Nanofiber filter media ribbons are flexible elongate strips of polymeric material having a surface on which is formed an array of nanofibers. Ribbons are formable into woven or non-woven mats. The array of nanofibers can be configured to filter a predetermined contaminant from a fluid stream passing through the mats. Filter ribbons are formable by applying a moldable polymer to a first angular location of a rotating cylindrical roll having an array of nanoholes formed in a circumferential surface thereof so that the polymer covers the surface of the roll and infiltrates the nanoholes; cooling the polymer while rotating the polymer-covered roll to a second angular position; and removing the cooled polymer from the roll as an elongate film having an array of nanofibers formed on a surface thereof by the polymer that infiltrated the nanoholes.

The present invention aims to provide nonwoven fabric for sanitary materials having high water absorbability and high diffusing capacity for liquids such as water and chemicals as well as high bulkiness, flexibility, and anti-see-through property, and also provides sanitary material products produced therefrom including a water absorbing sheet for sanitary napkins. The nonwoven fabric for sanitary materials may comprise nonwoven fabric of polyester based fiber with a flattened multilobar cross section containing 6 or more convex portions along the cross-sectional circumference, the polyester based fiber with a flattened multilobar cross section having a flatness of 2.0 to 3.0, a degree of irregularity of 1.0 to 5.0, and a convex ratio of 0.6 to 0.9, and the polyester based fiber with a flattened multilobar cross section being joined by heat-weldable fiber.

An external material for vehicles may include a non-woven fabric having a honeycomb structure and a wheel guard including the same.

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.

A method can include (a) extruding a bi-component fiber comprising: a first component comprising a first polypropylene homopolymer; and a second component comprising a blend that comprises a propylene-based elastomer and a second polypropylene homopolymer, wherein the blend has a melt flow rate that is at least 20% greater than or at least 20% less than a melt flow rate of the first polypropylene homopolymer; (b) cooling the bi-component fiber; and (c) thermally and/or mechanically activating the bi-component fiber to cause the bi-component fiber to curl.

A method can include (a) extruding a bi-component fiber comprising: a first component comprising a first polypropylene homopolymer; and a second component comprising a blend that comprises a propylene-based elastomer and a second polypropylene homopolymer, wherein the blend has a melt flow rate that is at least 20% greater than or at least 20% less than a melt flow rate of the first polypropylene homopolymer; (b) cooling the bi-component fiber; and (c) thermally and/or mechanically activating the bi-component fiber to cause the bi-component fiber to curl.

Process for the production of a multilayer fabric comprising the steps of: (a) feeding at least a first fabric (101) and a second fabric (102) to a constraining device (15), wherein the first fabric (101) is a non-woven fabric, comprising a plurality of filaments adapted to be crimped, preferably bicomponent filaments; (b) constraining said first and said second fabric (102) to each other, so that to define a plurality of constraining points or zones (P) between said first fabric (101) and said second fabric, and so that said first and second fabric (102) are superimposed; (c) heating said first and second fabric (102), so that the filaments of the first fabric (101) develop a crimp, thus increasing the thickness of the first fabric (101) and shrinking the length and the width of the first fabric (101), the shrinking of the first fabric (101) being greater than the shrinking of the second fabric (102).

A process for forming a splittable fiber having the steps of providing a multicomponent fiber; or a multicomponent staple fiber, providing a finish material, and at least partially coating the multicomponent fiber with the finish material to form a splittable fiber. The multicomponent fiber; or a multicomponent staple fiber, contains a first thermoplastic segment comprising polymer component A and a second thermoplastic segment comprising polymer component B. The finish material has an evaporation point of less than about 160° C. A process for forming a nonwoven fabric, a split multicomponent fiber, a split multicomponent fiber with a durable charge, a nonwoven fabric, and a filter and/or a spun yarn formed by the fibers herein is also described.

A process for forming a splittable fiber having the steps of providing a multicomponent fiber; or a multicomponent staple fiber, providing a finish material, and at least partially coating the multicomponent fiber with the finish material to form a splittable fiber. The multicomponent fiber; or a multicomponent staple fiber, contains a first thermoplastic segment comprising polymer component A and a second thermoplastic segment comprising polymer component B. The finish material has an evaporation point of less than about 160° C. A process for forming a nonwoven fabric, a split multicomponent fiber, a split multicomponent fiber with a durable charge, a nonwoven fabric, and a filter and/or a spun yarn formed by the fibers herein is also described.

Nonwoven fabrics suitable for a wide variety of applications (e.g., healthcare, filtration, industrial, packaging, etc.) are provided. In one aspect, the nonwoven fabric includes a plurality of segmented fibers. Each of the plurality of segmented fibers may comprise a fiber axis and a plurality of alternating larger diameter and smaller diameter segments along the fiber axis. The plurality of segmented fibers may be substantially aligned in a first direction.