A method for making an absorbent article comprising an absorbent core comprising one or more channels, the method comprising the steps of: i. providing a first endless moving surface comprising a plurality of molds, each mold comprising a non-porous insert therein, typically said insert having the inverse shape of said channel(s), wherein the molds are in fluid communication with an under-pressure source except for said insert; ii. feeding a first nonwoven web to said first endless moving surface and over one or more said molds; iii. depositing an absorbent material, comprising cellulose fibers and/or superabsorbent polymer particles, over at least a portion of said nonwoven web; iv. removing said absorbent material from areas of the nonwoven web corresponding to said insert; v. applying a second nonwoven web directly or indirectly over the absorbent material, or folding said first nonwoven web, such to sandwich said absorbent material between upper and lower layers of said nonwoven web(s); vi. joining said upper and lower layers together at least in the areas of the nonwoven web(s) corresponding to the insert to form an absorbent core having one or more channels substantially free of absorbent material; vii. optionally joining an acquisition distribution layer to said absorbent core, typically a skin facing surface of said upper layer; viii. optionally laminating said absorbent core and acquisition distribution layer between a liquid pervious topsheet and a liquid impervious backsheet; wherein step vi. comprises the step of selectively applying a first pressure onto the absorbent core, preferably only, in a central portion thereof and a second pressure, preferably only, along peripheral longitudinal side edges thereof miming opposite and parallel to each other and being outboard of said central portion, said central portion corresponding at least to a region of the core comprising said channel(s), and wherein said first and second pressures are successively applied along a machine direction (MD).

Propylene homopolymers having a melt flow index in the range from 3.0 dg/min to 8.0 dg/min can be particularly suited for high-tenacity fibers and yarns and nonwovens. The propylene homopolymers can be produced by a process that can include polymerizing propylene in presence of a Ziegler-Natta polymerization catalyst, an aluminum alkyl, hydrogen and an optional external donor.

Propylene homopolymers having a melt flow index in the range from 3.0 dg/min to 8.0 dg/min can be particularly suited for high-tenacity fibers and yarns and nonwovens. The propylene homopolymers can be produced by a process that can include polymerizing propylene in presence of a Ziegler-Natta polymerization catalyst, an aluminum alkyl, hydrogen and an optional external donor.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of polyolefin fibers having mean fiber diameters of less than 5000 nm, comprising the steps of: a) preparing a polyolefin solution in a solvent, b) placing said polyolefin solution in a fiber producing device comprising a body configured to receive said polyolefin solution, said body comprising one or more openings, and c) rotating the fiber producing device, wherein rotation of the fiber producing device causes the polyolefin solution to be passed through said one or more openings to produce polyolefin fibers having mean fiber diameters of less than 5000 nm, wherein said polyolefin is selected from the group comprising polyethylene polymers and copolymers having a weight average molecular weight M.sub.w of at least 40 000 daltons, and polypropylene polymers and copolymers, having a weight average molecular weight Mw of at least 120 000 daltons; wherein said fiber producing device is rotated at a speed of at least 10 000 revolutions per minutes (RPM). The invention also relates to said polyolefin fibers, and to articles comprising said fibers.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of polyolefin fibers having mean fiber diameters of less than 5000 nm, comprising the steps of: a) preparing a polyolefin solution in a solvent, b) placing said polyolefin solution in a fiber producing device comprising a body configured to receive said polyolefin solution, said body comprising one or more openings, and c) rotating the fiber producing device, wherein rotation of the fiber producing device causes the polyolefin solution to be passed through said one or more openings to produce polyolefin fibers having mean fiber diameters of less than 5000 nm, wherein said polyolefin is selected from the group comprising polyethylene polymers and copolymers having a weight average molecular weight M.sub.w of at least 40 000 daltons, and polypropylene polymers and copolymers, having a weight average molecular weight Mw of at least 120 000 daltons; wherein said fiber producing device is rotated at a speed of at least 10 000 revolutions per minutes (RPM). The invention also relates to said polyolefin fibers, and to articles comprising said fibers.

Polymer nonwoven nanoweb containing ionic functional group and respiratory mask including the same are provided. The polymeric nonwoven web comprises polymer fibers having a diameter in the nanometer range and having a polymer with an ionic functional group in its main chain or side chain. The ionic functional group may be a sulfonate group, an ammonium group, an azanide group, a phosphonate group, a phosphate group, or a zwitterion group having two of these ionic functional groups linked. The polymeric nonwoven web may further comprise a counter ion having a charge of opposite sign to the charge of the ionic functional group, such as Ag.sup.+ or I.sup..

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.

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.

A nonwoven substrate comprising a polyolefin and an engineering thermoplastic polymer. The engineering thermoplastic polymer may be present in the nonwoven substrate at a level of between about 1% and about 20% by weight of the nonwoven substrate. The layer of fibers is free of a compatibilizer.

A nonwoven substrate comprising a polyolefin and an engineering thermoplastic polymer. The engineering thermoplastic polymer may be present in the nonwoven substrate at a level of between about 1% and about 20% by weight of the nonwoven substrate. The layer of fibers is free of a compatibilizer.