The present invention addresses the problem of providing: a polishing pad that is long-lasting, has a high polish rate, and is capable of producing a high degree of flatness on polished articles; and a method for manufacturing the polishing pad. The solution provided is to eliminate a sea component from a non-woven fabric that includes a binder fabric and a sea-island type composite fiber composed of the sea component and an island component, the island component having a diameter of 10-2500 nm, and to add a polymer elastic body to the non-woven fabric.

A nanofiber nonwoven product is disclosed which comprises a polyamide with a relative viscosity from 2 to 330, spun into nanofibers with an average diameter of less than 1000 nanometers (1 micron). In general, the inventive products are prepared by: (a) providing a polyamide composition, wherein the polyamide has a relative viscosity from 2 to 330; (b) melt spinning the polyamide composition into a plurality of nanofibers having an average fiber diameter of less than 1 micron, followed by (c) forming the nanofibers into the product.

A cartridge includes a tape-shaped nonwoven fabric, a reel on which the nonwoven fabric is wound, and a case that accommodates the reel. A basis weight of the nonwoven fabric is equal to or less than 25 g/m.sup.2.

An enhanced, co-formed fibrous web structure is disclosed. The web structure may have a co-formed core layer sandwiched between two scrim layers. The core layer may be formed of a blend of cellulose pulp fibers and melt spun filaments. The scrim layers may be formed of melt spun filaments, and the filaments forming one or both scrim layers may have a number average diameter of 4.5 μm or less. Filaments of one or both of the scrim layers, and optionally the core layer, may also be meltblown filaments. Alternatively, the filaments forming the scrim layers may constitute from 1 to 13 percent of the weight of the structure. Alternatively, the scrim layers may have a combined basis weight of from 0.1 gsm to less than 3.0 gsm. A method for forming the structure, including direct formation of layers, is also disclosed.

A method for arranging nanotube elements within nanotube fabric layers and films is disclosed. A directional force is applied over a nanotube fabric layer to render the fabric layer into an ordered network of nanotube elements. That is, a network of nanotube elements drawn together along their sidewalls and substantially oriented in a uniform direction. In some embodiments this directional force is applied by rolling a cylindrical element over the fabric layer. In other embodiments this directional force is applied by passing a rubbing material over the surface of a nanotube fabric layer. In other embodiments this directional force is applied by running a polishing material over the nanotube fabric layer for a predetermined time. Exemplary rolling, rubbing, and polishing apparatuses are also disclosed.

The present invention is generally related to a high capacity, high efficiency nonwoven filtration media comprising a gradient pore structure. In particular, the filtration media can comprise thermoplastic synthetic microfibers, fibrillated fibers, staple fibers, and a binder. Furthermore, the filtration media may be produced without the use of glass fibers or microglass fibers. Consequently, the filtration media of the present invention does not cause the same issues as conventional filtration media that comprises glass fibers and/or microglass fibers. Moreover, the filtration media can be used to treat fuel, lubrication fluids, hydraulic fluids, and various other industrial gases.

A smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and structural fibers. The structural fibers forming a network in which the smokeless tobacco is entangled. The structural fibers have a composition different from the smokeless tobacco. The tobacco-entangled fabric can have an overall oven volatiles content of at least 10 weight percent. In some embodiments, the structural fibers form a nonwoven network. In some embodiments, fibrous structures of the smokeless tobacco are entangled with the structural fibers.

A nonwoven composite fabric including a first nonwoven layer composed substantially of meltblown fibers, the fibers within the first nonwoven layer having diameters that vary in accordance with a first distribution, a second nonwoven layer composed substantially of meltblown fibers, the fibers within the second nonwoven layer having diameters that vary in accordance with a second distribution, and a third nonwoven layer composed substantially of meltblown fibers, the third nonwoven layer disposed between the first and second nonwoven layers, the fibers within the third nonwoven layer having diameters that vary in accordance with a third distribution that is greater than the first and second distributions.

An uncoated nonwoven fibrous mat having a reduced air porosity is disclosed comprising a first plurality of fibers having a length between about 10 mm and 20 mm and an average diameter between about 9 μm and 15 μm; a second plurality of fibers having a length between about 3 mm and 8 mm and an average diameter between about 5 μm and 8 μm; and a binder composition. The uncoated nonwoven fibrous mat has an air porosity less than about 550 CFM.

A wiping sheet includes a patterned part of a fiber assembling base material and a non-patterned part of the fiber assembling base material. The patterned part includes cellulose nanofiber; and the non-patterned part does not include the cellulose nanofiber.