A fibrous web comprising multiple fibers, wherein the fibrous web has a major web surface; wherein the fibers near the major web surface comprise an outer surface; wherein the outer surface of the fibers compromises a recrystallized skin layer; wherein the recrystallized skin layer has a plurality of textures; and wherein at least another part of the outer surface is smooth.

A fibrous web comprising multiple fibers, wherein the fibrous web has a major web surface; wherein the fibers near the major web surface comprise an outer surface; wherein the outer surface of the fibers compromises a recrystallized skin layer; wherein the recrystallized skin layer has a plurality of textures; and wherein at least another part of the outer surface is smooth.

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.

A solid polymeric fiber includes: a six- to ten-fingered sectional area having fingers having central axes. The fingers are positioned unsymmetrically to each of the central axes, and/or the sectional area of the fiber has no rotational axis. In an embodiment, the six- to ten-fingered sectional area is a six-fingered sectional area.

A solid polymeric fiber includes: a six- to ten-fingered sectional area having fingers having central axes. The fingers are positioned unsymmetrically to each of the central axes, and/or the sectional area of the fiber has no rotational axis. In an embodiment, the six- to ten-fingered sectional area is a six-fingered sectional area.

A water permeability-imparting agent containing an alkylene oxide adduct (A) of a polyvalent active hydrogen compound represented by Formula (1):
R[O(A.sup.1O).sub.m(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.nH].sub.1(1)
wherein R represents a residue, after removal of all active hydrogen, of the polyvalent active hydrogen compound; A.sup.1O represents a C2 to C4 alkyleneoxy group; m represents an average addition mole number of A.sup.1O and is a number of 4 to 50; n represents an average addition mole number of CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O; and 1 represents a valence and is an integer of 3 to 6, and an average addition mole number ratio between A.sup.1O and CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O in Formula (1), n/m, is 0 to 0.5.

A water permeability-imparting agent containing an alkylene oxide adduct (A) of a polyvalent active hydrogen compound represented by Formula (1):
R[O(A.sup.1O).sub.m(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.nH].sub.1(1)
wherein R represents a residue, after removal of all active hydrogen, of the polyvalent active hydrogen compound; A.sup.1O represents a C2 to C4 alkyleneoxy group; m represents an average addition mole number of A.sup.1O and is a number of 4 to 50; n represents an average addition mole number of CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O; and 1 represents a valence and is an integer of 3 to 6, and an average addition mole number ratio between A.sup.1O and CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O in Formula (1), n/m, is 0 to 0.5.

Nonwoven materials having at least one layer comprising high core bicomponent fibers are provided. The nonwoven materials can have multiple layers and are suitable for use in a variety of applications, including in absorbent products. Such nonwoven materials can be patterned to create a three-dimensional topography including indentations formed of valleys and ridges. The nonwoven materials can have improved resiliency and strength and can retain their structure under wetted conditions and after tension and compression. The nonwoven materials can further facilitate the transfer of the liquid through the nonwoven material for improved liquid distribution and can also have improved liquid retention properties.

Nonwoven materials having at least one layer comprising high core bicomponent fibers are provided. The nonwoven materials can have multiple layers and are suitable for use in a variety of applications, including in absorbent products. Such nonwoven materials can be patterned to create a three-dimensional topography including indentations formed of valleys and ridges. The nonwoven materials can have improved resiliency and strength and can retain their structure under wetted conditions and after tension and compression. The nonwoven materials can further facilitate the transfer of the liquid through the nonwoven material for improved liquid distribution and can also have improved liquid retention properties.