Nonwoven fabrics may be fashioned as topical delivery systems with increased and controllable rate of product release, while still possessing the requisite strength and durability for mass production and distribution. Such delivery systems comprise fabrics that are fashioned from micro-denier fibers that are produced by fibrillating bicomponent island-in-the-sea fibers. Facial masks made from these fabrics can achieve adequate product delivery in 3-5 minutes or less.

A method of preparing an electret by saturating a nonwoven fabric with a liquid, such as water, and removing the liquid via suction to generate charges by friction between the fabric fibers and the liquid is described. The saturating can be carried out, for example, by impinging the bottom side of the fabric with a jet or jets of water while the fabric is being pulled under a solid roller. Excess water can also be applied during a water quenching step of a meltblowing or spunbonding process. An apparatus for preparing an electret according to the presently disclosed methods is also described.

A composite nonwoven sheet material includes pulp fibers, a reinforcement material and microfibers. The sheet material has one pulp-enriched first outer layer and one microfiber-enriched second outer layer, the reinforcement material is thereby interposed between the pulp-enriched first outer layer and the microfiber-enriched second outer layer and the pulp fibers and the microfibers penetrate the reinforcement material. Also disclosed is a process of producing such composite nonwoven sheet material and the use of such composite nonwoven sheet material.

A composite nonwoven sheet material includes pulp fibers, a reinforcement material and microfibers. The sheet material has one pulp-enriched first outer layer and one microfiber-enriched second outer layer, the reinforcement material is thereby interposed between the pulp-enriched first outer layer and the microfiber-enriched second outer layer and the pulp fibers and the microfibers penetrate the reinforcement material. Also disclosed is a process of producing such composite nonwoven sheet material and the use of such composite nonwoven sheet material.

A smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and structural fibers. The structural fibers forming a network in which the smokeless tobacco is entangled. The structural fibers have a composition different from the smokeless tobacco. The tobacco-entangled fabric can have an overall oven volatiles content of at least 10 weight percent. In some embodiments, the structural fibers form a nonwoven network. In some embodiments, fibrous structures of the smokeless tobacco are entangled with the structural fibers.

A smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and structural fibers. The structural fibers forming a network in which the smokeless tobacco is entangled. The structural fibers have a composition different from the smokeless tobacco. The tobacco-entangled fabric can have an overall oven volatiles content of at least 10 weight percent. In some embodiments, the structural fibers form a nonwoven network. In some embodiments, fibrous structures of the smokeless tobacco are entangled with the structural fibers.

The invention relates to an extensible non-woven, in particular, cover sheet material for a multi-layer laminate comprising hydroentangled staple fibers, where the non-woven contains 5 to 25 wt % of binder fibers made of thermoplastic material, in particular 10-15 wt % of binder fibers, and is in addition to hydroentanglement thermally bonded. Furthermore, the invention relates to an elastic multi-layer laminate for use in an elastic component for personal hygiene products composed of elastic base material covered on one or both sides by cover material, where the cover material is formed from extensible non-woven fabric.

A jet manifold (10) and a method for a hydroentanglement device (1) are provided. The jet manifold (10) has a hollow housing (11) that includes a housing shell (12). An opening (13) is provided in the housing shell. A nozzle strip (16) is located in the housing (11) and has a tub-shaped cross-section with a nozzle body (19). The nozzle body (19) is recessed in the opening (13) in the housing shell.

A jet manifold (10) and a method for a hydroentanglement device (1) are provided. The jet manifold (10) has a hollow housing (11) that includes a housing shell (12). An opening (13) is provided in the housing shell. A nozzle strip (16) is located in the housing (11) and has a tub-shaped cross-section with a nozzle body (19). The nozzle body (19) is recessed in the opening (13) in the housing shell.

A flushable wipe or hygiene tissue includes a hydraulically entangled nonwoven material impregnated with a wetting composition, wherein the nonwoven material includes cellulose pulp fibers and/or manmade staple fibers. The nonwoven material includes disintegration elements having a projected surface area between 2 and 50 mm.sup.2 and an aspect ratio (L/D) between 1 and 10. The disintegration elements may be selected from the following group: botanical elements, paper containing a wet-strength agent, nonwoven material, and film material, and will result in a material that is more readily disintegratable when flushed in a sewer.