A method for producing an artificial turf fiber, comprising: preparing a core polymer mixture from a core polymer and a thread polymer forming beads within the core polymer; coextruding the core polymer mixture with a cladding polymer component into a monofilament, the core polymer mixture forming a cylindrical core, The cladding polymer component forming a cladding encompassing the core with a non-circular profile; quenching the monofilament; reheating the quenched monofilament; stretching the reheated monofilament to deform the beads into threadlike regions; and providing one or more of the stretched monofilaments as the artificial turf fiber.

A filter medium (10) for filtering a fluid, in particular for use in an interior air filter (32), comprises a spun-bonded nonwoven formed at least in part of multi-component segmented pie fibers (1) having at least a first plastic component (2) and a second plastic component (3). The multi-component fibers (1) are largely non-split and in order to manufacture same, segmented pie filaments are spun in a spun-bonding process (S4) to form a spun-bonded nonwoven (10). The segmented pie filaments then form the multi-component fibers (4), the first plastic component (2) and/or the second plastic component (3) being made in particular of a polypropylene.

A filter medium (10) for filtering a fluid, in particular for use in an interior air filter (32), comprises a spun-bonded nonwoven formed at least in part of multi-component segmented pie fibers (1) having at least a first plastic component (2) and a second plastic component (3). The multi-component fibers (1) are largely non-split and in order to manufacture same, segmented pie filaments are spun in a spun-bonding process (S4) to form a spun-bonded nonwoven (10). The segmented pie filaments then form the multi-component fibers (4), the first plastic component (2) and/or the second plastic component (3) being made in particular of a polypropylene.

Shown are thermo-fusible conjugate fibers having a high degree of crystallinity, while a degree of orientation is suppressed, and a bulky and soft nonwoven fabric using the same. The thermo-fusible conjugate fibers have, as a first component, a polyester-based resin, and as a second component, an olefin-based resin having a melting point lower than a melting point of the first component, in which the degree of orientation in the polyester-based resin is 6.0 or less, and the degree of crystallinity therein is 20% or more. The conjugate fibers are preferably sheath-core conjugate fibers in which the first component is a core component and the second component is a sheath component.

Shown are thermo-fusible conjugate fibers having a high degree of crystallinity, while a degree of orientation is suppressed, and a bulky and soft nonwoven fabric using the same. The thermo-fusible conjugate fibers have, as a first component, a polyester-based resin, and as a second component, an olefin-based resin having a melting point lower than a melting point of the first component, in which the degree of orientation in the polyester-based resin is 6.0 or less, and the degree of crystallinity therein is 20% or more. The conjugate fibers are preferably sheath-core conjugate fibers in which the first component is a core component and the second component is a sheath component.

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 fabric. The nonwoven fabric can include a first surface and a second surface and a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on one of the first or second surface. Each of the three-dimensional features can define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions can have a difference in values for an intensive property. The nonwoven further has a plurality of apertures, wherein at least a portion of the aperture abuts at least one of the first region and the second region of the microzone.

A nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven fabric can include a first surface and a second surface and a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on one of the first or second surface. Each of the three-dimensional features can define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions can have a difference in values for an intensive property. The nonwoven further has a plurality of apertures, wherein at least a portion of the aperture abuts at least one of the first region and the second region of the microzone.

Methods of forming a lightweight reinforced thermoplastic core layer and articles including the core layer are described. In some examples, the methods use a combination of thermoplastic material, reinforcing fibers and bicomponent fibers to enhance retention of lofting agents in the core layer. The processes permit the use of less material while still providing sufficient lofting capacity in the final formed core layer.

The present invention provides a chargeable sheath/core-structured fiber that contains a polypropylene-based resin as a main resin, wherein the sheath part contains (a) a carboxylic anhydride-modified polyolefin and (b) at least one antioxidant selected from the group consisting of a combined antioxidant a phenolic antioxidant and a phosphorus-based antioxidant, and sulfur-based antioxidants; and (c) an oil containing a polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether represented by the general formula (I) as a finishing oil is deposited on the outer surface of the sheath part, and that can satisfy heat resistance and charge retainability. (In the formula, R.sup.1 represents a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 10 to 30 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and k is an integer of 1 to 4.)

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