A method of making nonwoven webs comprising providing a spinneret wherein the spinneret includes a pattern of conduits, the pattern of conduits forming an extrusion region; directing only a first stream of molten propylene polymer having a first temperature into a region adjacent of the first side of the spinneret, directing only a second stream of molten propylene polymer having a second temperature into a region distal to the first side of the spinneret, extruding only the first stream of molten propylene polymer through the exit openings in a first zone; extruding only the second stream of molten propylene polymer through the exit openings of a second zone; the second zone is distal to the first side with the first zone being between the second zone and the first side.

A method of making nonwoven webs comprising providing a spinneret wherein the spinneret includes a pattern of conduits, the pattern of conduits forming an extrusion region; directing only a first stream of molten propylene polymer having a first temperature into a region adjacent of the first side of the spinneret, directing only a second stream of molten propylene polymer having a second temperature into a region distal to the first side of the spinneret, extruding only the first stream of molten propylene polymer through the exit openings in a first zone; extruding only the second stream of molten propylene polymer through the exit openings of a second zone; the second zone is distal to the first side with the first zone being between the second zone and the first side.

A patterned apertured web is disclosed. The patterned apertured web includes a plurality of land areas in the patterned apertured web and a plurality of apertures defined in the patterned apertured web. At least some land areas of the plurality of land areas surround at least some apertures of the plurality of apertures. The patterned apertured web has an Effective Open Area in the range of about 3% to about 30%, according to the Aperture Test herein. The patterned apertured web has a plurality of Interaperture Distances, according to the Aperture Test herein. The Interaperture Distances have a distribution having a median and a mean. The plurality of apertures include a first set of apertures defining a first shape and a second set of apertures defining a second shape.

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).

The invention relates to a device for producing a nonwoven fabric, wherein at least one spinning apparatus for spinning fibers is provided and a deposit conveyor is provided, on which the fibers can be deposited to form the nonwoven web. At least one hot-air pre-bonding apparatus is provided for the hot-air pre-bonding of the nonwoven web on the deposit conveyor. An additional conveyor for receiving the pre-bonded nonwoven web is arranged downstream of the deposit conveyor in the conveying direction of the nonwoven web, at least one final bonding apparatus being provided for the final bonding of the nonwoven web on the additional conveyor. The hot hot-air pre-bonding of the nonwoven web can be carried out on the deposit conveyor, with the stipulation that the nonwoven web has a strength in the machine direction (MD) of 0.6 to 4 N/5 cm before being transferred to the additional conveyor.

The invention relates to a device for producing a nonwoven fabric, wherein at least one spinning apparatus for spinning fibers is provided and a deposit conveyor is provided, on which the fibers can be deposited to form the nonwoven web. At least one hot-air pre-bonding apparatus is provided for the hot-air pre-bonding of the nonwoven web on the deposit conveyor. An additional conveyor for receiving the pre-bonded nonwoven web is arranged downstream of the deposit conveyor in the conveying direction of the nonwoven web, at least one final bonding apparatus being provided for the final bonding of the nonwoven web on the additional conveyor. The hot hot-air pre-bonding of the nonwoven web can be carried out on the deposit conveyor, with the stipulation that the nonwoven web has a strength in the machine direction (MD) of 0.6 to 4 N/5 cm before being transferred to the additional conveyor.

Trim part for a vehicle, comprising at least a fibrous layer comprising of thermoplastic bicomponent filaments or staple fibers, consisting of a first polymer forming the sheath of the bicomponent filament or staple fiber and a second polymer forming the core of the bicomponent filament or staple fiber and whereby the fibrous layer is consolidated by heating thereby melting the sheath polymer forming binding points between the filaments or staple fibers, characterized in that at least the sheath of the bicomponent filament or staple fiber comprises a shrinkage reducing additive being at least a polysiloxane, preferably a polydimethylsiloxane.

Disclosed is a spunbond nonwoven fabric comprising a purity of continuous bicomponent fibers having a sheath/core configuration, wherein ionomer of ethylene/(meth) acrylic acid copolymer forms the sheath and polyamide forms the core. Also disclosed herein is a nonwoven composite made thereof.