A nonwoven web suitable for use as a secondary topsheet in disposable absorbent articles is described herein. The nonwoven web is a spunlaced, carded, staple fiber, nonwoven having a basis weight of between about 40 grams per square meter (gsm) and about 100 gsm. The nonwoven web has a plurality of absorbent fibers, a plurality of stiffening fibers and a plurality of resilient fibers, wherein the absorbent fibers makeup from about 20 percent to about 50 percent by weight, wherein the stiffening fibers makeup about 20 percent to about 40 percent by weight, wherein the resilient fibers makeup from about 25 percent to about 55 percent by weight, and wherein the carded staple fiber nonwoven is heat stiffened.

Disposable absorbent articles suitable for providing leakage protection for users that experience relatively small to relatively large discharges of fluids wherein the article comprises a chassis which comprises a primary topsheet; a backsheet; an absorbent core having a front end portion, a central portion, and a rear end portion along its length, the core being disposed between the primary topsheet and the backsheet, and wherein the core comprises 1) a first laminate which includes a first superabsorbent layer disposed onto a first distribution layer and 2) a second laminate which includes a second distribution layer joined to a second superabsorbent layer; wherein the first distribution layer is joined to the second distribution layer in an offset manner along the length of the core such that a central portion of the core is formed from an overlapping joinder of the first and second laminates.

The present invention is directed to a nonwoven fabric made from a composite of nonwoven and pulp where the nonwoven has a high loft derived from a heat set three-dimensional relief structure and/or hydroengorged fiber structure. A nonwoven web is hydraulically treated to create a hydroengorged material having an increased loft. Alternatively a nonwoven web is treated to have a heat set three-dimensional relief structure. The treated web is then hydroentangled with pulp to form a cotendered nonwoven/pulp composite fabric.