Multi-component fibers or filaments that are ribbon shaped are provided having polymer components positioned in a side-by-side fashion. For example, the multi-component fibers may be bicomponent fibers having ribbon shape. The polymer components of the fibers are selected to have differential shrinkage behavior. Nonwovens are also provided that are manufactured from such ribbon shaped multi-component fibers or filaments.

A non-woven fabric that absorbs only a small amount of volatile low molecular weight compound, and that has good texture when used as a non-woven fabric that makes contact with human skin. This thermal bond non-woven fabric containing cyclic olefin resin includes at least: fibers (A) containing at least 50 mass % of a cyclic olefin resin (A1) having a glass transition temperature Tg.sub.A1 C.; and fibers (B) containing at least 10 mass % of either a cyclic olefin resin (B1) having a glass transition temperature Tg.sub.B1 C., or a crystalline thermoplastic resin (B2) having a melting point Mp.sub.B2 C.; the fibers (A) and the fibers (B) being heat-spliced together; wherein Tg.sub.A1>Tg.sub.B1 or Tg.sub.A1>Mp.sub.B2, and either the difference between the glass transition temperature Tg.sub.A1 C. and the glass transition temperature TgB1 C. or the difference between the glass transition temperature Tg.sub.A1 C. and the melting point Mp.sub.B2 C. exceeds 20 C.

Insulation comprises a plurality of reactive flaps that react to one or more external stimuli, e.g., humidity. The flaps are made up of a fiber mixture that includes: 20-80 wt % reactive bicomponent fibers that are reactive to an external stimulus, and have a first configuration in an unactivated state and a second configuration in an activated state, and wherein the bicomponent fibers can reversibly transform between the unactivated and activated states; 5-40 wt % synthetic binder fibers having a denier of 1.5 to 4.0 denier; 0-75 wt % of a first population of synthetic fibers, being synthetic polymeric fibers having a denier of less than 2.0 denier; and 0-75 wt % of a second population of synthetic fibers, being synthetic polymeric fibers having a denier of 4.0 to 10.0 denier. Related articles and methods are also provided.

Examples herein include prosthetic valves, valve leaflets and related methods. In an example, a prosthetic valve is included having a plurality of leaflets. The leaflets can each have a root portion and an edge portion substantially opposite the root portion and movable relative to the root portion. The leaflets can include a fibrous matrix including polymeric fibers having an average diameter of about 10 nanometers to about 10 micrometers. A coating can surround the polymeric fibers within the fibrous matrix. The coating can have a thickness of about 3 to about 30 nanometers. The coating can be formed of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, a nitride, a carbide, a sulfide, or fluoride. In an example, a method of making a valve is included.

Other examples are also included herein.

A thermally bonded filtration media that can be used in high temperature conditions in the absence of any loss of fiber through thermal effects or mechanical impact on the fiber components is disclosed. The filter media can be manufactured and used in a filter unit or structure, can be placed in a stream of removable fluid, and can remove a particulate load from the mobile stream at an increased temperature range. The combination of bi-component fiber, other filter media fiber, and other filtration additives provides an improved filtration media having unique properties in high temperature, high performance applications.

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.

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.

A non-woven fabric body (11) that forms a non-woven fabric (1) is formed by integrating composite polyester fibers (2) and flame-retardant acrylic fibers (3) which serve as the other fibers of the rest. The composite polyester fibers (2) have a core-sheath structure in which a sheath portion (4) is formed of a low melting point polyester and a core portion (5) is formed of a high melting point polyester having a higher melting point than that of the low melting point polyester. The composite polyester fibers (2) are contained in an amount of 15% to 80% by weight in a total of 100% by weight of the non-woven fabric body (11). Further, an apparent density of the non-woven fabric body (11) ((a basis weight of the non-woven fabric body)/(a thickness of the non-woven fabric body)) is 0.005 g/cm.sup.3 to 0.040 g/cm.sup.3. In addition, a bending resistance of the non-woven fabric body (11) in a flow direction of the fibers is 50 mN.Math.cm to 220 mN.Math.cm, and a bending resistance in a width direction that is orthogonal to the flow direction is 20 mN.Math.cm to 140 mN.Math.cm.

Methods and apparatuses for producing a zoned and/or layered substrate are described. A method can include providing a first supply of fibers, providing a second supply of fibers, and providing a headbox. The headbox can include a machine direction, a cross-direction, and a first cross-directional divider that separates a first zone of the headbox from a second zone of the headbox in a cross-directional manner. The method can further include transferring the first supply of fibers and the second supply of fibers to the headbox. The method can also include transferring the first supply of fibers and the second supply of fibers through the headbox to provide the substrate.