A water disposable nonwoven web having good MD and CD strength is provided. The nonwoven web is obtained by hydroentangling an airlaid web of no less than 50% by weight of natural cellulose fibers having a fiber length of no more than 3.5 mm and no more than 50% by weight staple fibers having a fiber length of no less than 8.0 mm. The nonwoven web contains no adhesive, binder or thermal bonding fibers. Products containing the disposable nonwoven web meet municipal guidelines for flushability.

A water disposable nonwoven web having good MD and CD strength is provided. The nonwoven web is obtained by hydroentangling an airlaid web of no less than 50% by weight of natural cellulose fibers having a fiber length of no more than 3.5 mm and no more than 50% by weight staple fibers having a fiber length of no less than 8.0 mm. The nonwoven web contains no adhesive, binder or thermal bonding fibers. Products containing the disposable nonwoven web meet municipal guidelines for flushability.

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 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 method for producing a nonwoven element for hygiene articles is accomplished by the steps of: forming a fibrous web from a multi-ply nonwoven material with at least one carded staple fiber layer and a storage layer which is arranged on the staple fiber layer and which has cellulose fibers, wherein at least a portion of the staple fibers of the staple fiber layer are formed from a thermoplastic; applying liquid jets to the fibrous web, as a result of which the fibers of the multi-ply nonwoven material are intermingled and entangled, and the fibrous web is embossed with a surface structure; applying heat to the fibrous web, as a result of which the thermoplastic staple fibers at least partially fuse and the fibrous web is bonded to form a nonwoven web, and severing individual nonwoven elements from the nonwoven web.

A method for producing a nonwoven element for hygiene articles is accomplished by the steps of: forming a fibrous web from a multi-ply nonwoven material with at least one carded staple fiber layer and a storage layer which is arranged on the staple fiber layer and which has cellulose fibers, wherein at least a portion of the staple fibers of the staple fiber layer are formed from a thermoplastic; applying liquid jets to the fibrous web, as a result of which the fibers of the multi-ply nonwoven material are intermingled and entangled, and the fibrous web is embossed with a surface structure; applying heat to the fibrous web, as a result of which the thermoplastic staple fibers at least partially fuse and the fibrous web is bonded to form a nonwoven web, and severing individual nonwoven elements from the nonwoven web.

The present invention relates to a nonwoven material for use as an absorbent wiping material produced by hydroentangling of a substrate web comprising at least one layer of fibers selected from amongst synthetic fibers, regenerated fibers and natural fibers, wherein the nonwoven material (1) has a base level h.sub.0 with protuberances (2, 3) on one side, wherein the protuberances (2, 3) form at least a first and a second surface structure respectively in the form of first (2) and second (3) protuberances from the base level h.sub.0, wherein the first protuberances (2) have a height h.sub.1 from the base level h.sub.0 and the second protuberances (3) have a height h.sub.2 from the base level h.sub.0, where h.sub.2 is higher than h.sub.1, and each of the second protuberances (3) occupies an area of the surface of the base level at least 4 times greater than each of the first protuberances (2). The present invention also relates to a method for producing a nonwoven material (111), wherein hydroentangling of a substrate web (101), which comprises natural fibers having a length of less than 10 mm, takes place on a surface-shaped carrier device (109) containing holes which form at least a first and a second pattern in the form of first and second holes respectively, wherein the second holes are at least 4 times larger than the first holes.

The present invention relates to a nonwoven material for use as an absorbent wiping material produced by hydroentangling of a substrate web comprising at least one layer of fibers selected from amongst synthetic fibers, regenerated fibers and natural fibers, wherein the nonwoven material (1) has a base level h.sub.0 with protuberances (2, 3) on one side, wherein the protuberances (2, 3) form at least a first and a second surface structure respectively in the form of first (2) and second (3) protuberances from the base level h.sub.0, wherein the first protuberances (2) have a height h.sub.1 from the base level h.sub.0 and the second protuberances (3) have a height h.sub.2 from the base level h.sub.0, where h.sub.2 is higher than h.sub.1, and each of the second protuberances (3) occupies an area of the surface of the base level at least 4 times greater than each of the first protuberances (2). The present invention also relates to a method for producing a nonwoven material (111), wherein hydroentangling of a substrate web (101), which comprises natural fibers having a length of less than 10 mm, takes place on a surface-shaped carrier device (109) containing holes which form at least a first and a second pattern in the form of first and second holes respectively, wherein the second holes are at least 4 times larger than the first holes.

The present disclosure describes a tampon article, a composite fibrous web, and a method of making same. Such an article includes an outer carrier component including an inner surface that defines an internal void. Including an absorbent component elongate along an axis and is disposed in the internal void. The absorbent component includes an outer surface that extends about the axis and faces the inner surface. The absorbent component further includes a composite fibrous web of staple cellulosic fibers and a meltspun web of filaments entangled with the web of staple cellulosic fibers. The composite fibrous web can be in a compressed configuration in the internal void such that at least portion of the outer surface of the absorbent component is defined by the meltspun web of filaments. The tampon can include a withdrawal cord coupled to the absorbent component.

The present disclosure describes a tampon article, a composite fibrous web, and a method of making same. Such an article includes an outer carrier component including an inner surface that defines an internal void. Including an absorbent component elongate along an axis and is disposed in the internal void. The absorbent component includes an outer surface that extends about the axis and faces the inner surface. The absorbent component further includes a composite fibrous web of staple cellulosic fibers and a meltspun web of filaments entangled with the web of staple cellulosic fibers. The composite fibrous web can be in a compressed configuration in the internal void such that at least portion of the outer surface of the absorbent component is defined by the meltspun web of filaments. The tampon can include a withdrawal cord coupled to the absorbent component.