The present invention is directed to a new polypropylene composition comprising a propylene homopolymer and a polymeric nucleating agent, to melt-blown fibers comprising the polypropylene composition, to a melt-blown web comprising the melt-blown fibers and/or the polypropylene composition, to an article comprising the melt-blown fibers and/or the melt-blown web as well as to the use of the polypropylene composition for improving the relation between pressure drop and hydrohead of a melt-blown web and for improving the thermo-mechanical properties of a melt-blown web in machine direction (MD) and transverse direction (TD).

Nonwoven fabrics having desirable wiping properties while also providing pleasant tactile properties are provided. The nonwoven fabrics may include a first nonwoven outer layer, a second nonwoven outer layer, and a core layer located between the first nonwoven layer and the second nonwoven outer layer. At least one of the first nonwoven outer layer and the second nonwoven outer layer may include a plurality of blended filaments comprising a blend of a polymer and an elastomeric polyolefin.

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.

The present invention provides an artificial leather including an entangled fiber mass of ultrafine fibers having a monofilament fineness of 0.01 dtex or more and 0.50 dtex or less and a polymeric elastomer; wherein at least one surface is napped; the cross-sectional profile curve of the napped surface has an arithmetic mean height Pa of 26 m or more and 100 m or less; the arithmetic mean height Pa of the cross-sectional profile curve of the opposite surface is 20% or more and 80% or less of the cross-sectional roughness Pa of the napped side; the existence frequency of asperity peaks found in the cross-sectional profile curve of the napped surface is 1.8 or more and 20 or less per 1.0 mm; and a woven or knitted fabric lamination is present near the opposite surface at a depth position of 10% or more and 50% or less.

The present invention provides an artificial leather including an entangled fiber mass of ultrafine fibers having a monofilament fineness of 0.01 dtex or more and 0.50 dtex or less and a polymeric elastomer; wherein at least one surface is napped; the cross-sectional profile curve of the napped surface has an arithmetic mean height Pa of 26 m or more and 100 m or less; the arithmetic mean height Pa of the cross-sectional profile curve of the opposite surface is 20% or more and 80% or less of the cross-sectional roughness Pa of the napped side; the existence frequency of asperity peaks found in the cross-sectional profile curve of the napped surface is 1.8 or more and 20 or less per 1.0 mm; and a woven or knitted fabric lamination is present near the opposite surface at a depth position of 10% or more and 50% or less.

The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a process for producing stretch nonwoven fabric having excellent stretchability. This production process has the following configuration. The process for producing stretch nonwoven fabric comprises: a step in which nonwoven fabric to be treated which comprises stretchable fibers and extensible fibers is unevenly stretched, while being conveyed, so that nonwoven fabric having both higher stretched regions and lower stretched regions is formed; and a step in which the nonwoven fabric having both higher stretched regions and lower stretched regions is heated for 0.1-10 seconds at a temperature which is 40 C. or higher but is lower than the melting point of the stretchable fibers. The production process is characterized in that in the nonwoven fabric having both higher stretched regions and lower stretched regions, the higher stretched regions and the lower stretched regions are parallel to the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and are present alternately in the conveying direction.

The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a process for producing stretch nonwoven fabric having excellent stretchability. This production process has the following configuration. The process for producing stretch nonwoven fabric comprises: a step in which nonwoven fabric to be treated which comprises stretchable fibers and extensible fibers is unevenly stretched, while being conveyed, so that nonwoven fabric having both higher stretched regions and lower stretched regions is formed; and a step in which the nonwoven fabric having both higher stretched regions and lower stretched regions is heated for 0.1-10 seconds at a temperature which is 40 C. or higher but is lower than the melting point of the stretchable fibers. The production process is characterized in that in the nonwoven fabric having both higher stretched regions and lower stretched regions, the higher stretched regions and the lower stretched regions are parallel to the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and are present alternately in the conveying direction.

A nonwoven extending in a machine direction and a perpendicular cross-machine direction and having fibers bonded by a pattern of thermal bonds. The thermal bonds comprise larger bonds having an individual area of at least 1.0 mm.sup.2, in particular at least 1.5 mm.sup.2; and smaller bonds having an individual area of less than 1.0 mm.sup.2, in particular from about 0.10 mm.sup.2 to about 1.0 mm.sup.2. There are at least as many smaller bonds as larger bonds, the ratio of the number of smaller bonds may be in particular about two.

A nonwoven comprising a pattern of thermal bonds with anti-fuzz properties according to at least three and preferably all four of the following conditions: a) the pattern comprises thermal bonds disposed in parallel rows having a pitch angle (P) of from 0.5 to 15 relative to the machine direction or the cross-machine direction; and/or b) the bonding area of all the thermal bonds ranges from 17% to 30% of the area of the nonwoven, and/or c) the pattern comprises larger bonds and smaller bonds having different individual area, and/or d) the pattern comprises elongated bonds having different major directions.