A nonwoven web material that contains fibers formed by compounding at least one polymer with a tackifier is provided. The nonwoven web material can be used as a wipe or tack cloth and can exhibit a dust holding capacity of at least about 10 grams/m.sup.2 and a lint potential of less than about 5 fibers/cm.sup.2. In addition to containing a tackifier that is compounded with the polymer(s) used to form the fibers of the web, the nonwoven web material can be textured, post-bonded, apertured, or treated with elemental fluorine gas to further improve its dust holding capacity and minimize lint production. In addition, the nonwoven web material leaves minimal residue after contacting a surface.

A nonwoven web material that contains fibers formed by compounding at least one polymer with a tackifier is provided. The nonwoven web material can be used as a wipe or tack cloth and can exhibit a dust holding capacity of at least about 10 grams/m.sup.2 and a lint potential of less than about 5 fibers/cm.sup.2. In addition to containing a tackifier that is compounded with the polymer(s) used to form the fibers of the web, the nonwoven web material can be textured, post-bonded, apertured, or treated with elemental fluorine gas to further improve its dust holding capacity and minimize lint production. In addition, the nonwoven web material leaves minimal residue after contacting a surface.

The invention provides a laminated nonwoven fabric sheet formed by uniting an ultrafine fiber layer and a hydrophilic short fiber layer, in which the hydrophilic short fiber layer is laminated on one surface or both surfaces of the ultrafine fiber layer, the ultrafine fiber layer is formed by combining 20 to 80% by mass of thermoplastic resin fibers (A) and 80 to 20% by mass of elastomer resin fibers (B) that melt or soften at a temperature lower than a temperature of thermoplastic resin fibers (A), and the ultrafine fiber layer includes a hindered amine compound, the laminated nonwoven fabric sheet is subjected to electret processing, and 10% stretch strength in one direction is different from 10% stretch strength in a direction perpendicular to the one direction.

The invention provides a laminated nonwoven fabric sheet formed by uniting an ultrafine fiber layer and a hydrophilic short fiber layer, in which the hydrophilic short fiber layer is laminated on one surface or both surfaces of the ultrafine fiber layer, the ultrafine fiber layer is formed by combining 20 to 80% by mass of thermoplastic resin fibers (A) and 80 to 20% by mass of elastomer resin fibers (B) that melt or soften at a temperature lower than a temperature of thermoplastic resin fibers (A), and the ultrafine fiber layer includes a hindered amine compound, the laminated nonwoven fabric sheet is subjected to electret processing, and 10% stretch strength in one direction is different from 10% stretch strength in a direction perpendicular to the one direction.

A substrate for a support for bituminous membranes, comprising two or more layers of fibers comprising a homogeneous mixture of organic fibers and inorganic fibers, between which there is interposed a reinforcing scrim, said fibers being oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the substrate and laid said by side and alternate.

A substrate for a support for bituminous membranes, comprising two or more layers of fibers comprising a homogeneous mixture of organic fibers and inorganic fibers, between which there is interposed a reinforcing scrim, said fibers being oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the substrate and laid said by side and alternate.

A method for hydroforming a composite precursor material includes forming a composite precursor material comprising an original spun bonded nonwoven web and a polymer film layer. The method also includes applying a plurality of pressurized liquid jets onto an outer surface of the original spun bonded nonwoven web while the composite precursor material passes over a forming structure to push and reorient a plurality of spun bonded fibers from a closely packed substantially horizontal orientation to a more loosely packed orientation with greater vertical spacing between the fibers to produce a hydroformed composite material comprising an expanded spun bonded nonwoven layer having a loft of at least about 1.3 times greater than the original loft of the original spun bonded nonwoven web, and an air permeability of at least about 1.2 times greater than an original air permeability of the original unexpanded spun bonded nonwoven web.

A method for hydroforming a composite precursor material includes forming a composite precursor material comprising an original spun bonded nonwoven web and a polymer film layer. The method also includes applying a plurality of pressurized liquid jets onto an outer surface of the original spun bonded nonwoven web while the composite precursor material passes over a forming structure to push and reorient a plurality of spun bonded fibers from a closely packed substantially horizontal orientation to a more loosely packed orientation with greater vertical spacing between the fibers to produce a hydroformed composite material comprising an expanded spun bonded nonwoven layer having a loft of at least about 1.3 times greater than the original loft of the original spun bonded nonwoven web, and an air permeability of at least about 1.2 times greater than an original air permeability of the original unexpanded spun bonded nonwoven web.

A method of forming a fiber-bound engineered material utilizing carrier screens is provided that imparts an intended characteristic at an intended relative location. Also provided are articles formed of fiber-bound engineered materials manufactured utilizing carrier screens. A fiber layer is placed adjacent at least one carrier screen and entangled with additional fibers in a manner to create a non-uniform engineered material. The lack of uniformity of a fiber-bound engineered material may be accomplished through manipulation of the fibers and/or through fiber binding a scrim. The fiber layer binds with additional fibers through entanglement such that a mechanical connection between the entangled fibers is provided. This entanglement allows the fibers to bind without supplemental adhesives, interlacing, or connections.

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.