series of tabs and apertures, vortices are formed therein. When mixed with a second stream of air-entrained fibers, the vortices within the first stream of fibers causes increased mixing of the fibers, helping to drive the first fibers deeper into the second stream of air-entrained fibers.