The present invention relates to inorganic fibres having a composition comprising: 61.0 to 70.8 wt % SiO.sub.2; 28.0 to 39.0 wt % CaO; 0.10 to 0.85 wt % MgO other components, if any, providing the balance up to 100 wt %, The sum of SiO.sub.2 and CaO is greater than or equal to 98.8 wt % and the other components comprise less than 0.70 wt % Al.sub.2O.sub.3, if any.

The present invention relates to a bonded nonwoven fabric generally including absorbent staple fibres and having bonding stripes of relatively high fibre entanglement density extending along the fabric and into the fabric from at least one face thereof. A method of producing a bonded nonwoven fabric suitable for use as an absorbent layer in a wound dressing is also described.

The present invention relates to a bonded nonwoven fabric generally including absorbent staple fibres and having bonding stripes of relatively high fibre entanglement density extending along the fabric and into the fabric from at least one face thereof. A method of producing a bonded nonwoven fabric suitable for use as an absorbent layer in a wound dressing is also described.

A paper machine clothing, in particular a press felt, for a machine for producing or processing a fibrous material web, includes a base structure and at least one layer of nonwoven fibers disposed on the base structure. The layer of nonwoven fibers has bonding fibers and further fibers. The bonding fibers and the further fibers differ in at least one material property, and at least some of the bonding fibers are connected to one or more further fibers and/or elements of the base structure by an integral joining connection, in particular a weld connection. A method for producing the clothing is also provided.

A paper machine clothing, in particular a press felt, for a machine for producing or processing a fibrous material web, includes a base structure and at least one layer of nonwoven fibers disposed on the base structure. The layer of nonwoven fibers has bonding fibers and further fibers. The bonding fibers and the further fibers differ in at least one material property, and at least some of the bonding fibers are connected to one or more further fibers and/or elements of the base structure by an integral joining connection, in particular a weld connection. A method for producing the clothing is also provided.

Embodiments of the present invention describe secured fiber-reinforced aerogels and laminate structures formed therefrom. In one embodiment a laminate comprises at least one fiber-reinforced aerogel layer adjacent to at least one layer of fiber containing material wherein fibers from said at least one fiber-reinforced aerogel layer are interlaced with fibers of said at least one fiber-containing material. In another embodiment a laminate comprises at least two adjacent fiber-reinforced aerogel layers wherein fibers from at least one fiber-reinforced aerogel layer are interlaced with fibers of an adjacent fiber-reinforced aerogel layer.

Embodiments of the present invention describe secured fiber-reinforced aerogels and laminate structures formed therefrom. In one embodiment a laminate comprises at least one fiber-reinforced aerogel layer adjacent to at least one layer of fiber containing material wherein fibers from said at least one fiber-reinforced aerogel layer are interlaced with fibers of said at least one fiber-containing material. In another embodiment a laminate comprises at least two adjacent fiber-reinforced aerogel layers wherein fibers from at least one fiber-reinforced aerogel layer are interlaced with fibers of an adjacent fiber-reinforced aerogel layer.

Stabilizing a textile sheet structure was achieved by forming a plurality of discrete fiber tufts extending from a first face of a fibrous layer of the textile sheet structure, through the fibrous layer and beyond a second face opposite the first face. Each discrete fiber tuft included a plurality discrete fibers. Each discrete fiber tuft was anchored to the first face and the second face of the fibrous layer by joining together the plurality of each discrete fiber tuft at the first face and the second face and bonding the joined plurality of discrete fiber tuft to the first face and the second face.

Stabilizing a textile sheet structure was achieved by forming a plurality of discrete fiber tufts extending from a first face of a fibrous layer of the textile sheet structure, through the fibrous layer and beyond a second face opposite the first face. Each discrete fiber tuft included a plurality discrete fibers. Each discrete fiber tuft was anchored to the first face and the second face of the fibrous layer by joining together the plurality of each discrete fiber tuft at the first face and the second face and bonding the joined plurality of discrete fiber tuft to the first face and the second face.

An alumina fiber aggregate that is formed of alumina short fibers and has been subjected to needling treatment, wherein the alumina short fibers have an average fiber diameter of 6.0 μm or more and 10.0 μm or less and a specific surface area of 0.2 m.sup.2/g or more and 1.0 m.sup.2/g or less, and a residual percentage (%) of high-temperature-cycle opened gap pressure of the alumina fiber aggregate is 45% or more. A value obtained by subtracting twice the standard error of a length-weighted geometric mean diameter of fiber diameters of the alumina short fibers from the length-weighted geometric mean diameter is 6.0 μm or more. A proportion of alumina short fibers having a fiber diameter of more than 10.0 μm is preferably 5.0% or less on a number basis.