Extensible nonwoven fabrics having improved elongation, extensibility, abrasion resistance and toughness. In particular, embodiments of the invention are directed to extensible spunbond fabrics comprising a polymeric blend of a metallocene catalyzed polypropylene, polyethylene, and a third polymer component.

A method of fabricating a conductive thin film includes the following steps: forming a polymer fiber made of a polymer and a metal precursor distributed in a surface layer near the surface of the polymer fiber; and applying a plasma treatment on the polymer fiber to concurrently etch the polymer and reduce the metal precursor in the surface layer of the polymer fiber. When the plasma treatment is completed, a metal membrane is formed on the surface of the polymer fiber.

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.

A material for a primary carpet backing including a nonwoven fabric including first bicomponent core/sheath fibers including a first thermoplastic polymer in the core and a second thermoplastic polymer in the sheath and second bicomponent core/sheath fibers including a third thermoplastic polymer in the core and a fourth thermoplastic polymer in the sheath, wherein the first thermoplastic polymer in the core of the first bicomponent core/sheath fibers is of a different polymer family as the third thermoplastic polymer in the core of the second bicomponent core/sheath fibers, and wherein the second thermoplastic polymer in the sheath of the first bicomponent core/sheath fibers and the fourth thermoplastic polymer in the sheath of the second bicomponent core/sheath fibers are polymers of the same polymer family, preferably having the same melting temperature.

A nonwoven textile can be treated with a laser to construct bonding structures between fibers of the nonwoven textile. In examples, the nonwoven textile can have fibers including a material that absorbs electromagnetic radiation emitted by a laser. In addition, based on absorbing the electromagnetic radiation, the fibers can soften, and the softened portions of the fibers can contact one or more other fibers of the nonwoven textile. When the softened portions re-solidify (e.g., after removal of the electromagnetic radiation), the re-solidified portions of the fiber can at least partially encapsulate the other fiber(s) to form the bonding structure between the re-solidified portions and the other fiber(s). In some examples, the bonding structure can reduce the likelihood of the fibers that are associated with the bonding structure from migrating through a face of the nonwoven textile and forming pills.

A thermal insulation batt is created from recycled carpet fibers and fire resistant cotton shoddy bonded by staples of bi-component fiber having a polyester core and low melting polymeric sheath. The low melting polymeric sheath melts at a temperature well below the melting or degradation temperature of any of the carpet fibers from the recycled carpets. Since the sheath has a small thickness, the amount of melt created is small and bonding occurs only between the bi-component staple fiber and adjacent carpet fiber or fire resistant cotton shoddy without melt overflow. The rigidized thermal insulation batt can be used in a building between studs and may be used in an automobile door for sound proofing. This product is particularly well suited for use as acoustic and thermal insulation in buildings as non-load bearing partitions in interior offices of commercial buildings. This bonded low density composite fibrous structure has fire retarding constituents incorporated within the batt to retard propagation of building fire. These stated uses are non-limiting; and other uses are contemplated, including automobile interior structures.

The present invention relates to a mounting mat for mounting a pollution control device in a catalytic converter, the mounting mat comprising a non-woven mat of inorganic fibers having distributed therein inorganic particles having an average diameter of 1 nm to 100 nm and wherein the mounting mat is free of organic binder or contains organic binder in an amount of not more than 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the mounting mat. The invention further relates to a pollution control device including the mounting mat and to a method of making the mounting mat.

A sheet for packaging edible meat is provided that includes a layer A and a layer B thermally adhered to each other. In the sheet, the layer A is a wet-laid nonwoven fabric produced by mixing a first core-in-sheath fiber (a) having a core made of polyester and a sheath made of polyethylene, a second core-sheath fiber (b) having a core made of polyester and a sheath made of a low-melting-point polyester, and an ultrafine polyester fiber (c). The layer B is a spunbonded nonwoven fabric produced from a third core-sheath fiber having a core made of polyester and a sheath made of polyethylene. Also a casing for packaging edible meat is provided that is formed from the sheet for packaging edible meat.

A self-adhesive compression bandage, in particular for the treatment and prevention of pathologies of venous origin and lymphedema. This bandage is manufactured by the assembling of two self-adhesive nonwovens based on short conjugate fibers which have been crimped. The fibers are preferably made of polyester. The bandage can in addition comprise a supplementary layer.

A compression bandage that is formed by the assembling of a self-adhesive nonwoven based on short conjugate fibers which have been crimped and of an elastic material, the effectiveness of which increases over time. The bandage can be used, alone or in a bilayer compression system, for the prevention or treatment of venous pathologies or lymphedema.