A nonwoven substrate for an absorbent article including a layer of fibers is provided. The nonwoven substrate has a low surface tension fluid strikethrough time to basis weight ratio in the range of about 0.37 s/gsm to about 5 s/gsm. A plurality of the fibers each include fibrils extending outwardly from a surface of the fibers. The plurality of the fibers are made from a composition including a polyolefin and about 11% to about 35% of glycerol tristearate by weight of the composition. The nonwoven substrate has a specific surface area in the range of about 1 m.sup.2/g to about 4 m.sup.2/g.

A nonwoven substrate for an absorbent article including a layer of fibers is provided. The nonwoven substrate has a low surface tension fluid strikethrough time to basis weight ratio in the range of about 0.37 s/gsm to about 5 s/gsm. A plurality of the fibers each include fibrils extending outwardly from a surface of the fibers. The plurality of the fibers are made from a composition including a polyolefin and about 11% to about 35% of glycerol tristearate by weight of the composition. The nonwoven substrate has a specific surface area in the range of about 1 m.sup.2/g to about 4 m.sup.2/g.

A cleaning pad structure of stitch bonded construction incorporating one or more substrate layers of an absorbent nonwoven material with an optional additional fluid blocking substrate layer of polymer film or other suitable material in juxtaposed relation to the absorbent nonwoven layers. Stitching yarns are introduced in stitching relation through the substrate layers. One face of the pad defines a cleaning surface of raised yarn loops formed by the stitched yarns. The pad further includes an attachment surface facing away from the cleaning surface. The stitches of yarns across the attachment surface define an engagement surface for attachment to cooperating hooking elements across a surface of a mop head to define a hook and loop attachment system.

Electrospun Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)/Inulin composite nanofibers (CNFs) are provided using electrospinning technique and tested for their prebiotic and antibacterial activities. The PVA/Inulin electrospun CNFs were tested for prebiotic activity with Lactobacillus sp. and for antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). A number of electrospinning parameters such as solution concentration, PVA: Inulin mixing ratio, solution flow rate and applied voltage were carefully varied and the best PVA/Inulin electrospun CNFs (bead free) were selected for prebiotic and antibacterial tests. The concentration of the composite solution varied between 14-20%, the flow rate ranged between 0.005-0.5 mL/min and the applied voltage used ranged between 15-20 Kv. The structural properties and morphology of the PVA/Inulin electrospun CNFs were fully characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

A method for forming porous fibers is provided. The fibers are formed from a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase, which includes a matrix polymer, and a nanoinclusion additive that is at least partially incompatible with the matrix polymer so that it becomes dispersed within the continuous phase as discrete nano-scale phase domains. The method includes traversing a bundle of the fibers through a multi-stage drawing system that includes at least a first fluidic drawing stage and a second fluidic drawing stage. The first drawing stage employs a first fluidic medium having a first temperature and the second drawing stage employs a second fluidic medium having a second temperature. The first and second temperatures are both lower than the melting temperature of the matrix polymer, and the first temperature is greater than the second temperature.

A method for forming porous fibers is provided. The fibers are formed from a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase, which includes a matrix polymer, and a nanoinclusion additive that is at least partially incompatible with the matrix polymer so that it becomes dispersed within the continuous phase as discrete nano-scale phase domains. The method includes traversing a bundle of the fibers through a multi-stage drawing system that includes at least a first fluidic drawing stage and a second fluidic drawing stage. The first drawing stage employs a first fluidic medium having a first temperature and the second drawing stage employs a second fluidic medium having a second temperature. The first and second temperatures are both lower than the melting temperature of the matrix polymer, and the first temperature is greater than the second temperature.

An x-ray detectable fabric comprising: a first set of fibers having a rayon composition; a second set of fibers having a polymeric composition with an x-ray detectable material impregnated therein; wherein the first and second sets of fibers are in an entangled state as a cohesive porous fabric, and wherein fibers in the second set of fibers are distributed throughout the fabric. In particular embodiments, the first and second sets of fibers are in a non-woven state, with a bonding agent maintaining adhesion between the fibers. The polymeric composition in the second set of fibers may be selected from, for example, vinyl addition polymers, polyesters, rayon, nylon, and cellulosic compositions. The first set of fibers may or may not also include an x-ray detectable material.

A polymer fiber comprising a thermoplastic polymer and an inorganic filler, wherein the filler content, based on the polymer fiber, is more than about 10% by weight and the mean particle size (D.sub.50) of the filler is less than or equal to about 6 m. A textile fabric, especially nonwoven, produced from the polymer fiber.

A polymer fiber comprising a thermoplastic polymer and an inorganic filler, wherein the filler content, based on the polymer fiber, is more than about 10% by weight and the mean particle size (D.sub.50) of the filler is less than or equal to about 6 m. A textile fabric, especially nonwoven, produced from the polymer fiber.

Provided is a carpet comprising a textile top member, which includes carpet yarns and a nonwoven primary backing that is coupled with the carpet yarns so that the primary backing structurally supports the carpet yarns. The nonwoven primary backing has a layered configuration of fibers where the average fiber diameters of the fibers in one layer differs from the average fiber diameter in the layer or layers adjacent thereto. The layers are configured to mechanically reinforce and stabilize the carpet yarns. A secondary backing is coupled with the textile top member via a thermoplastic material. The carpet can be a carpet tile or a carpet rug.