A fiber blend comprising a staple fiber formed from cellulose acetate and a binder fiber. The staple fiber has a crimp frequency of 10 to 30 crimps per inch (CPI), a cut length of 55 mm or less, and a non-round cross-sectional shape. The blend can be made into nonwoven webs for heat-bonding and subsequent use as thermal insulation in, e.g., outerwear, bedding, etc. The cellulose acetate fibers provide superior thermal insulation clo value relative to at equivalent loft.

A non-woven insulation material, suitable for use in the manufacture of clothing, furnishing or the like, said material comprises a layer of fibres comprising a plurality of discrete apertures extending at least partially through the material.

Provided is a method for producing a semi-product for automobile equipment, the semi-processed product being moldable in a relatively broad range of heating temperatures and being capable of obtaining a final product with high stiffness. In the method for producing a semi-processed product for automobile equipment, needle punching is performed on a fiber web in which core-sheath composite fibers are accumulated, and the core-sheath composite fibers are three-dimensionally interlaced together. The core portion of the core-sheath composite fibers comprises a copolymer of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. The sheath portion of the core-sheath composition fibers comprises a copolymer including ethylene glycol, adipic acid and terephthalic acid. The weight ratio of core portion to sheath portion in the core-sheath composite fibers is 1 to 3:1. The core portion and the sheath portion are disposed concentrically. In the fiber web, the core-sheath composite fibers are bonded together by softening or melting the sheath portion.

To provide a process for producing a needle-punched nonwoven fabric with which, when finished by embossing, it is possible to obtain a hardly fluffing and distinct rugged pattern. [Solution] Sheath-core composite fibers are accumulated and a fibrous web is formed. The core component of the sheath-core composite fiber is formed from a copolymer of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. The sheath component is formed from a copolymer of ethylene glycol, adipic acid, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid and diethylene glycol. The sheath-core composite fibers are three dimensionally interlaced with each other by needle-punching the web, to obtain the needle-punched nonwoven fabric. The needle-punched nonwoven fabric is passed through heated embossed roll to provide a rugged pattern on a surface. During the process, the sheath component are softening melted and melt bonded between the sheath-core composite fibers to obtain an embossed nonwoven fabric having a distinct rugged pattern.

Provided is a multilayer composite that has flame retardancy and low smoking property as well as has high physical characteristics. The multilayer composite has a multilayer structure and includes at least one core layer and at least one skin layer, wherein the multilayer composite satisfies all the following conditions (A) to (D): (A) the core layer is a composite including discontinuous reinforcing fibers and a first thermoplastic resin, in which the discontinuous reinforcing fibers are randomly dispersed and bonded with the first thermoplastic resin at least at intersections of the discontinuous reinforcing fibers; (B) the skin layer is a composite including continuous reinforcing fibers and a second thermoplastic resin, in which the continuous reinforcing fibers are impregnated with the second thermoplastic resin; (C) each of the first and the second thermoplastic resins has a limiting oxygen index of 30 or higher; and (D) the first and the second thermoplastic resins are miscible with each other.

Provided is a multilayer composite that has flame retardancy and low smoking property as well as has high physical characteristics. The multilayer composite has a multilayer structure and includes at least one core layer and at least one skin layer, wherein the multilayer composite satisfies all the following conditions (A) to (D): (A) the core layer is a composite including discontinuous reinforcing fibers and a first thermoplastic resin, in which the discontinuous reinforcing fibers are randomly dispersed and bonded with the first thermoplastic resin at least at intersections of the discontinuous reinforcing fibers; (B) the skin layer is a composite including continuous reinforcing fibers and a second thermoplastic resin, in which the continuous reinforcing fibers are impregnated with the second thermoplastic resin; (C) each of the first and the second thermoplastic resins has a limiting oxygen index of 30 or higher; and (D) the first and the second thermoplastic resins are miscible with each other.

An extraction sheet having high machinability in the manufacture of an extraction filter for beverages and an extraction filter using the same and having high handling property is provided. The extraction sheet includes a layer including a meltblown nonwoven fabric that is formed from fibers of a polylactic acid-based resin having a crystallinity of 9.0% or lower and a fiber diameter of 15.0 m or smaller and that has a basis weight of 2.0 to 30.0 g/m2, and a layer including a spunbonded nonwoven fabric that is formed from fibers of a polylactic acid-based resin having a crystallinity of 30.0 to 60.0% and a fiber diameter of 35.0 m or smaller and that has a basis weight of 5.0 to 30.0 g/m2. The extraction sheet has a bending hysteresis of 5.010.sup.3 to 14.510.sup.3 gf.Math.cm/cm.

An extraction sheet having high machinability in the manufacture of an extraction filter for beverages and an extraction filter using the same and having high handling property is provided. The extraction sheet includes a layer including a meltblown nonwoven fabric that is formed from fibers of a polylactic acid-based resin having a crystallinity of 9.0% or lower and a fiber diameter of 15.0 m or smaller and that has a basis weight of 2.0 to 30.0 g/m2, and a layer including a spunbonded nonwoven fabric that is formed from fibers of a polylactic acid-based resin having a crystallinity of 30.0 to 60.0% and a fiber diameter of 35.0 m or smaller and that has a basis weight of 5.0 to 30.0 g/m2. The extraction sheet has a bending hysteresis of 5.010.sup.3 to 14.510.sup.3 gf.Math.cm/cm.

A wet-laid nonwoven fabric sheet includes at least three types of thermoplastic fibers having different fiber diameters, in which the wet-laid nonwoven fabric sheet has a fiber diameter ratio (R/r) of a fiber diameter R of a fiber having a maximum fiber diameter to a fiber diameter r of a fiber having a minimum fiber diameter of 30?R/r?150, an average pore size of 0.10 ?m to 15 ?m, and a maximum frequency of a pore size distribution of 70% or more.

Nonwoven fabrics including a first spunmelt through-air-bonded (TAB) nonwoven layer comprising a first plurality of spunmelt fibers, in which the first plurality of spunmelt fibers comprise a biopolymer. The first plurality of spunmelt fibers may be physically entangled with cellulosic fibers, such by hydroentangling. Methods of forming a nonwoven fabric including a first spunmelt TAB nonwoven layer are also provided.