A nonwoven fabric having polylactic acid-containing fibers forming a nonwoven web is provided. The web has a side having an alternating pattern of individualized bonded areas which bonded areas define rods arranged in the cross direction of the web. The rods are arranged so that in the machine direction of the web no uninterrupted regions exist along the web while in the cross direction the arrangement of rods defines uninterrupted regions that extend continuously along the web, the alternating pattern of individualized bonded areas defines a non-bonded area. The web has a basis weight from 5-50 g/m.sup.2, the surface of the bonded areas is from 5-20% of the total surface of the side, and the surface of the non-bonded area is from 80-95% of the total surface of the side. Processes for forming the nonwoven fabric and an absorbent article including the nonwoven fabric are also provided.

A filter medium (10) for filtering a fluid, in particular for use in an interior air filter (32), comprises a spun-bonded nonwoven formed at least in part of multi-component segmented pie fibers (1) having at least a first plastic component (2) and a second plastic component (3). The multi-component fibers (1) are largely non-split and in order to manufacture same, segmented pie filaments are spun in a spun-bonding process (S4) to form a spun-bonded nonwoven (10). The segmented pie filaments then form the multi-component fibers (4), the first plastic component (2) and/or the second plastic component (3) being made in particular of a polypropylene.

A filter medium (10) for filtering a fluid, in particular for use in an interior air filter (32), comprises a spun-bonded nonwoven formed at least in part of multi-component segmented pie fibers (1) having at least a first plastic component (2) and a second plastic component (3). The multi-component fibers (1) are largely non-split and in order to manufacture same, segmented pie filaments are spun in a spun-bonding process (S4) to form a spun-bonded nonwoven (10). The segmented pie filaments then form the multi-component fibers (4), the first plastic component (2) and/or the second plastic component (3) being made in particular of a polypropylene.

Multi-component fibers or filaments that are ribbon shaped are provided having polymer components positioned in a side-by-side fashion. For example, the multi-component fibers may be bicomponent fibers having ribbon shape. The polymer components of the fibers are selected to have differential shrinkage behavior. Nonwovens are also provided that are manufactured from such ribbon shaped multi-component fibers or filaments.

Multi-component fibers or filaments that are ribbon shaped are provided having polymer components positioned in a side-by-side fashion. For example, the multi-component fibers may be bicomponent fibers having ribbon shape. The polymer components of the fibers are selected to have differential shrinkage behavior. Nonwovens are also provided that are manufactured from such ribbon shaped multi-component fibers or filaments.

A nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven fabric can include a first surface and a second surface and a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on one of the first or second surface. Each of the three-dimensional features can define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions can have a difference in values for an intensive property. The nonwoven further has a plurality of apertures, wherein at least a portion of the aperture abuts at least one of the first region and the second region of the microzone.

A nonwoven fabric layered body includes, in the following order, a crimped surface layer including a crimped spunbond nonwoven fabric including a crimped fiber, a crimped intermediate layer including a crimped spunbond nonwoven fabric including a crimped fiber, and a non-crimped surface layer including a non-crimped spunbond nonwoven fabric including a non-crimped fiber, a linear mass density of the crimped fiber in the crimped surface layer is from 1.4 denier to 1.6 denier, and a linear mass density of the crimped fiber in the crimped intermediate layer is less than 1.4 denier.

A nonwoven fabric layered body includes, in the following order, a crimped surface layer including a crimped spunbond nonwoven fabric including a crimped fiber, a crimped intermediate layer including a crimped spunbond nonwoven fabric including a crimped fiber, and a non-crimped surface layer including a non-crimped spunbond nonwoven fabric including a non-crimped fiber, a linear mass density of the crimped fiber in the crimped surface layer is from 1.4 denier to 1.6 denier, and a linear mass density of the crimped fiber in the crimped intermediate layer is less than 1.4 denier.

A nonwoven fabric is disclosed. The nonwoven fabric can include a first surface and a second surface and at least a first visually discernible zone of three-dimensional features on one of the first or second surface. Each of the three-dimensional features can define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions can have a difference in values for an intensive property, and the first visually discernible zone can exhibit a high visual resolution.

A nonwoven fabric is disclosed. The nonwoven fabric can include a first surface and a second surface and at least a first visually discernible zone of three-dimensional features on one of the first or second surface. Each of the three-dimensional features can define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions can have a difference in values for an intensive property, and the first visually discernible zone can exhibit a high visual resolution.