| 摘要 |
A nonwoven fabric comprising ultra-fine continuous fibers having a mean fineness of not more than 0.5 dtex is prepared. The nonwoven fabric comprises a water-soluble thermoplastic resin in a proportion of not more than 5% by weight relative to the nonwoven fabric, has an absorbing height of not less than 30 mm as determined at 20 DEG C after 10 minutes based on Byreck method when the nonwoven fabric immersion-treated for 60 minutes in water of 80 DEG C is used, and satisfies the following formula: (B) / (A) ≥ 0.25, wherein the symbol (B) represents a tensile strength ÄN/5cmÜ in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction of the nonwoven fabric and the symbol (A) represents a fabric weight Äg/m<2>Ü of the nonwoven fabric. In the nonwoven f abric, preferably not less than 30% of the surface is coated with the water-soluble thermoplastic resin. The water-soluble thermoplastic resin may be a water-soluble thermoplastic polyvinyl alcohol, e.g., a modified polyvinyl alcohol containing an ethylene unit in a proportion of 3 to 20 mol%. <??>The present invention provides a nonwoven fabric comprising ultra-fine continuous fibers, having a high flexibility or softness, and having a high mechanical strength even when the fiber diameter is small, and having an excellent water absorbency, as well as a production process and an application thereof. <IMAGE> |
