A nonwoven web made of plastic fibers and having a web thickness less than 2 mm (preferably less than 1.5 mm) and a grammage less than 30 g/m.sup.2 (preferably less than 25 g/m.sup.2) and conveyed this web in a travel direction so that it physically contacts a guide or treatment roller. A stabilization plate extending in and transversely to the travel direction of the nonwoven web is provided upstream or downstream of the roller in the travel direction, and the nonwoven web is guided in the travel direction past the stabilization plate such that a spacing between a face of the stabilization plate turned toward the nonwoven web and the nonwoven web face is 0 to 20 mm (preferably 0.1 to 10 mm, and very preferably 0.2 to 5 mm).

A nonwoven web made of plastic fibers and having a web thickness less than 2 mm (preferably less than 1.5 mm) and a grammage less than 30 g/m.sup.2 (preferably less than 25 g/m.sup.2) and conveyed this web in a travel direction so that it physically contacts a guide or treatment roller. A stabilization plate extending in and transversely to the travel direction of the nonwoven web is provided upstream or downstream of the roller in the travel direction, and the nonwoven web is guided in the travel direction past the stabilization plate such that a spacing between a face of the stabilization plate turned toward the nonwoven web and the nonwoven web face is 0 to 20 mm (preferably 0.1 to 10 mm, and very preferably 0.2 to 5 mm).

A nonwoven web made of substantially continuous fibers and comprising a three-dimensional pattern of protruding closed shapes, wherein the nonwoven web has a compression recovery of at least 30% after being compressed at 1 psi for 24 hours.

A nonwoven web made of substantially continuous fibers and comprising a three-dimensional pattern of protruding closed shapes, wherein the nonwoven web has a compression recovery of at least 30% after being compressed at 1 psi for 24 hours.

A method of treating a web includes directing the web toward an apparatus having a first roller and a second roller together defining a nip. The first roller is rotated in a first direction and includes two ends, a length extending between the two ends, a raised area adapted to treat the web, and a bearer ring. The bearer ring extends around the circumference of the first roller and is disposed at a location between and spaced from the ends of the first roller. The second roller of the apparatus is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The web is fed to the nip of the apparatus such that the web is contacted by the raised area on the first roller to treat the web.

A method of treating a web includes directing the web toward an apparatus having a first roller and a second roller together defining a nip. The first roller is rotated in a first direction and includes two ends, a length extending between the two ends, a raised area adapted to treat the web, and a bearer ring. The bearer ring extends around the circumference of the first roller and is disposed at a location between and spaced from the ends of the first roller. The second roller of the apparatus is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The web is fed to the nip of the apparatus such that the web is contacted by the raised area on the first roller to treat the web.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a fabric for an air bag that, during high-pressure deployment at high speed, maintains low air permeability as an air bag and is capable of maintaining the low air permeability even after exposure to heat. This fabric for an air bag comprises a synthetic fiber and is characterized by the contact angle of a circumscribed circle at intersecting sections in which the warp thread and the weft thread come in contact in the cross section of the fabric is at least 80 in both the warp thread direction and the weft thread direction.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a fabric for an air bag that, during high-pressure deployment at high speed, maintains low air permeability as an air bag and is capable of maintaining the low air permeability even after exposure to heat. This fabric for an air bag comprises a synthetic fiber and is characterized by the contact angle of a circumscribed circle at intersecting sections in which the warp thread and the weft thread come in contact in the cross section of the fabric is at least 80 in both the warp thread direction and the weft thread direction.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a fabric for an air bag that, during high-pressure deployment at high speed, maintains low air permeability as an air bag and is capable of maintaining the low air permeability even after exposure to heat. This fabric for an air bag comprises a synthetic fiber and is characterized by the contact angle of a circumscribed circle at intersecting sections in which the warp thread and the weft thread come in contact in the cross section of the fabric is at least 80 in both the warp thread direction and the weft thread direction.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a fabric for an air bag that, during high-pressure deployment at high speed, maintains low air permeability as an air bag and is capable of maintaining the low air permeability even after exposure to heat. This fabric for an air bag comprises a synthetic fiber and is characterized by the contact angle of a circumscribed circle at intersecting sections in which the warp thread and the weft thread come in contact in the cross section of the fabric is at least 80 in both the warp thread direction and the weft thread direction.