The invention relates to the use of a lyocell fiber (1) for the manufacture of a nonwoven fiber fleece (10, 100). To manufacture a thin nonwoven fiber fleece with sufficient mechanical properties, the use of a lyocell fiber is proposed, where the fiber (1) has a cross-sectional aspect ratio of at least 1.8.

The invention further relates to a nonwoven fiber fleece (10, 100). In order to manufacture a thin nonwoven fiber fleece (10, 100) suitable for use as a battery separator, it is proposed, that the fiber fleece comprises at least two layers (11, 12) of fibrillated lyocell fibers (13), with the fibrillated lyocell fibers (13) having solid cores (14, 110) and fibrils (15) protruding from said cores (14), the fibers and fibrils (15) being intermingled to form the fiber fleece (10), embedding the solid cores (14) therein, whereby the solid cores (14, 110) of the fibrillated lyocell fibers (13) have an average cross-sectional aspect ratio k of at least 1.5.

A nonwoven fabric useful as a component in a personal hygiene product and a nonwoven personal hygiene component, which is substantially free or free of non-ribbon shaped (e.g., round-shaped) spunbond fibers and includes a meltblown layer between and in direct contact with ribbon-shaped spunbond layers. The meltblown layer has a basis weight of at least about 0.008 gsm and not greater than about 5 gsm, and the nonwoven fabric or component has a basis weight of at least about 8 gsm and not greater than about 40 gsm, a pore size of less than or equal to about 27 microns when measured at 10% of cumulative filter flow. The nonwoven fabric also can have a low surface tension liquid strike through flow of less than 0.9 ml per second, a ratio of low surface tension liquid strike through flow to air permeability of greater than or equal to about 0.016, or both. Personal hygiene articles can incorporate the nonwoven fabric or component.

A needle punched carpet for use in a car is disclosed. The needle punched carpet comprises at least a needle punched facing layer defining a top layer and made of staple fibers. The staple fibers comprise hollow fibers having a hollow fiber content that is at least more than 45 weight % of the total staple fibers.

Fabrics are provided that include mono-component staple fibers, a first group of split staple fibers comprising a first polymeric material, and a second group of split staple fibers comprising a second polymeric material that is different than the first polymeric material. The mono-component staple fibers, the first group of split staple fibers, and the second group of split staple fibers are physically entangled together to define a consolidated nonwoven. The fabrics may be physically entangled by hydroentanglement.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to an abrasive article. The abrasive article includes a nonwoven web. The non-woven web includes a first irregular major surface and an opposite second irregular major surface. The nonwoven web further includes a fiber component comprising staple fibers having a linear density ranging from about 50 denier to about 2000 denier and a crimp index value ranging from about 15% to about 60%. The nonwoven web further includes a binder dispensed on the fiber component and abrasive particles dispersed throughout the nonwoven web.

An artificial down filling material comprising artificial down clusters (1), wherein each of the down clusters (1) comprise a number of filaments (10) arranged side by side in a bundle, the filaments (10) being bonded, preferably melt bonded, together at a bonding location 20, wherein the filaments (10) are self-crimped, multi-component filaments (10), the cross-section of the multi-component filament having at least three corners (211).

A network of microfibers are fabricated with a core-shell construction from sustainable materials, where the core includes a phase-change material, such as coconut oil, and the shell includes a biomass, such as cellulose. The microfibers are made via a wet-wet electrospinning process utilizing a coaxial spinneret with an inner conduit and an outer conduit. The biomass and the phase-change material are coaxially extruded into a coagulation bath including a mixture of ethanol and water. The collected microfibers exhibit a beaded structure of PCM aggregates and biomass connecting regions between the aggregates and are effective to aid in the thermoregulation of the immediate environment surrounding the network. The microfibers are suitable for use in a variety of sustainable products such as wearable thermoregulating textiles, wall/ceiling panels, insulation, packaging material, and more.

A nonwoven fabric useful as a component in a personal hygiene product and a nonwoven personal hygiene component, which is substantially free or free of non-ribbon shaped (e.g., round-shaped) spunbond fibers and includes a meltblown layer between and in direct contact with ribbon-shaped spunbond layers. The meltblown layer has a basis weight of at least about 0.008 gsm and not greater than about 5 gsm, and the nonwoven fabric or component has a basis weight of at least about 8 gsm and not greater than about 40 gsm, a pore size of less than or equal to about 27 microns when measured at 10% of cumulative filter flow. The nonwoven fabric also can have a low surface tension liquid strike through flow of less than 0.9 ml per second, a ratio of low surface tension liquid strike through flow to air permeability of greater than or equal to about 0.016, or both. Personal hygiene articles can incorporate the nonwoven fabric or component.

A disposable absorbent article is described. The disposable absorbent article has a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. A carded staple fiber nonwoven having a basis weight of between about 50 grams per square meter (gsm) and about 100 gsm, includes a blend of absorbing fibers, stiffening fibers and filler fibers. The carded staple fiber nonwoven has a pore volume radius mode of between about 60 μm and about 120 μm.

A composition and process for making the composition by co-refining: fibrillated virgin cellulose fibers, waste/recycle cellulose fibers, or both; co-refined cellulose ester (CE) staple fibers having a denier per filament (DPF) of less than 3 and the weight percent of CE staple fibers is less than 30 wt. %, based on the weight of CE staple fibers and said cellulose fibers; and water. The composition can be co-refined to obtain lower Canadian standard freeness yet improved drainage and wet laid products having good tensile strength, air permeability, stiffness, burst strength, and bulk.