NON-WOVEN FABRIC AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING SAME

摘要

A NONWOVEN FABRIC (10) OF THE INVENTION INCLUDES: A CORE/SHEATH CONJUGATE FIBER HAVING A SHEATH COMPOSED OF A POLYETHYLENE RESIN AND A CORE COMPOSED OF A RESIN COMPONENT HAVING A MELTING POINT HIGHER THAN THAT OF THE POLYETHYLENE RESIN; AND A HYDROPHILIZING AGENT ADHERING TO THE SURFACE OF THE CORE/SHEATH CONJUGATE FIBER. THE NONWOVEN FABRIC HAS HEAT-FUSION- BONDED POINTS BEING FORMED BY HEAT-FUSION-BONDING INTERSECTIONS OF CONSTITUENT FIBERS. THE CORE/SHEATH CONJUGATE FIBER CONTAINS A HEAT-EXTENSIBLE FIBER WHOSE LENGTH IS EXTENSIBLE BY HEATING, AND THE HEAT-EXTENSIBLE FIBER HAS A GRADIENT IN HYDROPHILICITY IN A THICKNESS DIRECTION AND/OR A PLANAR DIRECTION OF THE NONWOVEN FABRIC (10). THE PRESENT NONWOVEN FABRIC (10) IS SUITABLY USED, FOR EXAMPLE, AS A TOPSHEET OF AN ABSORBENT ARTICLE.