The invention relates to a fibrous nonwoven, in particular for a filter medium, having a first layer, wherein at least one single-piece fiber strand of said first layer has a first fiber portion and a second fiber portion in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the fiber strand has a thickening substantially in said second fiber portion.

Foamed articles including a foamed thermoplastic elastomeric material, methods of making the articles, and methods for manufacturing articles of footwear, apparel, and athletic equipment incorporating the articles are provided. One exemplary method for making a foamed article comprises placing an article comprising a foamable fibrous element and carbon dioxide in a vessel, the foamable fibrous element comprising a plurality of filaments, fibers, and/or yarns, wherein each member of the plurality comprises a foamable material; maintaining the vessel at a first pressure and first temperature at which the carbon dioxide is a liquid and carbon dioxide is soluble in the foamable material; optionally exposing the infused article to a second temperature and second pressure; and subjecting the article to a third pressure and third temperature at which the infused carbon dioxide phase transitions to a gas, thereby expanding the foamable material into a foamed material and forming the foamed article.

A sheath-core composite fiber is composed of two or more polymers, wherein a core component having a multifoliate shape with three or more projections is completely covered by a sheath component in a fiber cross-section of the sheath-core composite fiber, while having a ratio of the maximum thickness Smax of the sheath component to the minimum thickness Smin of the sheath component, namely Smax/Smin of 5.0 or more. A multifilament is composed of the core component of this sheath-core composite fiber. The sheath-core composite fiber and multifilament are suitable for the achievement of a good textile that is comparable to natural silk.

A sheath-core composite fiber is composed of two or more polymers, wherein a core component having a multifoliate shape with three or more projections is completely covered by a sheath component in a fiber cross-section of the sheath-core composite fiber, while having a ratio of the maximum thickness Smax of the sheath component to the minimum thickness Smin of the sheath component, namely Smax/Smin of 5.0 or more. A multifilament is composed of the core component of this sheath-core composite fiber. The sheath-core composite fiber and multifilament are suitable for the achievement of a good textile that is comparable to natural silk.

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.

Provided are a stretchable non-woven fabric including crimped fibers, satisfying the following formula: (σ.sub.65−σ.sub.55)/(σ.sub.30−σ.sub.20)≥2.5, when a stress σ (N/50 mm) at a strain ε of 20%, 30%, 55% and 65% in a stress-strain curve by a tensile test for at least one direction in a plane direction, is referred to as σ.sub.20, σ.sub.30, σ.sub.55 and σ.sub.65, respectively, and a bandage including the non-woven fabric. The non-woven fabric and the bandage lead small deterioration in stretching performance when used repeatedly, and can be excellent in repetition durability.

Provided is a non-woven fabric which is suitable for cleaning wipers, diapers, food packaging materials, etc., and has excellent water absorption and handling performance. The non-woven fabric according to the present invention contains a thermoplastic biodegradable resin, and is characterized in that fibers constituting the non-woven fabric have crimps, the flexural rigidity index in the mechanical direction (MD) of the non-woven fabric is 7.77-37.4 as defined by the following equation: flexural rigidity index in the mechanical direction (MD)=flexural rigidity (gf.Math.cm) in the mechanical direction (MD)/{basis weight(g/m.sup.2)}.sup.2.5×10.sup.6, and the bulk density of the non-woven fabric is 0.098 g/cm.sup.3 to 0.251 g/cm.sup.3.

The invention relates to a cellulose-containing fibrous material for a nonwoven product, in particular in the form of a wiping cloth, cleaning cloth, sanitary product, medicinal product, or domestic cloth, wherein the fibrous material is designed as a tubular composite structure at least in part or in some regions, said structure having tubular cellulose acetate filaments. The invention additionally relates to a nonwoven product which has the fibrous material according to the invention and to a method for producing such a cellulose acetate-containing fibrous material.

Provided are a nonwoven fabric, wherein in a broken end part formed by a tensile test in accordance with JIS L 1913 of stretching in one direction to lead breakage, letting an innermost point in the one direction be P.sub.in and an outermost point be P.sub.out, distance D along the one direction between point P.sub.in and point P.sub.out is less than or equal to 50 mm, and a bandage using the same.