A multi-faceted family of non-woven webs that can take the form of a filter media, an adaptable forming process and a machine capable of making the range of media are disclosed. The filter medium can have a first surface and a second surface defining a thickness. The medium can comprise a region having a gradient. Such a gradient is formed by having a medium wherein the concentration of a fiber, a property or other component varies from one surface to the next surface. The gradient region of the media can comprise the entire thickness of the medium or can comprise a region that comprises a portion of the media thickness. The media are characterized by the presence of a continuous change of the fiber concentration or property within the region.

A multi-faceted family of non-woven webs that can take the form of a filter media, an adaptable forming process and a machine capable of making the range of media are disclosed. The filter medium can have a first surface and a second surface defining a thickness. The medium can comprise a region having a gradient. Such a gradient is formed by having a medium wherein the concentration of a fiber, a property or other component varies from one surface to the next surface. The gradient region of the media can comprise the entire thickness of the medium or can comprise a region that comprises a portion of the media thickness. The media are characterized by the presence of a continuous change of the fiber concentration or property within the region.

An object of the invention is to provide a filter medium having high collection efficiency of dust and low pressure drop. The invention relates to a filter medium including ultrafine fibers subjected to electrospinning, in which the ultrafine fibers have a plurality of ester bonds in a molecule. A mean fiber diameter of the ultrafine fibers is preferably in the range of 10 to 5,000 nanometers, and the ultrafine fibers are preferably ultrafine fibers composed of polylactic acid, polyethylene terephthalate, polymethyl methacrylate or polycarbonate. Moreover, another object is to provide a production method for a fibrous structure for a filter medium, including a step of preparing a spinning solution in which a resin having a plurality of ester bonds in a molecule is dispersed or dissolved in a solvent, and a step of obtaining the fibrous structure including ultrafine fibers by performing electrospinning of the spinning solution.

An object of the invention is to provide a filter medium having high collection efficiency of dust and low pressure drop. The invention relates to a filter medium including ultrafine fibers subjected to electrospinning, in which the ultrafine fibers have a plurality of ester bonds in a molecule. A mean fiber diameter of the ultrafine fibers is preferably in the range of 10 to 5,000 nanometers, and the ultrafine fibers are preferably ultrafine fibers composed of polylactic acid, polyethylene terephthalate, polymethyl methacrylate or polycarbonate. Moreover, another object is to provide a production method for a fibrous structure for a filter medium, including a step of preparing a spinning solution in which a resin having a plurality of ester bonds in a molecule is dispersed or dissolved in a solvent, and a step of obtaining the fibrous structure including ultrafine fibers by performing electrospinning of the spinning solution.

A carded staple fiber nonwoven having a basis weight of between about 45 grams per square meter (gsm) and about 150 gsm, includes a blend of absorbing fibers, stiffening fibers and filler fibers. The carded staple fiber nonwoven is non-heat stiffened, has an air permeability of between about 100 m.sup.3/m.sup.2/min and about 500 m.sup.3/m.sup.2/min, and a pore radius mode of between about 60 m and about 120 m.

A carded staple fiber nonwoven having a basis weight of between about 45 grams per square meter (gsm) and about 150 gsm, includes a blend of absorbing fibers, stiffening fibers and filler fibers. The carded staple fiber nonwoven is non-heat stiffened, has an air permeability of between about 100 m.sup.3/m.sup.2/min and about 500 m.sup.3/m.sup.2/min, and a pore radius mode of between about 60 m and about 120 m.

An apparatus includes a locking portion, a flexible pulling portion, a flexible body, and a plurality of barb features extending laterally from the body. The locking portion is configured to receive the pulling portion. The pulling portion is configured to engage and translate relative to the locking portion after the locking portion has received the pulling portion. The flexible body extends from the locking portion to the pulling portion. The flexible body is configured to form a loop when the pulling portion engages the locking portion. The loop is configured to decrease in size in response to pulling of the pulling portion relative to the locking portion. The barb features are configured to engage a tubular region of tissue and thereby form pleats in the tubular region of tissue.

An apparatus includes a locking portion, a flexible pulling portion, a flexible body, and a plurality of barb features extending laterally from the body. The locking portion is configured to receive the pulling portion. The pulling portion is configured to engage and translate relative to the locking portion after the locking portion has received the pulling portion. The flexible body extends from the locking portion to the pulling portion. The flexible body is configured to form a loop when the pulling portion engages the locking portion. The loop is configured to decrease in size in response to pulling of the pulling portion relative to the locking portion. The barb features are configured to engage a tubular region of tissue and thereby form pleats in the tubular region of tissue.

An object is to realize a base material nonwoven fabric for molding excellent in handling as a material, by preventing peeling between laminated components constituting the base material for molding; and even after the base material is reheated and molded, to provide a molded product having excellent elasticity resistant to external forces such as flying debris or the like, and while maintaining peeling resistance, capable of realizing excellent sound absorbing characteristics, by suppressing air permeability inhibition due to the adhesive component. A base material nonwoven fabric for molding in a predetermined shape by heat molding, characterized by having a two-layer structure of a long fiber nonwoven fabric layer comprising at least a polyester resin and a short fiber nonwoven fabric layer comprising a polyester resin, wherein a flow-solidified undrawn polypropylene layer is localized in the vicinity of an interface between the long fiber nonwoven fabric layer and the short fiber nonwoven fabric layer.

The present invention relates to a sheath-core conjugated fiber for a supporter of a water treatment separation membrane, the fiber being harmless to the human body without the elution of heavy metals and having excellent color transparency and strength, a supporter comprising the same for a water treatment separation membrane, a water treatment separation membrane comprising the same, and a filter module comprising the same.