| abstract |
A nonwoven fabric formed of highly spinnable heat bonded continuous filaments which is strong and soft and is superior in hand. The nonwoven fabric is formed by heat-bonding filaments of linear low density polyethylene so that the number of defects is not more than 0.01/kg, the weight is 10-100 g/m2, the percentage bond area is 7-20% and the total hand value is 4-300 g. The nonwoven fabric is produced by melt-extruding the above-mentioned linear low density polyethylene to form filaments which are drawn by air guns at a high speed so that they are deposited on a moving collection belt to form a web which is then heat treated at a temperature 15 DEG -30 DEG C. lower than the melting point of the filaments. The nonwoven fabric an be formed of filaments of hollow or flat cross section. It is also possible to utilize bicomponent filaments having a sheath component made of linear low density polyethylene and a core component made of polyethylene terephthalate. |