A melt blowing system for the manufacturing of pleatable/moldable nonwoven fabrics includes a collector positioned to receive a plurality of fibers, a first die in fluid communication with a first liquid polymer supply having a melt flow index of about 500 or lower, and a second die in fluid communication with a second liquid polymer supply having a melt flow index of about 500 or higher. The first die has a concentric air design, includes a plurality of spinneret nozzles facing the collector surface, and is configured to draw a first plurality of fibers. The second die includes a plurality of spinneret nozzles having smaller capillary diameter than those of the first die and is positioned to draw a second plurality of fibers such that the first and second pluralities of fibers form a co-mingled nonwoven web with varying fiber diameters on the collector surface.

A melt blowing system for the manufacturing of pleatable/moldable nonwoven fabrics includes a collector positioned to receive a plurality of fibers, a first die in fluid communication with a first liquid polymer supply having a melt flow index of about 500 or lower, and a second die in fluid communication with a second liquid polymer supply having a melt flow index of about 500 or higher. The first die has a concentric air design, includes a plurality of spinneret nozzles facing the collector surface, and is configured to draw a first plurality of fibers. The second die includes a plurality of spinneret nozzles having smaller capillary diameter than those of the first die and is positioned to draw a second plurality of fibers such that the first and second pluralities of fibers form a co-mingled nonwoven web with varying fiber diameters on the collector surface.

Thermally stable absorbable fiber populations, i.e. fiber populations that do not undergo thermally induced crystallization, can be intermixed with thermally unstable fibers to yield a stabilizing effect without altering morphological properties of a fiber system. Via this, one may minimize thermally induced shrinkage and maintain physical properties of electrospun materials in the as-formed state.

Thermally stable absorbable fiber populations, i.e. fiber populations that do not undergo thermally induced crystallization, can be intermixed with thermally unstable fibers to yield a stabilizing effect without altering morphological properties of a fiber system. Via this, one may minimize thermally induced shrinkage and maintain physical properties of electrospun materials in the as-formed state.

A fabric made by the method of providing a non-woven batt having flame retardant fibers, stitch bonding the non-woven batt with an elastic yarn, and heat treatment the stitch bonded, non-woven batt. The stitch bonded non-woven batt is exposed to a temperature in a range of 65 C. to 200 C. for a period in a range of 30 seconds to 120 seconds, and contracts in the machine direction in a range of 5% to 65% and in the cross-direction in a range of 20% to 70%. In an embodiment, the fabric is adapted for use as a mattress core cover.

A fabric made by the method of providing a non-woven batt having flame retardant fibers, stitch bonding the non-woven batt with an elastic yarn, and heat treatment the stitch bonded, non-woven batt. The stitch bonded non-woven batt is exposed to a temperature in a range of 65 C. to 200 C. for a period in a range of 30 seconds to 120 seconds, and contracts in the machine direction in a range of 5% to 65% and in the cross-direction in a range of 20% to 70%. In an embodiment, the fabric is adapted for use as a mattress core cover.

The invention provides an article of manufacture useful for simultaneously maintaining, cleaning and polishing hard surfaces comprising independently a driver element composite pad comprised of a top non-woven layer and one or more non woven bottom layers laminated together with an adhesive interlayer, said composite pad having a central opening extending through all the layers and one or more equidistant or non-equidistant openings on the top nonwoven layer therein and polishing inserts elements disposed in said equidistant or non-equidistant openings. The invention also provides a kit for polishing hard surfaces comprising: (a) a driver element having a central opening and one or more equidistant or non-equidistant openings; (b) polishing inserts elements for said driver element having equidistant or non-equidistant openings; and wherein said kit provides a hard surface with a consistent and improved surface smoothness and reflected image quality.

The invention provides a wound dressing, which includes a 1 to 12 mm thick layer of absorbent non-woven fibre material between 150 and 1200 grams per square meter, which layer includes a mixture of viscose fibres and polyester fibres which more viscose than polyester, and of which the fines of the viscose is between 1.5 and 3 dtex and the fines of the polyester is between 2 and 3 dtex.

The invention provides a wound dressing, which includes a 1 to 12 mm thick layer of absorbent non-woven fibre material between 150 and 1200 grams per square meter, which layer includes a mixture of viscose fibres and polyester fibres which more viscose than polyester, and of which the fines of the viscose is between 1.5 and 3 dtex and the fines of the polyester is between 2 and 3 dtex.

A masterbatch is disclosed, along with associated methods, and biodegradable filaments, fibers, yarns and fabrics. The masterbatch includes 0.2 to 5 mass % CaCO.sub.3, an aliphatic polyester with a repeat unit having from two to six carbons in the chain between ester groups, with the proviso that the 2 to 6 carbons in the chain do not include side chain carbons, and a carrier polymer selected from the group consisting of PET, nylon, other thermoplastic polymers, and combinations thereof.