A spunbond nonwoven laminate has a stack of at least two and at most four spunbond nonwoven layers each formed by or consisting of crimped continuous filaments. A degree of crimping of the filaments in each of the spunbond nonwoven layers is different from a degree of crimping in each of the other spunbond nonwoven layers and each of the crimped filaments of the spunbond nonwoven layers has a crimp with at least two loops per centimeter of length. The crimped filaments of the spunbond nonwoven layers are multicomponent filaments each having at least one first plastic component and at least one second plastic component with each of the plastic components being present in the respective filament in a proportion of at least 10 wt %.

A fiber blend containing: (a) a cellulose acetate (CA) staple fibers having a denier per filament (DPF) of 3.0 or less; and (b) structural staple fibers having a dpf of 6.0 or more; and (c) optionally binder fibers. The fiber blend can be made into nonwoven webs for heat-bonding and subsequent use as thermal insulation in, e.g., outerwear, bedding, etc. The fiber blend can now contain sustainably derived fibers, optionally biodegradable, that provide good thermal insulation clo values and loft even after multiple wash cycles along with good short term compression recovery.

A fiber blend containing: (a) a cellulose acetate (CA) staple fibers having a denier per filament (DPF) of 3.0 or less; and (b) structural staple fibers having a dpf of 6.0 or more; and (c) optionally binder fibers. The fiber blend can be made into nonwoven webs for heat-bonding and subsequent use as thermal insulation in, e.g., outerwear, bedding, etc. The fiber blend can now contain sustainably derived fibers, optionally biodegradable, that provide good thermal insulation clo values and loft even after multiple wash cycles along with good short term compression recovery.

A process for foam forming webs is disclosed. The foam formed webs can be used as wiping products, such as industrial wipers, food service wipers, and the like. The web contains a mixture of cellulosic fibers and longer, strength building fibers. The web is foam formed and then subjected to one or more hydroentangling steps. After hydroentangling, the web is dried in a non-compressive manner.

A process for foam forming webs is disclosed. The foam formed webs can be used as wiping products, such as industrial wipers, food service wipers, and the like. The web contains a mixture of cellulosic fibers and longer, strength building fibers. The web is foam formed and then subjected to one or more hydroentangling steps. After hydroentangling, the web is dried in a non-compressive manner.

The present invention provides a depth filter which contains fine particles and coarse particles, and which exhibits excellent filtration precision with respect to a high concentration fluid and/or a high viscosity fluid. This depth filter enables filtration for a long period of time, while maintaining a low filtration pressure.

The present invention is a depth filter which is obtained by winding a fiber sheet into a cylinder, and which comprises a pre-filtration layer and a microfiltration layer; the pre-filtration layer and the microfiltration layer are formed of a fiber sheet; the fiber sheet is composed of a nonwoven fabric or a web; the average fiber diameter of the fiber sheet continuously decreases from the pre-filtration layer toward the microfiltration layer; and the average weight per square meter of the fiber sheet continuously decreases from the pre-filtration layer toward the microfiltration layer.

An electrospinning device includes: a plurality of nozzles that discharge a spinning solution containing a resin; and a plurality of power sources for applying charge to the solution. The power sources are connected such that different charges are applied to the solutions discharged from the nozzles, respectively. The fiber sheet is a long fiber nonwoven fabric including first fibers and second fibers that are different from the first fibers. In a histogram based on fiber diameter distributions and frequencies of the numbers of fibers, the fiber sheet has a peak where a ratio P1 of a frequency of the number of fibers of the first fibers to a frequency of the number of fibers of the second fibers is 0.01 or more and 100 or less. Alternatively, the fiber sheet has two or more peaks in the histogram, in which a ratio P2 of a frequency of the number of fibers of the first fibers at a highest peak in a range of a fiber diameter of 3 μm or less to a frequency of the number of fibers of the second fibers at a highest peak in a range of a fiber diameter of more than 3 μm is 1 or more and 1 000 or less.

Self-crimped multi-component fibers (SMF) are provided that include (i) a first component comprising a first polymeric material, in which the first polymeric material comprises a first melt flow rate (MFR) that is less than 50 g/10 min; and (ii) a second component comprising a second polymeric material, in which the second component is different than the first component. The SMF includes one or more three-dimensional crimped portions. Also provided are nonwoven fabrics comprising a plurality of SMFs. Methods of manufacturing SMFs and nonwoven fabrics including SMFs are also provided.

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.

An insulation product with an improved material efficiency is disclosed comprising a plurality of glass fibers and a cross-linked formaldehyde-free binder composition at least partially coating the glass fibers. The glass fibers have an average fiber diameter in the range of 8 HT (2.03 μm) to 15 HT (3.81 μm). At a density (x) between 0.2 pcf and 1.6 pcf, the insulation product may achieve a material efficiency (y), expressed as R.Math.ft.sup.2/lb, that meets or exceeds a value (y) that satisfies Formula (VII):

y=40.1916068x2−120.5813540x+129.628397  Formula (VII)

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