An article including one or more moisture wicking layers and one or more fibrous layers. The fibrous layers may have generally vertically oriented fibers, which may be oriented generally perpendicularly to a surface having or producing moisture. The article may be adapted to remove moisture form the surface having or producing moisture. The article may be breathable. The article may be quick drying. The article may provide cushioning. The article may be a wearable item.

An article including one or more moisture wicking layers and one or more fibrous layers. The fibrous layers may have generally vertically oriented fibers, which may be oriented generally perpendicularly to a surface having or producing moisture. The article may be adapted to remove moisture form the surface having or producing moisture. The article may be breathable. The article may be quick drying. The article may provide cushioning. The article may be a wearable item.

Methods and apparatuses for producing a zoned and/or layered substrate are described. A substrate can include a first layer including a first zone, a second zone, and an interface between zones. The first zone can include a plurality of fibers. The second zone can include a plurality of fibers and can be offset from the first zone in a cross-direction. The interface can include at least some of the plurality of fibers of the first zone and at least some of the plurality of fibers of the second zone to provide a purity gradient with a transition width less than 3.8 cm as defined by the Purity Gradient Test Method as described herein.

Methods and apparatuses for producing a zoned and/or layered substrate are described. A substrate can include a first layer including a first zone, a second zone, and an interface between zones. The first zone can include a plurality of fibers. The second zone can include a plurality of fibers and can be offset from the first zone in a cross-direction. The interface can include at least some of the plurality of fibers of the first zone and at least some of the plurality of fibers of the second zone to provide a purity gradient with a transition width less than 3.8 cm as defined by the Purity Gradient Test Method as described herein.

A waterproof and moisture-permeable composite material is provided, which is composed of a waterproof and moisture-permeable membrane and a melt-blown non-woven fabric. The melting point of melt-blown non-woven fabric ranges from 80° C. to 130° C., in which the melt-blown non-woven fabric is a thermoplastic polymer which may be a thermoplastic polyether ester elastomer polymer. A method for forming a waterproof and moisture-permeable composite material includes: providing a thermoplastic polymer; performing a melt-blown process to the thermoplastic polymer by using an extruder to form a melt-blown fiber, so the melt-blown fiber on a conveyer belt with multiple meshes to form a melt-blown non-woven fabric; covering a moisture-permeable membrane on the melt-blown non-woven fabric to adhere the moisture-permeable membrane and the melt-blown non-woven fabric to form a waterproof and moisture-permeable composite material.

The present invention discloses a unidirectional moisturizing nanofiber facial mask substrate with asymmetric wettability and preparation thereof. The preparation includes: preparing a superhydrophilic electrospun fiber membrane on a substrate by electrospinning; preparing a hydrophobic electrospun fiber membrane by electrospinning on a lateral surface of the superhydrophilic electrospun fiber membrane away from the substrate to form a double-layered membrane; and removing the substrate, and drying the double-layered membrane to obtain the asymmetric unidirectional moisturizing facial mask substrate with one side being superhydrophilic and the other side being hydrophobic. The superhydrophilic layer can absorb a nutrient solution and be applied to the skin surface, while the hydrophobic layer can keep itself dry, reduce the consumption of the nutrient solution and inhibit volatilization of the nutrient solution. The process is simple, uses readily available materials, and is non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and low-cost, thus solving several key problems with current commercial facial mask substrates.

The provided articles and methods use a non-woven fibrous web containing 60-100 wt % of oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers; and 0-40 wt % of reinforcing fibers having outer surfaces comprised of a polymer with a melting temperature of from 100° C. to 300° C. The non-woven fibrous web has an average bulk density of from 15 kg/m.sup.3 to 50 kg/m.sup.3, with the plurality of fibers substantially entangled along directions perpendicular to a major surface of the non-woven fibrous web. Optionally, the oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers can have a crimped configuration. Advantageously, these articles can display a combination of low thermal conductivity, high tensile strength, and flame resistance.

The provided articles and methods use a non-woven fibrous web containing 60-100 wt % of oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers; and 0-40 wt % of reinforcing fibers having outer surfaces comprised of a polymer with a melting temperature of from 100° C. to 300° C. The non-woven fibrous web has an average bulk density of from 15 kg/m.sup.3 to 50 kg/m.sup.3, with the plurality of fibers substantially entangled along directions perpendicular to a major surface of the non-woven fibrous web. Optionally, the oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers can have a crimped configuration. Advantageously, these articles can display a combination of low thermal conductivity, high tensile strength, and flame resistance.

A laminate including a substrate layer and a fibrous layer. The fibrous layer includes cellulose fibers and irregularly shaped lumps of a hotmelt material. The lumps of hotmelt material may at least partially bond the cellulose fibers together, thus increasing the integrity and resilience of the fibrous layer.

A fibrous layer having a first side and an opposed second side. The fibrous layer includes a hotmelt composition that at least partially coats and binds the fibers of the fibrous layer at the surface of at least one of the first side and second side.