A bonded and entangled non-woven structure made of at least 50% staple fibers by weight of the bonded and entangled non-woven structure, and at least a partial bonding of the fibers of the non-woven structure. The at least partial bonding including thermally activated bonds between a first polyolefin material produced with a catalyst including at least one metallocene catalyst and having a melting point in the range 130-170 C. and a second material having a melting point which is at least 10 C. higher than the melting point of the first material, the weight of the first material in the non-woven structure being at least 3% of the weight of the nonwoven structure.

Methods and apparatuses for producing a zoned and/or layered substrate are described. A substrate can include a first layer including a first zone, a second zone, and an interface between zones. The first zone can include a plurality of fibers. The second zone can include a plurality of fibers and can be offset from the first zone in a cross-direction. The interface can include at least some of the plurality of fibers of the first zone and at least some of the plurality of fibers of the second zone to provide a purity gradient with a transition width less than 3.8 cm as defined by the Purity Gradient Test Method as described herein.

Methods and apparatuses for producing a zoned and/or layered substrate are described. A substrate can include a first layer including a first zone, a second zone, and an interface between zones. The first zone can include a plurality of fibers. The second zone can include a plurality of fibers and can be offset from the first zone in a cross-direction. The interface can include at least some of the plurality of fibers of the first zone and at least some of the plurality of fibers of the second zone to provide a purity gradient with a transition width less than 3.8 cm as defined by the Purity Gradient Test Method as described herein.

A method of creating a soft and lofty continuous fiber nonwoven web is provided. The method includes providing molten polymer to a spinneret defining a plurality of orifices, and flowing a fluid intermediate the spinneret and a moving porous member. The moving porous member is positioned below the spinneret. The method includes using the fluid to draw or push the molten polymer, in a direction that is toward the moving porous member, through at least some of the plurality of orifices to form a plurality of individual continuous fiber strands. The method includes depositing the continuous fiber strands on the moving porous member at a first location to create an intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web, and removing and/or diverting some of the fluid proximate to the first location to maintain loft and softness in the deposited intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web.

A method of creating a soft and lofty continuous fiber nonwoven web is provided. The method includes providing molten polymer to a spinneret defining a plurality of orifices, and flowing a fluid intermediate the spinneret and a moving porous member. The moving porous member is positioned below the spinneret. The method includes using the fluid to draw or push the molten polymer, in a direction that is toward the moving porous member, through at least some of the plurality of orifices to form a plurality of individual continuous fiber strands. The method includes depositing the continuous fiber strands on the moving porous member at a first location to create an intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web, and removing and/or diverting some of the fluid proximate to the first location to maintain loft and softness in the deposited intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web.

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.

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.

A nonwoven fabric used for a foamed article reinforcing material to be bonded to a foamed material to reinforce the foamed article is a single-layer material in which stacked layers of a web are bonded together, has a thickness of 1 to 8 mm under a load of 7 g/cm.sup.2, and has a delamination strength of 0.05 to 2.45 N/cm. The delamination strength is a value of the pulling force required to peel the bonded layers of the web apart.