A filter medium includes first and second porous films mainly containing fluororesin, and a pre-collection member upstream of the first film. The second film is downstream of the first film. The pre-collection member has a pressure drop when air is passed through at a flow rate of 5.3 cm/s of between 15 Pa and 55 Pa, a collection efficiency of NaCl particles having a particle diameter of 0.3 μm when air containing the particles is passed hrough at a flow rate of 5.3 cm/s of between 25% and 80%, a thickness of 0.4 mm or less, and a PF value between 7 and 15. The PF value={−log((100−collection efficiency (%))/100)}/(pressure drop (Pa)/1000). A ratio of the PF value of the pre-collection member to the PF value when the first and second films are overlapped, is between 0.20 and 0.45. The filter medium can be used in a filter pack or filter unit, and may be produced by integrating the first and second films and the pre-collection member using heat lamination.

A process for forming a moldable, uncured nonwoven composite containing forming a outermost nonwoven layer, forming a structural nonwoven layer, needling the structural nonwoven layer and the outermost nonwoven layer together from both the outer surface of the outermost nonwoven layer and the second surface of the structural nonwoven layer, applying an uncured, water-based thermosetting resin having a cure temperature of at least about 160° C. to the second surface of the structural nonwoven layer, and at least partially drying the uncured, wet nonwoven composite. Heat and pressure may be applied to form the moldable, uncured composite. A moldable, uncured nonwoven composite and a molded, cured nonwoven composite are also disclosed.

A process for forming a moldable, uncured nonwoven composite containing forming a structural nonwoven layer, at least partially impregnating the structural nonwoven layer with an uncured, water-based thermosetting resin having a cure temperature of at least about 160° C., and at least partially drying the uncured, wet nonwoven composite such that the temperature at the inner plane is less than about 130° C. forming an moldable, uncured composite. The structural nonwoven layer contains a plurality of bi-component binder fibers and a plurality of reinforcing fibers, the bi-component fibers containing a core and a sheath. The core contains a polymer having a melting temperature of at least about 180° C. and the sheath contains a polymer having a melting temperature less than about 180 ° C. A process for forming a molded, cured composite containing forming a structural nonwoven layer and a molded cured nonwoven composite are also disclosed.

A process for forming a moldable, uncured nonwoven composite containing forming a structural nonwoven layer, at least partially impregnating the structural nonwoven layer with an uncured, water-based thermosetting resin having a cure temperature of at least about 160° C., and at least partially drying the uncured, wet nonwoven composite. The structural nonwoven layer contains a plurality of binder fibers and a plurality of reinforcing fibers which are cellulosic fibers. Heat and pressure are applied to the moldable, uncured composite to a temperature of at least about 160° C. at least partially melting the binder fibers, curing the water-based thermosetting resin, and bonding at least a portion of the reinforcing fibers to other reinforcing fibers forming the molded, cured composite. The reinforcing fibers react with and form covalent bonds with the thermosetting resin.

A retroreflective material that includes a base layer formed of a mesh material, and a retroreflective material layer superposed upon the base layer. Also, a retroreflective laminated material that includes a first layer consisting of a transparent or translucent material; a second layer; and a third layer consisting of an opaque material. The first, second and third layers are laminated together, with the second layer located between the first and third layers. Additionally, the second layer is textured and/or patterned and includes a retroreflective material on an outer surface thereof. In preferred embodiments, the end user of the resulting material, or other person(s), can visibly see the materials that make up a least some of the layers of the laminated material.

Cushioning articles or structures are provided including a cell layer with an array of cells interconnected with each other. Each of the cells includes at least three cell walls extending between the first and second major surfaces thereof. The cell walls are shared by the adjacent cells, and the cell layer further includes a land region located at the second major surface and connecting the at least three cell walls. A base layer is attached to the second major surface of the cell layer to form a sheet.

A hot melt adhesive composition, which may be used as a construction adhesive in hygiene articles, comprises a first polymer comprising a unimodal copolymer of propylene and ethylene and having a weight average molecular weight of between about 5,000 and 60,000 daltons; a second polymer comprising a copolymer of propylene and ethylene and having a weight average molecular weight of at least 100,000 daltons; a tackifying resin having a Ring & Ball softening point of at most 115° C.; and a plasticizer. The composition demonstrates good peel strength and good shear resistance and is sprayable, with a sufficiently low viscosity, at low application temperatures, such as at about 121° C.

A textile composite material for lamination includes: a total material thickness which is smaller than 7 mm, with at least one nonwoven fabric component and with at least one foam material component which is connected to the nonwoven fabric component, the nonwoven fabric component comprises at least one binder fiber having a melting temperature that is greater than 150° C., the nonwoven fabric component comprises at least one functional fiber having a linear mass density value smaller than or equal to 50 dtex, and the functional fiber is embodied as a hollow fiber.

Filter media, such as electret-containing filtration media for filtering gas streams (e.g., air), are described herein. In some embodiments, the filter media may be designed to have desirable properties such as stable filtration efficiency over the lifetime of the filter media, increased normalized gamma, relatively low pressure drop (i.e. resistance), and/or relatively low basis weight. In certain embodiments, the filter media may be a composite of two or more types of fiber layers where each layer may be designed to enhance its function without substantially negatively impacting the performance of another layer of the media. For example, one layer of the media may be designed to have a relatively low basis weight and/or a relatively high air permeability, and another layer of the media may be designed to have stable filtration efficiency and/or a relatively high efficiency throughout the filter media's lifetime. The filter media described herein may be particularly well-suited for applications that involve filtering gas streams (e.g., face masks, cabin air filtration, vacuum filtration, room filtration, furnace filtration, respirator equipment, residential or industrial HVAC filtration, high-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filters, ultra-low particular air (ULPA) filters, medical equipment), though the media may also be used in other applications.

A laminate is provided which includes a substrate and a structural body including a base portion and a through hole and which can concurrently satisfy stickiness and releasability and can be released with no or little adhesive residue. The laminate includes a substrate and a structural body disposed on the surface of at least one side of the substrate, the structural body including a base portion and a through hole. The base portion of the structural body includes an acrylic triblock copolymer (I) and no tackifier resins or includes an acrylic triblock copolymer (I) and a tackifier resin in a tackifier resin/(I) mass ratio of not more than 20/100. The acrylic triblock copolymer (I) includes two polymer blocks (A1) and (A2) each including methacrylic acid ester units and one polymer block (B) including acrylic acid ester units represented by the general formula CH.sub.2═CH—COOR.sup.1 (1) (wherein R.sup.1 denotes a C4-C12 organic group). The acrylic triblock copolymer (I) has an (A1)-(B)-(A2) block structure and a weight average molecular weight of 50,000 to 250,000. The total content of the polymer blocks (A1) and (A2) is not more than 35 mass % of the acrylic triblock copolymer (I).