An alumina fiber aggregate that is formed of alumina short fibers and has been subjected to needling treatment, wherein the alumina short fibers have an average fiber diameter of 6.0 m or more and 10.0 m or less and a specific surface area of 0.2 m.sup.2/g or more and 1.0 m.sup.2/g or less, and a residual percentage (%) of high-temperature-cycle opened gap pressure of the alumina fiber aggregate is 45% or more. A value obtained by subtracting twice the standard error of a length-weighted geometric mean diameter of fiber diameters of the alumina short fibers from the length-weighted geometric mean diameter is 6.0 m or more. A proportion of alumina short fibers having a fiber diameter of more than 10.0 m is preferably 5.0% or less on a number basis.

A carded staple fiber nonwoven comprising three or more stratums. The carded staple fiber nonwoven has a basis weight of up to about 175 gsm and includes a blend of absorbing fibers, stiffening fibers and filler fibers. The carded staple fiber nonwoven is heat stiffened and the three or more stratums are integrated without adhesives.

A hydroentangled nonwoven sheet material produced by a process including: 0) optionally providing a polymer web on a carrier; a) providing an aqueous suspension containing short fibres and a surfactant; h) depositing the aqueous suspension on the carrier; c) removing aqueous residue of the aqueous suspension deposited in step h) to form a fibrous web; b) depositing aqueous suspension on a surface of the fibrous web formed in step c); c) removing aqueous residue of the aqueous suspension deposited in step b) to form a combined fibrous web; d) hydroentangling the combined fibrous web; and optionally e) drying the hydroentangled web, and/or f) further processing and finalising the dried, hydroentangled web the web to produce the nonwoven end material. The hydroentangled non-woven sheet material obtainable by this process has a low degree of surface irregularity and contains low residues of surfactants.

The invention refers to a process for the preparation of a microfibrous non-woven fabric based on polyester or polyamide microfibers immersed in a polyurethane matrix, and having a thickness equal to or less than 0.65 mm, a flat or slightly mottled appearance and a nap length of less than 350 m. The non-woven fabric is used for the preparation of coverings for consumer goods, particularly for the preparation of covers and cases for electronic products.

The present invention relates to an absorbent structure, preferably for use in absorbent products, such as used in the food, consumer, household, building and construction, beauty and medical industry, and as used in the personal hygiene industry. The substantially cellulose free absorbent structures continuously immobilise absorbent polymer material via initial smaller pockets and subsequently larger compartments allowing excellent fluid management of the absorbent polymer material in dry, partially and fully liquid loaded state. Preferably such absorbent structure volume increases are result of temporary secondary attachment patterns made in combination with substantially permanent primary attachment grids allowing the release of bigger volumes from the initial smaller volumes by detachment of the secondary attachments. Furthermore the absorbent structure according to an embodiment of the invention non-homogeneously swells to form a liquid-managing surface structure as a result of exposing the absorbent structure to liquid. The present invention foresees in the need for improved flexible, thin, lightweight absorbent structures which overcome the absorbency problems of the prior art during absorption, distribution and retention of liquids with optimal fit.

The present invention relates to an absorbent structure, preferably for use in absorbent products, such as used in the food, consumer, household, building and construction, beauty and medical industry, and as used in the personal hygiene industry. The substantially cellulose free absorbent structures continuously immobilise absorbent polymer material via initial smaller pockets and subsequently larger compartments allowing excellent fluid management of the absorbent polymer material in dry, partially and fully liquid loaded state. Preferably such absorbent structure volume increases are result of temporary secondary attachment patterns made in combination with substantially permanent primary attachment grids allowing the release of bigger volumes from the initial smaller volumes by detachment of the secondary attachments. Furthermore the absorbent structure according to an embodiment of the invention non-homogeneously swells to form a liquid-managing surface structure as a result of exposing the absorbent structure to liquid. The present invention foresees in the need for improved flexible, thin, lightweight absorbent structures which overcome the absorbency problems of the prior art during absorption, distribution and retention of liquids with optimal fit.

A liquid-retaining sheet contains a liquid-retaining layer that is able to absorb a liquid component, and the liquid-retaining layer is formed from a nonwoven structural member containing a transparent fiber. In the liquid-retaining sheet, the transparency shown below is adjusted to not more than 0.27.
Transparency=Whiteness (%) of a sheet impregnated with 700% by mass of water relative to the sheet mass/Basis weight (g/m.sup.2) The transparent fiber may contain a cellulose-series fiber substantially free from a carboxyl group (in particular, a regenerated cellulose fiber such as a solvent-spinning cellulose-series fiber). The proportion of the solvent-spinning cellulose-series fiber may be not less than 30% by mass in the transparent fiber. The liquid-retaining sheet may be a skin care sheet (in particular, a facial mask) that is impregnated with a liquid component containing a cosmetic preparation. The liquid-retaining sheet has an improved transparency in a wet state in spite of a nonwoven structural member contained in the sheet and shows a suitable strength in a wet state.

A method of forming an apertured hydro-patterned nonwoven web including the steps of forming a nonwoven batt comprising continuous spunmelt fibers, calender bonding the nonwoven batt to form a fully bonded precursor nonwoven web with a regular bond pattern that defines individual bond impressions and unbonded areas between the individual bond impressions, the regular bond pattern having a percentage bond area of 10% to 25%, and hydraulically imparting the fully bonded precursor nonwoven web with a plurality of apertures, the step of hydraulically imparting comprising hydraulically treating the fully bonded precursor nonwoven web by a plurality of steps of water injection as the fully bonded nonwoven web passes over a plurality of pins.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a composite structure, preferably for use in an absorbent structure used within the personal hygiene industry, such as for instance feminine hygiene garments, baby diapers and pants and adult incontinence garments. The present invention preferably provides a method and apparatus for depositing and positioning particulate materials in a desired pattern onto a moving carrier layer. The method allows accurate forming of a pattern of particulate material clusters at high production speed having improved attachment properties, with reduced raw material usage and relative low cost. The present invention foresees in the need for improved thin, flexible, lightweight absorbent structure having optimal absorption, distribution and retention.

A carded staple fiber nonwoven comprising three or more stratums. The carded staple fiber nonwoven has a basis weight of up to about 175 gsm and includes a blend of absorbing fibers, stiffening fibers and filler fibers. The carded staple fiber nonwoven is heat stiffened and the three or more stratums are integrated without adhesives.