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.

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.

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.

An absorbent article is provided, the absorbent article comprising a nonwoven material. The nonwoven material comprises core/sheath bicomponent fibers wherein the core is formed of PET resin. The present disclosure also provides a wipe comprising a nonwoven material, the nonwoven material comprising core/sheath bicomponent fibers wherein the core is formed of PET resin. The PET has less than 150 ppm of antimony.

An absorbent article is provided, the absorbent article comprising a nonwoven material. The nonwoven material comprises core/sheath bicomponent fibers wherein the core is formed of PET resin. The present disclosure also provides a wipe comprising a nonwoven material, the nonwoven material comprising core/sheath bicomponent fibers wherein the core is formed of PET resin. The PET has less than 150 ppm of antimony.

A nonwoven laminate, includes in order (A) to (F), a spunbond nonwoven layer (A) including fibres with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and copolyester, and an optional spunbond nonwoven layer (B) including fibres, which include polyethylene terephthalate and copolyester, the nonwoven layer (B) having a higher copolyester content than nonwoven layer (A). A needled staple fibre nonwoven layer (C) includes monocomponent polyethylene terephthalate staple fibres (c1) and multicomponent staple fibres (c2), which include at least a polyethylene terephthalate component and a copolyester component. An optional spunbond nonwoven layer (D) includes fibres, with polyethylene terephthalate and copolyester, the nonwoven layer (D) having a higher copolyester content than nonwoven layer (E). A spunbond nonwoven layer (E) includes fibres with polyethylene terephthalate and copolyester. A nonwoven layer (F) includes monocomponent polyethylene terephthalate fibres and/or multicomponent fibres with at least a polyethylene terephthalate component and a copolyester component. All layers are melt-bonded to each other.

A method for producing a wet-laid nonwoven fabric for a semipermeable membrane supporting body, the method comprising: performing papermaking according to a wet papermaking method by using a fiber slurry containing a synthetic fiber as a main constituent fiber; drying the fiber slurry; subsequently subjecting the dried sheet to hot press processing two times by using a heat calender apparatus, wherein the hot press process temperature in the second treatments is adjusted to be higher by 10 C. or more than the hot press processing temperature in the first treatment, while treating the dried sheet by using a hard nip heat calender apparatus equipped with a combination of a metal roll and a metal roll for at least one time of the hot press processing; and thereby obtaining a wet-laid nonwoven fabric for a semipermeable membrane supporting body.

A method for producing a wet-laid nonwoven fabric for a semipermeable membrane supporting body, the method comprising: performing papermaking according to a wet papermaking method by using a fiber slurry containing a synthetic fiber as a main constituent fiber; drying the fiber slurry; subsequently subjecting the dried sheet to hot press processing two times by using a heat calender apparatus, wherein the hot press process temperature in the second treatments is adjusted to be higher by 10 C. or more than the hot press processing temperature in the first treatment, while treating the dried sheet by using a hard nip heat calender apparatus equipped with a combination of a metal roll and a metal roll for at least one time of the hot press processing; and thereby obtaining a wet-laid nonwoven fabric for a semipermeable membrane supporting body.

In some embodiments, the inventive subject matter is directed to an arrangement of discrete elements of fill material on a substrate consisting of a sheet material wherein the discrete elements are fixed relative to the sheet material by pilings, fusion, and/or entanglement to fix the insulating elements in a layered arrangement over the sheet material. A second sheet of material may be used to create a sandwiched assembly of the discrete elements. In some embodiments, the inventive subject matter is generally directed to discrete elements of fill material that are engaged together to form a cohesive sheet-like or layered arrangement of the elements.