| abstract |
A consolidated fibrous structure including a multiplicity of fibrous layers. The fibers of each fibrous layer contain a core and a skin layer. The core has an exterior surface portion containing polypropylene. The skin layer is disposed on at least a portion of the core and contains a first polymer and a second polymer. At least a portion of the skin layers of the fibers in each fibrous layer are fused to at least a portion of other skin layers of fibers within the same fibrous layer, at least a portion of the skin layers of the fibers of each fibrous layer are fused with at least a portion of the skin layers of the fibers in an adjacent fibrous layer, and the stiffness of the consolidated fibrous structure is at least 1 N-m. A fibrous layer is also described. |