A hemp-based nonwoven material manufactured by an air bonding process comprising a temperature of 150? C. for two minutes; said nonwoven material comprising between 1% and 99% hemp and between 1% and 99% of at least a second fiber; wherein the at least a second fiber is a synthetic fiber having a melt temperature of above 150? C.

Absorbent materials described herein can include an intake layer and an absorbent layer. The absorbent material can include a saturation capacity greater than 125 grams, and a second intake time of less than 50 seconds and a wet thickness of less than 17 mm according to the Modified Fluid Intake Under Pressure Test as described herein. In some aspects, the intake layer and the absorbent layer can provide an integrated material including an interface between the intake layer and the absorbent layer. The interface can include at least some fibers of the intake layer mixed with at least some fibers of the absorbent layer.

Absorbent substrates including a high percentage of superabsorbent material and method of manufacturing such absorbent substrates are disclosed. An absorbent substrate can include an intake layer including a first plurality of fibers and an absorbent layer. The absorbent layer can include superabsorbent material providing greater than 80% of the absorbent layer by total weight of the absorbent layer. The intake layer and the absorbent layer can provide an integrated material including an interface between the intake and absorbent layers. The interface can include at least some of the first plurality of fibers of the intake layer mixed with at least some of the absorbent layer.

Provided is batting that includes a bonded nonwoven web made from a fiber mixture containing: (a) 20 to 55 wt % of siliconized fibers having a denier of 1.5 to 10.0 and a length of 51 mm to 84 mm; (b) 10 to 45 wt % of hollow conjugate fibers having a spiral crimp, and having a denier of 1.5 to 10.0 and a length of 51 to 84 mm; (c) 10 to 45 wt % of a first population of binder fibers which are elastomeric co-polyester binder fibers having a denier of 1.5 to 8.0, a length of 51 mm to 84 mm, and a bonding temperature of 110? C. to 180? C.; and (d) 1 to 20 wt % of a second population of binder fibers, which have a denier of 1.5 to 6.0, a length of 51 mm to 84 mm, and a bonding temperature of 80? C. to 135? C.

An article of apparel including insulation material includes an insulating layer formed of waterfowl fibers and synthetic fibers. The waterfowl fibers can be present in an amount of at least 20% by weight of the insulating layer. The insulating layer is generally free of waterfowl plumage.

A microfiber nonwoven composite includes: at least one layer S that contains a first fiber component; and at least one layer M that contains a second fiber component. The second fiber component is forced at least in part into the layer S. Fibers of the first fiber component comprise melt-spun include filaments deposited as a nonwoven fabric, and which are at least partially split and solidified to form elementary filaments having an average titer of less than 1 dtex. Fibers of the second fiber component include melt-blown fibers.

The present invention provides compositions comprising aligned fibers of electrospun PNIPAAm and poly (-caprolactone) (PCL) (denoted PNIPAAm/PCL fibers). The PNIPAAm/PCL compositions enable enhanced growth and detachment of intact anisotropic cell sheets. The compositions do not require chemical modification or resource-intensive techniques, thus saving time and expense, and have the potential to generate tissue-specific, aligned cell sheets for transplant studies.

A filter assembly includes a filter pad comprising flame resistant viscose. The filter assembly also includes a bonding emulsion. The bonding emulsion may comprise casein resin. The bonding emulsion may additionally comprise acrylic resin. The filter assembly also includes a structural support. In particular embodiments, at least a portion of the fibers are treated with a solution that is fire resistant or fire retardant.

A method of producing a fine fiber, including treating a cellulose raw material with an enzyme; and fibrillating the treated cellulose raw material; treating with the enzyme under a condition where at least a ratio of endo-glucanase activity to cellobiohydrolase activity that is 0.06 or greater. The cellulose raw material may be a plant fiber. The method efficiently produces a fine fiber from a cellulose raw material at low cost and with a low environmental burden, a fine fiber, and a non-woven fabric.

A fire spread prevention material 10 having a multilayer configuration, including at least a layer A containing an inorganic fiber base material and sodium silicate impregnated into the inorganic fiber base material and a layer B containing an inorganic fiber and having a porous structure, in which the inorganic fiber base material includes an inorganic fiber and an organic binder, a content of the organic binder is 5 to 20 mass % based on a total mass of the inorganic fiber base material, and a SiO.sub.2/Na.sub.2O mole ratio of the sodium silicate is less than 3.1.