A system and associated method for preparing a composite sheet material is provided. The system includes a nonwoven fabric source; a collection surface onto which a nonwoven fabric is deposited; a carding device disposed downstream of the nonwoven fabric source overlying the collection surface, the carding device including a main cylinder, an air source configured to provide a stream of air; an air manifold having an air inlet in communication with the air source, an air outlet, a fiber inlet, an interior channel, and a fiber outlet. The air outlet is positioned to direct an air stream against a surface the cylinder to dislodge fibers from the surface of the cylinder. The dislodged fibers enter the fiber inlet and flow to the fiber outlet at which point the fibers are deposited onto a surface of the nonwoven fabric. The fabrics are then bonded to form a coherent sheet material.

A plant and a method for connecting a web of fibrous material to a nonwoven or consolidating it therewith includes a first circulating belt on which the web of fibrous material is laid, a device for introducing a nonwoven into the plant, and a further successive circulating belt on which the nonwoven is to be connected to or consolidated with the web of fibrous material. The web of fibrous material from the first circulating belt is first laid on the nonwoven and subsequently the fibrous material is transferred onto the successive belt together with the nonwoven for connection or consolidation by use of water jets.

A plant and a method for connecting a web of fibrous material to a nonwoven or consolidating it therewith includes a first circulating belt on which the web of fibrous material is laid, a device for introducing a nonwoven into the plant, and a further successive circulating belt on which the nonwoven is to be connected to or consolidated with the web of fibrous material. The web of fibrous material from the first circulating belt is first laid on the nonwoven and subsequently the fibrous material is transferred onto the successive belt together with the nonwoven for connection or consolidation by use of water jets.

Wearable article comprising a laminate with excellent sweat management properties. The laminate comprises a first web and a second web. The second web is formed of a first fibrous layer and a second fibrous layer, which are integrally combined with each other. The second fibrous layer may be more hydrophilic than the first fibrous layer; and/or the second fibrous layer may have higher average surface area per volume than the first fibrous layer.

Wearable article comprising a laminate with excellent sweat management properties. The laminate comprises a first web and a second web. The second web is formed of a first fibrous layer and a second fibrous layer, which are integrally combined with each other. The second fibrous layer may be more hydrophilic than the first fibrous layer; and/or the second fibrous layer may have higher average surface area per volume than the first fibrous layer.

This document presents a novel method of manufacturing multilayered nonwoven fabrics consisting of submicron fibers, hydroentangled, meltfibrillated, and/or spunlaid web layers. The composite multilayered webs contain one or more submicron fiber webs placed between inner and outer layers of hydroentangled, meltfibrillated, and/or spunlaid web, forming a fabric that may be utilized in the manufacture of articles which serve as barriers, wipes or sorbent materials, or may have other potential applications. The created novel composite multilayered fabric may have increased loft, softness and bending length, may not be solely dependent upon an electrostatic charge to repel small particles and microbes, and may be formed from a broad selection of natural, synthetic, and recycled polymers, including petroleum- and plant-based, allowing polymer selection based on article lifecycle.

A decorative, nonwoven laminate and a method of forming, including a first side of a first nonwoven affixed to one or both of a) a first side of a polymeric sheet or b) a second nonwoven, wherein the first nonwoven exhibits a basis weight of 15 g/m.sup.2 to 2500 g/m.sup.2 and the second nonwoven exhibits a basis weight of 15 g/m.sup.2 to 1200 g/m.sup.2; and a colorant deposited on a second side of the first nonwoven. A topical coating may or may not be applied to improve durability of the printed surface layer. The decorative nonwoven laminate may also amount to a single layer of the first nonwoven, which then includes a layer of colorant and a topical coating over the colorant and single nonwoven layer.

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 carbon-carbon composite preform including a plurality of layers including carbon fibers or carbon-precursor fibers, the layers include a first exterior layer defining a first major surface, a second exterior layer defining a second major surface, and at least one interior layer disposed between the first exterior layer and the second exterior layer, the at least one interior layer having a peripheral region that forms a portion of an outer surface of the preform. The preform includes needled fibers, where at least some needled fibers extend through two or more layers. The preform has an exterior region and a core region, where the exterior region includes at least the peripheral region of at least one interior layer. The needled fibers define a first needled fiber number density (NFND) in the exterior region and a second greater NFND in at least a portion of the core region.