An absorbent article including a liquid permeable topsheet on a wearer-facing side of the absorbent article and a garment-facing laminate on a garment-facing side of the absorbent article is disclosed. The garment-facing laminate includes a backsheet film and a nonwoven layer joined to the backsheet film. The nonwoven layer defines a plurality of apertures. At least 3 of the plurality of apertures in a repeat unit have a different Effective Aperture Area, according to the Aperture Test herein, a different shape, and a different Absolute Feret Angle, according to the Aperture Test herein. The absorbent article includes an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable topsheet and the garment-facing laminate.

A method for forming a fiber is provided. The method comprises extruding a matrix polymer and a nanoinclusion additive to form a thermoplastic composition in which the nanoinclusion additive is dispersed within a continuous phase of the matrix polymer. The extruded thermoplastic composition is thereafter passed through a spinneret to form a fiber having a porous network containing a plurality of nanopores, wherein the average percent volume occupied by the nanopores within a given unit volume of the fiber is from about 3% to about 15% per cm.sup.3.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for deforming a web to created deformed nonwoven which comprises a pair of counter-rotating rolls that form a nip therebetween, the pair of rolls comprising: a first roll comprising a surface, a plurality of protrusions extending radially outwardly from the surface of the first roll, and a plurality of concaves formed inwardly from the surface of the first roll; and a second roll comprising a surface; and a process for producing a deformed web comprising the steps of (a) forming a fibrous web; (b) subjecting the fibrous web to bonding treatment to bond at least part of fibers constituting the fibrous web to obtain a precursor nonwoven; and (c) subjecting the precursor nonwoven to a deformation forming unit comprising an apparatus according to the present invention.

A nonwoven fabric including continuous filaments forms the nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven fabric having a first surface, a second surface, and a visually discernible zone on the second surface and extending from the first surface. The visually discernible zone has a pattern of three-dimensional features. The first surface is relatively flat. A first plurality of the three-dimensional features have different Z-direction maximum dimensions relative to the first surface. A second plurality of the three-dimensional features have substantially the same Z-direction maximum dimensions relative to the first surface. Each of the three-dimensional features define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions have a difference in values for an intensive property.

A process for forming multi-layer fibrous web with good absorbent capacity and absorbent rate is disclosed. The multi-layer fibrous web can be used as absorbent articles, including wiping products, such as industrial wipers, food service wipers, and the like. The multi-layer fibrous web includes a first layer and a second layer, as well as a crossover zone, that has a capillary pressure between the capillary pressure of the first layer and the capillary pressure of the second layer.

A hollow fiber that generally extends in a longitudinal direction is provided. The hollow fiber comprises a hollow cavity that extends along at least a portion of the fiber in the longitudinal direction. The cavity is defined by an interior wall that is formed front a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and a nanoinclusion additive dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains. A porous network is defined in the composition that includes a plurality of nanopores.

A hollow fiber that generally extends in a longitudinal direction is provided. The hollow fiber comprises a hollow cavity that extends along at least a portion of the fiber in the longitudinal direction. The cavity is defined by an interior wall that is formed from a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and a nanoinclusion additive dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains. A porous network is defined in the composition that includes a plurality of nanopores.

A nonwoven fabric and a method of production of said nonwoven fabric are disclosed, wherein the nonwovens fabric comprises at least one layer, said layer comprising endless filaments, —which comprise at least a first polymeric material (A) and a second polymeric material (B) having its melting point lower than the first polymeric material A, —wherein the second polymeric material (B) extends in the longitudinal direction of the filament and forms at least a part of the surface of the filament and—the at least one layer of endless filaments comprises filament-to-filament bonds formed of the second polymeric material (B), wherein all components of the filaments are arranged across the cross-section of the filament in a non-crimpable configuration and the nonwoven fabric has a structural softness of at least 80 (m.sup.4 mm.sup.2 g.sup.−2).

A method for making nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven fabric can include three-dimensional features that 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 hollow fiber that generally extends in a longitudinal direction is provided. The hollow fiber comprises a hollow cavity that extends along at least a portion of the fiber in the longitudinal direction. The cavity is defined by an interior wall that is formed front a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and a nanoinclusion additive dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains. A porous network is defined in the composition that includes a plurality of nanopores.