The present invention provides a non-woven fabric for supporting a solid electrolyte in which heat-fusible composite fibers with a crimp are contained in an amount of not less than 60 mass % and not more than 100 mass % and are heat-fused, and a solid electrolyte sheet. The non-woven fabric for supporting a solid electrolyte is excellent in process performance, is satisfactorily filled with a solid electrolyte, is suitable for achieving a thin solid electrolyte sheet, and has few hole defects. The solid electrolyte sheet is excellent in self-sustainability and flexibility.

Electromagnetic radiation is applied (e.g., by a laser) to a nonwoven textile comprising first fibers having a first propensity to absorb the electromagnetic radiation and second fibers having a second propensity to absorb the electromagnetic radiation that is lower than the first propensity. The electromagnetic radiation may be used to form discrete bonding structures within the volume of the nonwoven textile, wherein the bonding structures are generally absent from the faces of the nonwoven textile.

Nonwoven materials having at least one layer comprising cellulose fibers are provided. The nonwoven materials comprise bonded natural cellulosic fibers having high capillary action. The nonwoven materials are suitable for use in a variety of applications, including absorbent products and pre-moistened cleaning materials with metered release of liquid.

A liner, comprising a layered material in which a carded nonwoven wadding is thermally bonded to a thin carded nonwoven top layer, for upholstered furniture. In the liner, a high proportion of the staple fibers in the top layer are thin bi-component binder fibers. Further, at least 20 wt % of the staple fibers in the wadding is thick staple fibers. Furthermore, also the wadding comprises bi-component binder fibers.

Provided is a space filling material having excellent strength in reinforcing a predetermined space to be filled with the space filling material and/or strength in fixing a material to be fixed therewith. The space filling material (11) includes reinforcing fibers and a thermoplastic resin, wherein the reinforcing fibers form a plurality of intersections at least a part of which are bonded with the thermoplastic resin, and among all of the reinforcing fibers, a proportion in volume of reinforcing fibers each having a bent ratio of 1.004 or higher is 20 vol % or more relative to a total volume of the reinforcing fibers, the bent ratio being defined as a ratio of fiber length/shortest distance between opposite ends of fiber. The space filling material (11) expands to fill a predetermined space (13) when the thermoplastic resin is softened by heating to release bending loads of the reinforcing fibers.

A wet laid and hydraulically entangled nonwoven material made from cellulosic fibers and synthetic staple fibers is disclosed. The cellulosic fibers are mixed with the synthetic fibers and formed into a web using a wet lay process. The web is then subjected to multiple hydroentangling processes. In one embodiment, the web is subjected to a first hydroentangling process while being conveyed in a horizontal position. The web is then fed over subsequent hydroentangling drums. Each side of the web is subjected to at least one more hydroentangling process.

An air-laid blank (10) comprises natural fibers at a concentration of at least 70% by weight of the air-laid blank (10) and a thermoplastic polymer binder at a concentration selected within an interval of from 2.5 up to 30% by weight of the air-laid blank (10). The air-laid blank (10) has an average density and a portion (11) of the air-laid blank (10) has a density different from the average density. The air-laid blank (10) is produced by modifying the air-permeability of a portion (121) of an air-permeable collector (120) to form a portion (11) of the air-laid blank (10) having a density from the average density. The air-laid blank (10) has two parallel planar major surfaces (12, 14).

The invention relates to a melt-processable fiber-bonding agent made of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), such as KYNAR PVDF from Arkema, as well as to fibrous materials bonded with the PVDF fiber-bonding agent. The PVDF fiber-bonding agent is a low-melt temperature, low melt viscosity PVDF polymer or copolymer with excellent chemical and oxidative resistance properties, and is suitable for bonding fibers in non-woven fabrics, especially for use in chemically-aggressive environments. The PVDF fiber-bonding agent composition allows it to be processed into fibers on conventional melt spinning equipment. The PVDF fiber-bonding agent is introduced into non-woven fabric in the form of a continuous fiber web or as a component of a mixed fiber formulation. When heated above its melting point, the lower melting point PVDF fiber-bonding agent of the invention bonds the fibers of the fiber framework at the fiber cross-over points.

Electromagnetic radiation is applied (e.g., by a laser) to a nonwoven textile comprising first fibers having a first propensity to absorb the electromagnetic radiation and second fibers having a second propensity to absorb the electromagnetic radiation that is lower than the first propensity. The electromagnetic radiation may be used to form discrete bonding structures within the volume of the nonwoven textile, wherein the bonding structures are generally absent from the faces of the nonwoven textile.