A fabric material includes a plurality of synthetic yarns, the yarns including staple fibers having a range of denier values. The polyester staple fibers have deniers ranging from about 0.5 denier per filament to about 2.0 denier per filament. Additionally, more than 50% of the staple fibers present in the fabric possess a length of greater than 1 inch.

A scaffold may comprise a first polymeric electrospun fiber comprising a first material having a first degradation rate, and a second polymeric electrospun fiber comprising a second material having a second degradation rate different from the first degradation rate. The first degradation rate may substantially correspond to a cell infiltration rate, and the second degradation rate may be slower than the first degradation rate. Such a scaffold may be manufactured by electrospinning a first polymer fiber having a first degradation rate by ejecting a first polymer solution from a first polymer injection system onto a mandrel, and electrospinning a second polymer fiber having a second degradation rate different from the first degradation rate by ejecting a second polymer solution from a second polymer injection system onto a mandrel. Wound healing may be improved by applying such a scaffold to a portion of a wound.

A scaffold may comprise a first polymeric electrospun fiber comprising a first material having a first degradation rate, and a second polymeric electrospun fiber comprising a second material having a second degradation rate different from the first degradation rate. The first degradation rate may substantially correspond to a cell infiltration rate, and the second degradation rate may be slower than the first degradation rate. Such a scaffold may be manufactured by electrospinning a first polymer fiber having a first degradation rate by ejecting a first polymer solution from a first polymer injection system onto a mandrel, and electrospinning a second polymer fiber having a second degradation rate different from the first degradation rate by ejecting a second polymer solution from a second polymer injection system onto a mandrel. Wound healing may be improved by applying such a scaffold to a portion of a wound.

Systems, devices and methods are provided for producing fibrous materials and products, such as filters. A system comprises a first device for generating one or more fiber stream(s), and a second device for isolating nanoparticles within a gaseous medium. The second device forms the nanoparticles into a stream and feeds this stream into the fiber streams to form the fibrous material. This distributes the nanoparticles more uniformly throughout the fibrous material. In addition, the nanoparticles increase the overall surface area within the material, which, in certain applications, increases its filtration efficiency and allows for the capture of submicron contaminants without significantly compromising other factors, such as pressure drop through the filter. Filters produced with these systems and methods are capable of withstanding rigorous conditioning, which allows the filter to achieve substantially the same level of filtration performance throughout the lifetime of the filter.

Systems, devices and methods are provided for producing fibrous materials and products, such as filters. A system comprises a first device for generating one or more fiber stream(s), and a second device for isolating nanoparticles within a gaseous medium. The second device forms the nanoparticles into a stream and feeds this stream into the fiber streams to form the fibrous material. This distributes the nanoparticles more uniformly throughout the fibrous material. In addition, the nanoparticles increase the overall surface area within the material, which, in certain applications, increases its filtration efficiency and allows for the capture of submicron contaminants without significantly compromising other factors, such as pressure drop through the filter. Filters produced with these systems and methods are capable of withstanding rigorous conditioning, which allows the filter to achieve substantially the same level of filtration performance throughout the lifetime of the filter.

Filter media and filters, such as air filters, face masks, gas turbine and compressor air intake filters, panel filters and the like, are provided that include high linear density fibers and nanoparticles dispersed throughout at least a portion of the filter media. A filter includes a filter media comprising a substrate of fibers having a linear density of greater than about 3 denier, and nanoparticles disposed within the substrate. The larger linear density fibers provide more open space or pores within the filter media, allowing for a greater density of nanoparticles to be dispersed therein. This improves the overall efficiency of the filter. The three-dimensional distribution of nanoparticles within the filter also provides resistance against complete blockage of a particular portion of the filter, thereby reducing the overall pressure drop across the filter.

Filter media and filters, such as air filters, face masks, gas turbine and compressor air intake filters, panel filters and the like, are provided that include high linear density fibers and nanoparticles dispersed throughout at least a portion of the filter media. A filter includes a filter media comprising a substrate of fibers having a linear density of greater than about 3 denier, and nanoparticles disposed within the substrate. The larger linear density fibers provide more open space or pores within the filter media, allowing for a greater density of nanoparticles to be dispersed therein. This improves the overall efficiency of the filter. The three-dimensional distribution of nanoparticles within the filter also provides resistance against complete blockage of a particular portion of the filter, thereby reducing the overall pressure drop across the filter.

The present disclosure provides: a biodegradable nonwoven fabric for thermoforming, the biodegradable nonwoven fabric being composed of a fiber of a polylactic acid-based polymer, and having a basis weight of 20-300 g/m.sup.2, preferably, a biodegradable nonwoven fabric characterized by being composed of a long fiber of a polylactic acid polymer, having an MD-direction elongation of 50% or more at 120° C., and having an MD-direction dimensional change rate of ±4% or less at 80-140° C. as determined by thermomechanical analysis; a method for producing a molded body by using said biodegradable nonwoven fabric; and a method for molding a biodegradable beverage extraction container, the method being characterized in that the molded body has an MD-direction elongation change rate of 4% or less, as determined by thermomechanical analysis (TMA) under a load of 0.05 N/2 mm at 30-100° C.

The present disclosure provides: a biodegradable nonwoven fabric for thermoforming, the biodegradable nonwoven fabric being composed of a fiber of a polylactic acid-based polymer, and having a basis weight of 20-300 g/m.sup.2, preferably, a biodegradable nonwoven fabric characterized by being composed of a long fiber of a polylactic acid polymer, having an MD-direction elongation of 50% or more at 120° C., and having an MD-direction dimensional change rate of ±4% or less at 80-140° C. as determined by thermomechanical analysis; a method for producing a molded body by using said biodegradable nonwoven fabric; and a method for molding a biodegradable beverage extraction container, the method being characterized in that the molded body has an MD-direction elongation change rate of 4% or less, as determined by thermomechanical analysis (TMA) under a load of 0.05 N/2 mm at 30-100° C.

Electret webs include a thermoplastic resin and a charge-enhancing additive. The charge-enhancing additive is a substituted-benzoic acid or a substituted-benzoate salt. The benzoic acid and benzoate salts are substituted by a hydroxyl or amino group at the ortho position or 1 position of the benzene ring. The benzene ring may contain additional substituent groups. The substituted-benzoate salt may have a monovalent, divalent, or trivalent metal counteraction.