Nonwoven materials having at least one layer comprising high core bicomponent fibers are provided. The nonwoven materials can have multiple layers and are suitable for use in a variety of applications, including in absorbent products. The nonwoven materials can have improved resiliency and strength and can retain their structure under wetted conditions and after tension and compression.

The present invention relates to an elastic nonwoven fabric comprising a nonwoven web that is made of a plurality of fibers, which fibers are bicomponent fibers which each comprise a first component and a second component, wherein the first component is present in an amount in the range of from 80-95% by weight and the second component is present in an amount in the range of from 5-20% by weight, both weights based on the total weight of each fiber; wherein the first component comprises an ethylene/-olefin copolymer and the second component comprises a low density polyethylene having a density in the range of from 0.90-0.95 g/cm.sup.3 (as determined with ASTM D792); wherein the first component and the second component both have a melt flow rate in the range of from 10-40 g/10 min (as determined by ASTM D1238 (190 C., 2.16 kg)); and wherein the nonwoven web comprises a side which is provided with a pattern of individualized bonded areas, wherein the surface of the bonded areas is in the range of 8-25%, based on the total surface of the side. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing the nonwoven fabric, and an article comprising the nonwoven fabric.

A multi-component fiber including at least first and second components. In some cases, at least a portion of the first component is opaque and microporous, and the second component is different from the first component. In some cases, at least a portion of the second component can be seen through at least a portion of the first component. A fiber having an opaque, microporous region and a see-through region of lower porosity is also disclosed. Fibrous webs including such fibers are also disclosed. In some cases, the fibrous web has at least one first region where first portions of the multiple fibers are opaque and microporous and at least one second region where second portions of the multiple fibers form a see-through region of lower porosity. Articles and laminates including the fibrous webs are disclosed. Methods of making the fibers, fibrous webs, and articles are also disclosed.

Fibrous elements, such as filaments and/or fibers, and more particularly to fibrous elements that contain a fast wetting surfactant, fibrous structures made therefrom, and methods for making same are provided.

A carded nonwoven fibrous web and method of making is provided. The web comprises at least 50%, by weight of the fibrous web, of staple fibers and at least 10%, by weight of the fibrous web, of non-fibrous latex binder, wherein, the staple fibers are autogenously bonded to each other and are bonded to each other by the latex binder.

A sea-island composite fiber in which island components are interspersed in a sea component on a fiber cross-section, wherein the island components have a composite structure formed with two or more different polymers joined together, and the ratio (L/D) of the length (L) of the joint section of the island component and the diameter (D) of the composite island component is 0.1 to 10.0. The sea-island composite fiber has satisfactory high-order processability, and therefore can be produced with high productivity and quality using existing equipment, and thin fibers obtained by removing the sea component have functions of structure control while having an excellent tactile impression.

A semipermeable membrane support containing polyolefin-based fibers, which can withstand repeated washing and backwashing, makes it easy for a semipermeable membrane component to permeate thereinto and difficult for the component to strike therethrough, and is excellent in adhesion to the semipermeable membrane and adhesion between a non-coating surface thereof and a resin frame. The semipermeable membrane support which is used by forming the semipermeable membrane thereon is a wet-laid nonwoven fabric containing core-sheath type conjugate fibers composed of polypropylene as a core component and polyethylene as a sheath component and has a burst strength of 300 to 1,000 kPa, or the Bekk smoothness and 75 mirror surface glossiness of the coating surface on which the semipermeable membrane is to be formed of the semipermeable membrane support being more than the Bekk smoothness and 75 mirror surface glossiness of a non-coating surface on the opposite side.

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.

Nonwoven materials having at least one layer are provided, as well as their use in cleaning articles. More particularly, the nonwoven materials can include a rough outer surface useful for scrubbing purposes. Alternatively or additionally, the nonwoven materials can include a carrier composition including a binder and a blocking agent. The carrier composition can repel a sanitizing agent, such as a quaternary ammonium compound, from the surface of the nonwoven material.

A nonwoven web material that contains fibers formed by compounding at least one polymer with a tackifier is provided. The nonwoven web material can be used as a wipe or tack cloth and can exhibit a dust holding capacity of at least about 10 grams/m.sup.2 and a lint potential of less than about 5 fibers/cm.sup.2. In addition to containing a tackifier that is compounded with the polymer(s) used to form the fibers of the web, the nonwoven web material can be textured, post-bonded, apertured, or treated with elemental fluorine gas to further improve its dust holding capacity and minimize lint production. In addition, the nonwoven web material leaves minimal residue after contacting a surface.