Materials having z-direction fibers and folds and method for producing same

摘要

A method for producing a material having z-direction waves in which a layer of continuous fibers is conveyed on a first moving surface into a nip formed by the first moving surface and a second moving surface which is travelling at a slower speed than the first moving surface, resulting in formation of a plurality of z-direction loops in the fibers giving loft to the material and a wave pattern producing ridges on both major surfaces of the resultant nonwoven web. The method permits easy real time adjustment of manufacturing parameters to produce a variety of materials. The method further produces lofty nonwovens at a commercially viable rate.