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, and wherein in at least one of the microzones, the first region is hydrophobic and the second region is hydrophilic.

A water disposable nonwoven web having good MD and CD strength is provided. The nonwoven web is obtained by hydroentangling an airlaid web of no less than 50% by weight of natural cellulose fibers having a fiber length of no more than 3.5 mm and no more than 50% by weight staple fibers having a fiber length of no less than 8.0 mm. The nonwoven web contains no adhesive, binder or thermal bonding fibers. Products containing the disposable nonwoven web meet municipal guidelines for flushability.

An absorbent hygienic article for absorbing body fluids, the article including a liquid permeable topsheet, a backing layer and an absorbent core arranged between the topsheet and the backing layer, the topsheet and the backing layer being made from roll materials. The topsheet or an absorbent layer in the absorbent core is constituted by a cellulosic fibrous web, the fibres in the cellulosic fibrous web being constituted by a mixture of cellulose fibres including regenerated cellulose fibres or natural cellulose staple fibres and cellulose pulp fibres, the cellulosic fibrous web being a foam-formed, hydroentangled fibrous web.

A composite fabric includes a nonwoven fabric layer having non-bonded areas and a structured film layer discontinuously bonded to the nonwoven fabric layer. The discontinuously bonded nonwoven fabric layer and the structured film layer share an overlapping area with at least one set of coincident bond sites. The discontinuously bonded nonwoven fabric does not have another bonding pattern in the overlapping area distinct from the at least one set of coincident bond sites. A method of forming a composite fabric is also described. The method includes forming a fiber layer including a mat of at least partially unconsolidated fibers, positioning a structured film layer and the fiber layer such that they overlap, and discontinuously bonding the mat into a discontinuously bonded nonwoven fabric while simultaneously bonding the structured film layer to the nonwoven fabric layer. An apparatus for forming a composite fabric is also described.

Methods and apparatuses for producing a zoned and/or layered substrate are described. A method can include providing a first supply of fibers, providing a second supply of fibers, and providing a headbox. The headbox can include a machine direction, a cross-direction, and a first cross-directional divider that separates a first zone of the headbox from a second zone of the headbox in a cross-directional manner. The method can further include transferring the first supply of fibers and the second supply of fibers to the headbox. The method can also include transferring the first supply of fibers and the second supply of fibers through the headbox to provide the substrate.

An absorbent hygienic article for absorbing body fluids, the article including a liquid absorbent top layer and a backing layer, the top layer and the backing layer being made from roll materials and being joined together. The top layer is constituted by a cellulosic fibrous web, the fibres in the cellulosic fibrous web being constituted by a mixture of cellulose fibres, the mixture including regenerated cellulose fibres or natural cellulose staple fibres and cellulose pulp fibres, the cellulosic fibrous web being a foam-formed, hydroentangled cellulosic fibrous web.

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 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, and wherein in at least one of the microzones, the first region is hydrophobic and the second region is hydrophilic.

Provided is a stretchable laminate that is excellent in low glossiness and is also excellent in blocking resistance. Also provided is an article including such stretchable laminate. The stretchable laminate of the present invention includes: an elastomer layer; and an olefin-based resin layer arranged on at least one side of the elastomer layer, in which the stretchable laminate has a 60° gloss value of 10 or less.

The present invention relates to an odor control material consisting of a water-insoluble particulate odor control agent and a thermoplastic water-soluble carrier matrix encapsulating the odor control agent. The carrier matrix dissolves when in contact with an aqueous solution, such as urine and the odor control material is obtained by means of thermoforming. The invention relates also to a method for the preparation of the odor control material and the use of the odor control material in absorbent products. The present odor control material minimizes dusting problems caused by particulate odor control agents in production processes.