Filter media comprising a filtration layer comprising synthetic fibers (e.g., pleatable backer layer) and related components, systems, and methods associated herewith are provided. In some embodiments, the filtration layer comprising synthetic fibers may be a non-woven web comprising a blend of coarse and fine diameter fibers. The filtration layer comprising synthetic fibers may be designed to have desirable performance properties without compromising certain mechanical properties, such as the pleatability of the media. In some embodiments, a filter media, described herein, may comprise the filtration layer comprising synthetic fibers and an efficiency layer. Filter media, as described herein, may be particularly well-suited for applications that involve filtering air, though the media may also be used in other applications.

A pouched product adapted for release of a water-soluble component therefrom is provided herein. The pouched product can include an outer water-permeable pouch defining a cavity containing a composition that includes a water-soluble component capable of being released through the water-permeable pouch and has a surface area, wherein the outer water-permeable pouch can include a nonwoven web including fibers, wherein at least a portion of the fibers are selected from the group consisting of polyester fibers in an amount of 20% or greater based on the total weight of the fibers, tobacco-derived viscose, sisal fibers, corn silk fibers, long wood fibers, MCC fibers, and combinations thereof.

Articles, such as sanitary tissue products, comprising fibrous structures, and more particularly articles comprising fibrous structures comprising a plurality of fibrous elements wherein the articles exhibit improved consumer relevant properties, for example improved bulk and absorbent properties, compared to known articles and methods for making same are provided.

A fiber formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains a thermoplastic starch and an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester is provided. The copolyester enhances the strength of the starch-containing fibers and facilitates the ability of the starch to be melt processed. Due to its relatively low melting point, the copolyester may also be extruded with the thermoplastic starch at a temperature low enough to avoid substantial removal of the moisture in the starch. Furthermore, the copolyester is also modified with an alcohol to contain one or more hydroxyalkyl or alkyl terminal groups. By selectively controlling the conditions of the alcoholysis reaction (e.g., alcohol and copolymer concentrations, temperature, etc.), the resulting modified aliphatic-aromatic copolyester may have a relatively low molecular weight. Such low molecular weight polymers have the combination of a higher melt flow index and lower apparent viscosity, which is useful in a variety of fiber forming applications, such as meltblowing nonwoven webs.

A fiber formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains a thermoplastic starch and an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester is provided. The copolyester enhances the strength of the starch-containing fibers and facilitates the ability of the starch to be melt processed. Due to its relatively low melting point, the copolyester may also be extruded with the thermoplastic starch at a temperature low enough to avoid substantial removal of the moisture in the starch. Furthermore, the copolyester is also modified with an alcohol to contain one or more hydroxyalkyl or alkyl terminal groups. By selectively controlling the conditions of the alcoholysis reaction (e.g., alcohol and copolymer concentrations, temperature, etc.), the resulting modified aliphatic-aromatic copolyester may have a relatively low molecular weight. Such low molecular weight polymers have the combination of a higher melt flow index and lower apparent viscosity, which is useful in a variety of fiber forming applications, such as meltblowing nonwoven webs.

Articles, such as sanitary tissue products, including fibrous structures, and more particularly articles including fibrous structures having a plurality of fibrous elements wherein the article exhibits differential cellulose content throughout the thickness of the article and methods for making same are provided.

An automotive interior material comprises: a polyester needle-punched nonwoven fabric; and a polycarbonate-based polyurethane resin attached to the polyester needle-punched nonwoven fabric, wherein the polycarbonate-based polyurethane resin is obtained by reacting an organic polyisocyanate with a polyol comprising 30 to 99% by mass of a polycarbonate diol represented by the following general formula (1):

##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1s each independently represent an alkylene group having 4 to 8 carbon atoms, and n represents an integer with which a molecular weight of the compound represented by the formula (1) is in a range from 1000 to 3500, with a mole ratio between NCO groups of the organic polyisocyanate and OH groups of the polyol (the number of moles of NCO groups/the number of moles of OH groups) being 1.5/1.0 to 1.1/1.0, to obtain a urethane prepolymer having isocyanate groups at terminals, and dispersing the urethane prepolymer in water by emulsification, followed by chain extension with a polyamine having two or more amino groups of at least one type selected from a primary amino group and a secondary amino group, and the amount of the polycarbonate-based polyurethane resin attached is 1 to 15 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyester needle-punched nonwoven fabric.

An automotive interior material comprises: a polyester needle-punched nonwoven fabric; and a polycarbonate-based polyurethane resin attached to the polyester needle-punched nonwoven fabric, wherein the polycarbonate-based polyurethane resin is obtained by reacting an organic polyisocyanate with a polyol comprising 30 to 99% by mass of a polycarbonate diol represented by the following general formula (1):

##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1s each independently represent an alkylene group having 4 to 8 carbon atoms, and n represents an integer with which a molecular weight of the compound represented by the formula (1) is in a range from 1000 to 3500, with a mole ratio between NCO groups of the organic polyisocyanate and OH groups of the polyol (the number of moles of NCO groups/the number of moles of OH groups) being 1.5/1.0 to 1.1/1.0, to obtain a urethane prepolymer having isocyanate groups at terminals, and dispersing the urethane prepolymer in water by emulsification, followed by chain extension with a polyamine having two or more amino groups of at least one type selected from a primary amino group and a secondary amino group, and the amount of the polycarbonate-based polyurethane resin attached is 1 to 15 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyester needle-punched nonwoven fabric.

A nonwoven recyclable fabric and associated methods are provided. The fabric is formed from 100% polyester, and may also include surface coatings such as hydrophilic coatings to promote heat transfer as well moisture vapor transmission rates and/or a silicone coating to promote fabric smoothness and reduce abrasiveness of the fabric.

A nonwoven recyclable fabric and associated methods are provided. The fabric is formed from 100% polyester, and may also include surface coatings such as hydrophilic coatings to promote heat transfer as well moisture vapor transmission rates and/or a silicone coating to promote fabric smoothness and reduce abrasiveness of the fabric.