A nonwoven for use in a thermal liner for protective apparel includes 1-45 wt % of a first inherently heat resistant fiber excluding an aramid, and a balance of a second heat resistant fiber. The nonwoven excludes wool and has a thickness less than 3 mm and a basis weight of less than 2.9 osy (100 gsm). In another embodiment, the insulating layer for protective apparel includes a nonwoven including an inherently flame resistant fiber and fibers being inherently resistant to moisture absorption. The inherently flame resistant fiber is different from said inherently resistant to moisture absorption fiber. The nonwoven has an equivalent or better thermal protective performance (TPP) and a lower basis weight than an industry standard nonwoven consisting of a nonwoven of para-aramids or meta-aramids or a blend of both.

A nonwoven for use in a thermal liner for protective apparel includes 1-45 wt % of a first inherently heat resistant fiber excluding an aramid, and a balance of a second heat resistant fiber. The nonwoven excludes wool and has a thickness less than 3 mm and a basis weight of less than 2.9 osy (100 gsm). In another embodiment, the insulating layer for protective apparel includes a nonwoven including an inherently flame resistant fiber and fibers being inherently resistant to moisture absorption. The inherently flame resistant fiber is different from said inherently resistant to moisture absorption fiber. The nonwoven has an equivalent or better thermal protective performance (TPP) and a lower basis weight than an industry standard nonwoven consisting of a nonwoven of para-aramids or meta-aramids or a blend of both.

A hydroformed composite material includes an expanded spun bonded nonwoven layer having a loft of at least about 1.3 times greater than an original loft of an original unexpanded spun bonded nonwoven web from which the expanded spun bonded nonwoven layer was created, and an air permeability of at least about 1.2 times greater than an original air permeability of the original unexpanded spun bonded nonwoven web. The hydroformed composite material includes a formed film layer that includes a plurality of extended cells containing continuous fibers and/or fibrils of the expanded spun bonded nonwoven layer.

A circular air entangling system may comprise a bed plate for receiving fiber layers. An air entangling module may entangle the fiber layers with one another and a fiber packaging apparatus may transport the fiber layers for further processing. In this manner, a fiber preform may be constructed.

A circular air entangling system may comprise a bed plate for receiving fiber layers. An air entangling module may entangle the fiber layers with one another and a fiber packaging apparatus may transport the fiber layers for further processing. In this manner, a fiber preform may be constructed.

A water entanglement system having a first rotatable surface comprises a first water jet which may be configured to water-entangle a preform in situ. The water-entanglement system may comprise a second rotatable surface disposed proximate the first rotatable surface. The second rotatable surface may comprise a second water jet configured to water-entangle the preform in situ. The first rotatable surface may be oriented substantially parallel to the second rotatable surface.

A spunbond method for producing nonwoven fabrics with hygroscopic metastatic feature. Firstly, fuse prepared bio-polyamide 6,10 into a melt via spunbond method, next extrude and spun and draw the melt to form filaments, then bond and lay the filaments on a conveyer to form a substrate fibrous web of bio-polyamide 6,10. Secondly, blend and dissolve prepared pulp by putting N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) dissolving solvent, then dehydrate it to form dope, then extrude the dope out by an extruder with external compressed quenching air for converting it into cellulose filaments, then draw, bond and overlay the cellulose filaments to become uniform natural cellulose filaments on existing substrate fibrous web previously to form an overlaid fibrous web in the conveyer. Finally, coagulate, regenerate and convert the fibrous composite of the bio-polyamide 6,10 and natural cellulose into nonwoven fabric with hygroscopic metastatic feature by orderly applying hydro-entangled needle punching, drying, winding-up processes.

A spunbond method for producing nonwoven fabrics with hygroscopic metastatic feature. Firstly, fuse prepared bio-polyamide 6,10 into a melt via spunbond method, next extrude and spun and draw the melt to form filaments, then bond and lay the filaments on a conveyer to form a substrate fibrous web of bio-polyamide 6,10. Secondly, blend and dissolve prepared pulp by putting N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) dissolving solvent, then dehydrate it to form dope, then extrude the dope out by an extruder with external compressed quenching air for converting it into cellulose filaments, then draw, bond and overlay the cellulose filaments to become uniform natural cellulose filaments on existing substrate fibrous web previously to form an overlaid fibrous web in the conveyer. Finally, coagulate, regenerate and convert the fibrous composite of the bio-polyamide 6,10 and natural cellulose into nonwoven fabric with hygroscopic metastatic feature by orderly applying hydro-entangled needle punching, drying, winding-up processes.

Spunbonded electret webs comprising polylactic acid fibers, in which at least some of the polylactic acid fibers are meltspun, drawn, charged fibers that include charging additive; and, methods of making such fibers and webs.

Spunbonded electret webs comprising polylactic acid fibers, in which at least some of the polylactic acid fibers are meltspun, drawn, charged fibers that include charging additive; and, methods of making such fibers and webs.