The purpose of the present invention is to improve water drainage performance of a gas diffusion electrode including a carbon fiber nonwoven fabric. The present invention provides a gas diffusion electrode base material essentially consisting of a carbon fiber nonwoven fabric, wherein the carbon fiber nonwoven fabric has an in-plane basis weight pattern in which high basis weight regions having a relatively high basis weight and low basis weight regions having a relatively low basis weight are arranged, and the carbon fiber nonwoven fabric has on at least one surface an uneven pattern in which recesses and projections are arranged, the uneven pattern being formed independently of the basis weight pattern.

The purpose of the present invention is to improve water drainage performance of a gas diffusion electrode including a carbon fiber nonwoven fabric. The present invention provides a gas diffusion electrode base material essentially consisting of a carbon fiber nonwoven fabric, wherein the carbon fiber nonwoven fabric has an in-plane basis weight pattern in which high basis weight regions having a relatively high basis weight and low basis weight regions having a relatively low basis weight are arranged, and the carbon fiber nonwoven fabric has on at least one surface an uneven pattern in which recesses and projections are arranged, the uneven pattern being formed independently of the basis weight pattern.

A nonwoven web for an absorbent article is provided. The nonwoven web includes a first surface and a second surface. The nonwoven web includes a repeat unit comprising a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on the first surface or the second surface. The three-dimensional features comprise one or more first regions and a plurality of second regions. The one or more first regions are different than the plurality of second regions. The one or more first regions comprise a plurality of substantially linear segments. A first group of the plurality of substantially linear segments intersects with a second group of the plurality of substantially linear segments at angles of intersection. The angles of intersection are in the range of about 70 degrees to about 110 degrees.

A nonwoven web for an absorbent article is provided. The nonwoven web includes a first surface and a second surface. The nonwoven web includes a repeat unit comprising a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on the first surface or the second surface. The three-dimensional features comprise one or more first regions and a plurality of second regions. The one or more first regions are different than the plurality of second regions. The one or more first regions comprise a plurality of substantially linear segments. A first group of the plurality of substantially linear segments intersects with a second group of the plurality of substantially linear segments at angles of intersection. The angles of intersection are in the range of about 70 degrees to about 110 degrees.

The invention relates to a manufacturing process of equipment for use in the production of nonwoven fabrics and paper products. According to the present invention, a sleeve for an embossing roller is produced using additive manufacturing, specifically 3D printing. These technologies permit the preparation of pattern-forming and dewatering details in the sleeve in a single operation. The dewatering properties may thus be optimised for the selected pattern, resulting in uniform dewatering tailored for the pattern. Preferably, the technique used is stereolitography.

The invention relates to a manufacturing process of equipment for use in the production of nonwoven fabrics and paper products. According to the present invention, a sleeve for an embossing roller is produced using additive manufacturing, specifically 3D printing. These technologies permit the preparation of pattern-forming and dewatering details in the sleeve in a single operation. The dewatering properties may thus be optimised for the selected pattern, resulting in uniform dewatering tailored for the pattern. Preferably, the technique used is stereolitography.

A self-curling film includes a nanofiber base film and a nanofiber external film connected to the nanofiber base film. The nanofiber base film comprises a plurality of polymer nanofibers aligned according to a first single-direction aligning pattern. The nanofiber external film comprises a plurality of polymer nanofibers aligned according to a second aligning pattern that is the same as or different from the first aligning pattern. The polymer nanofibers of the nanofiber deformable film includes a temperature or UV-sensitive material that causes the nanofiber deformable film to shrink or expand when heated or exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

A self-curling film includes a nanofiber base film and a nanofiber external film connected to the nanofiber base film. The nanofiber base film comprises a plurality of polymer nanofibers aligned according to a first single-direction aligning pattern. The nanofiber external film comprises a plurality of polymer nanofibers aligned according to a second aligning pattern that is the same as or different from the first aligning pattern. The polymer nanofibers of the nanofiber deformable film includes a temperature or UV-sensitive material that causes the nanofiber deformable film to shrink or expand when heated or exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

An imprinted or compressed sheet material can be produced by subjecting a pre-dried composite material to an energy transfer step in which the sheet material is passed between an energy-emitting device and a patterned anvil. An oil is applied to the anvil after the passing of the sheet material and the applied oil is removed from the anvil before the next passing of the sheet material. An apparatus for continuously producing such a sheet material includes a patterned anvil roll, an energy transmitter emitting ultrasound energy to the anvil roll, a means for applying an oil over the breadth of the anvil roll and a means for removing oil from the roll downstream of the means for applying the oil.

An imprinted or compressed sheet material can be produced by subjecting a pre-dried composite material to an energy transfer step in which the sheet material is passed between an energy-emitting device and a patterned anvil. An oil is applied to the anvil after the passing of the sheet material and the applied oil is removed from the anvil before the next passing of the sheet material. An apparatus for continuously producing such a sheet material includes a patterned anvil roll, an energy transmitter emitting ultrasound energy to the anvil roll, a means for applying an oil over the breadth of the anvil roll and a means for removing oil from the roll downstream of the means for applying the oil.