In a nonwoven fabric, uniaxially oriented bodies each including a thermoplastic resin layer and first and second adhesive layers respectively stacked on both surfaces of the thermoplastic resin layer and having melting points lower than that of a thermoplastic resin constituting the thermoplastic resin layer are warp-weft laminated with the first or second adhesive layer interposed between the uniaxially oriented bodies in such a manner that orientation axes thereof intersect each other. The nonwoven fabric has a mass per unit area of 5 to 13 g/m.sup.2, a layer composition ratio of the first adhesive layer, the thermoplastic resin layer, and the second adhesive layer in each of the uniaxially oriented bodies is 20/60/20 to 30/40/30, and an average value of bending resistances by a cantilever method is less than or equal to 50 mm.

A method for hydroforming a composite precursor material includes forming a composite precursor material comprising an original spun bonded nonwoven web and a polymer film layer. The method also includes applying a plurality of pressurized liquid jets onto an outer surface of the original spun bonded nonwoven web while the composite precursor material passes over a forming structure to push and reorient a plurality of spun bonded fibers from a closely packed substantially horizontal orientation to a more loosely packed orientation with greater vertical spacing between the fibers to produce a hydroformed composite material comprising an expanded spun bonded nonwoven layer having a loft of at least about 1.3 times greater than the original loft of the original spun bonded nonwoven web, and an air permeability of at least about 1.2 times greater than an original air permeability of the original unexpanded spun bonded nonwoven web.

A method for hydroforming a composite precursor material includes forming a composite precursor material comprising an original spun bonded nonwoven web and a polymer film layer. The method also includes applying a plurality of pressurized liquid jets onto an outer surface of the original spun bonded nonwoven web while the composite precursor material passes over a forming structure to push and reorient a plurality of spun bonded fibers from a closely packed substantially horizontal orientation to a more loosely packed orientation with greater vertical spacing between the fibers to produce a hydroformed composite material comprising an expanded spun bonded nonwoven layer having a loft of at least about 1.3 times greater than the original loft of the original spun bonded nonwoven web, and an air permeability of at least about 1.2 times greater than an original air permeability of the original unexpanded spun bonded nonwoven web.

A smokeless tobacco product for insertion into the mouth of a user is provided herein. The smokeless tobacco product can be prepared by impregnating a tobacco-containing nonwoven fabric with a second tobacco material, e.g., using at least one alternating electric field. The obtained impregnated tobacco-containing fabric is subsequently bonded to form a composite, which can be further modified in order to obtain desired properties such as moisture content and flavor profile.

A smokeless tobacco product for insertion into the mouth of a user is provided herein. The smokeless tobacco product can be prepared by impregnating a tobacco-containing nonwoven fabric with a second tobacco material, e.g., using at least one alternating electric field. The obtained impregnated tobacco-containing fabric is subsequently bonded to form a composite, which can be further modified in order to obtain desired properties such as moisture content and flavor profile.

A smokeless tobacco product for insertion into the mouth of a user is provided herein. The smokeless tobacco product can be prepared by impregnating a tobacco-containing nonwoven fabric with a second tobacco material, e.g., using at least one alternating electric field. The obtained impregnated tobacco-containing fabric is subsequently bonded to form a composite, which can be further modified in order to obtain desired properties such as moisture content and flavor profile.

A smokeless tobacco product for insertion into the mouth of a user is provided herein. The smokeless tobacco product can be prepared by impregnating a tobacco-containing nonwoven fabric with a second tobacco material, e.g., using at least one alternating electric field. The obtained impregnated tobacco-containing fabric is subsequently bonded to form a composite, which can be further modified in order to obtain desired properties such as moisture content and flavor profile.

A mesh nonwoven fabric which is seamless and excellent in appearance is provided. A seamless mesh nonwoven fabric is prepared by laminating a first mesh film 20 containing stem fibers 20a stretching parallel to each other in a first direction and branch fibers 20b connecting adjacent stem fibers 20a together, and a second mesh film 30 containing stem fibers 30a stretching parallel to each other in a second direction intersecting the first direction and branch fibers 30b connecting adjacent stem fibers 30a.

A mesh nonwoven fabric which is seamless and excellent in appearance is provided. A seamless mesh nonwoven fabric is prepared by laminating a first mesh film 20 containing stem fibers 20a stretching parallel to each other in a first direction and branch fibers 20b connecting adjacent stem fibers 20a together, and a second mesh film 30 containing stem fibers 30a stretching parallel to each other in a second direction intersecting the first direction and branch fibers 30b connecting adjacent stem fibers 30a.

A process and a splitter for splitting a tape of a uniaxially oriented material. The tape is passed in a process direction over a splitting profile having a row of parallel teeth with a cutting edge extending in the process direction. The tape is split to form a tape comprising a plurality of parallel strips interconnected by fibrils. The split tape can for example be used for the production of high tensile ropes.