A process for the production of spunbonded nonwoven (1) and a device for this purpose are shown, wherein a spinning mass (2) is extruded through a plurality of nozzle holes of at least one spinneret (3) to form filaments (4) and the filaments (4) are charged with a drawing air stream to be drawn in an extrusion direction, wherein the filaments (4) are deposited on a perforated conveying device (9) to form a spunbonded nonwoven (1) and wherein the spunbonded nonwoven (1) is subsequently subjected to at least one washing (10) and one drying (12) by means of hot air (15), with, in each case, one exhaust air stream (18, 19) being discharged during the drawing and washing (10). So as to be able to reduce the energy consumption in the process during the drying of the spunbonded nonwoven without decreasing the product quality, it is suggested that the hot air (15) for drying (12) is generated at least partially by preheating an air stream (16) by means of one of the exhaust air streams (18, 19) from the drawing and washing (10).

A composite nonwoven fabric (1, 51, 61) and a process (100, 101, 102) for the production of the composite nonwoven fabric (1, 51, 61) are shown, wherein the composite nonwoven fabric (1, 51, 61) comprises at least one spunbonded nonwoven (8, 54, 64), which exhibits essentially continuous regenerated cellulosic filaments (4, 55, 65) deposited in a random orientation, and at least one layer (52, 62) of biobased biodegradable short fibers (14, 53, 63). So as to provide a fully biodegradable composite nonwoven fabric of the initially mentioned type, which exhibits a high stability and tensile strength as well as good absorption properties and haptic properties and, in addition, can be produced in a cost-efficient way, it is suggested that the composite nonwoven fabric (1, 51, 61) has at least one mixing area (56, 66) in which the filaments (4, 55, 65) of the spunbonded nonwoven (8, 54, 64) and the short fibers (14, 53, 63) are present in a state of physical interconnection.

A melt blowing nozzle apparatus for producing a plurality of fiber strands from a polymer melt has at least one melt inlet and at least one process air inlet. The apparatus further has a nozzle plate having a plurality of small tubes, each having a capillary bore for extruding the fiber strands, and an extrusion plate arranged underneath the nozzle plate, which extrusion plate has a plurality of extrusion openings for blowing out the fiber strands, corresponding to the small tubes. Each extrusion opening encloses one of the small tubes with an air gap. To ensure mountability in case of a large number of small tubes, a channel system of a common distribution device is provided for connection and distribution of the melt inlet to the capillaries of the small tubes and for connection and distribution of the process air inlet to the extrusion openings of the extrusion plate.

A process for the production of spunbonded nonwoven (1) is shown, wherein a spinning mass (2) is extruded through a plurality of nozzle holes (4) of at least one spinneret (3, 40, 50) to form filaments (5) and the filaments (5) are drawn, in each case, in the extrusion direction, wherein the filaments (5) are deposited on a perforated conveying device (10) to form a spunbonded nonwoven (1) and wherein the nozzle holes (4) of the spinneret (3, 40, 50) are arranged along a main axis (6) oriented in a transverse direction (12) to the conveying direction (11) of the conveying device (10) so that the spunbonded nonwoven (1) formed on the conveying device (10) extends in this transverse direction (12). So as to enable the spinning width and the basis weight distribution of the spunbonded nonwoven to be adjusted reliably and, respectively, to allow the basis weight distribution to be kept constant during operation by means of the process, it is suggested that the spinning mass throughput (31) of the nozzle holes (4) is adjusted variably along the transverse direction (12).

A process for the production of spunbonded nonwoven (1) and a device for this purpose are shown, wherein a spinning mass (2) containing solvent is extruded through a plurality of nozzle holes of at least one spinneret (3) to form filaments (4) and the filaments (4) are drawn, in each case, in the extrusion direction, wherein the filaments (4) are deposited on a perforated conveying device (9) to form a spunbonded nonwoven (1) and, subsequently, are subjected to washing (10) for washing out the solvent from the filaments (4) and to hydroentanglement (11). So as to allow an inexpensive and efficient production of hydroentangled spunbonded nonwoven by means of the process, it is suggested that fresh water (12) is supplied to the hydroentanglement (11) and the waste water (13) from the hydroentanglement (11) is supplied to the washing (10) as wash water (14).

A spun-blown non-woven web is disclosed which is formed from a plurality of fibers formed from a single polymer having an average fiber diameter ranging from between about 0.5 microns to about 50 microns; a basis weight of at least about 0.5 gsm; a tensile strength, measured in a machine direction, ranging from between about 20 g to about 4,200 g; a ratio of tensile strength, measured in the machine direction, to basis weight of at least about 20:1; and a ratio of percent elongation, measured in the machine direction, to fiber diameter of at least about 15.

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.

An apparatus for making nonwoven from continuous filaments has a spinner for spinning the filaments, a cooler for cooling the spun filaments, and a mesh belt that moves in a generally horizontal travel direction and that passes through a deposition location where the spun and cooled filaments are deposited on the mesh belt to form thereon a nonwoven web. A nose roller defines a deflection zone over which the mesh belt is deflected from its travel direction downstream of the deposition location. At least one lift roller above the mesh belt downstream of the deposition location separates the nonwoven web from the mesh belt at a separation location at a first spacing upstream from the deflection zone of the nose roller. A treatment device for the nonwoven web is provided downstream of the mesh belt in the travel direction and receiving the nonwoven web from the lift roller.

Charged polymeric webs, such as electret webs, include a thermoplastic resin and a charge-enhancing additive. The additives are substituted heterocyclic thiols. The heterocyclic thiol has 2 nitrogen groups and a third group that may be an NH, N-NH.sub.2, O, or S group. The substituent group is an aromatic or heterocyclic aromatic group. The electret webs may be a non-woven fibrous web or a film. The electret webs are suitable for use as filter media.

An apparatus for making nonwoven has a spinning device for spinning continuous filaments and moving the spun filaments in a vertical travel direction along a vertical travel path and a mesh belt below the spinning device, traveling in a horizontal direction, and having a multiplicity of vertically throughgoing openings distributed generally uniformly over its surface and of which a portion are plugged. A cooler and a stretcher are provided along the path downstream of the spinning device and above the belt for cooling and stretching the filaments and depositing the cooled and stretched filaments at a predetermined deposition location on the belt. A blower underneath the belt at the deposition location aspirates air through the openings and thereby holds the deposited filaments down on the belt.