Staple fiber non-woven fabric and process for producing the same

Abstract

A staple fiber non-woven fabric is provided which comprises, as constituent fibers, first and second split staple fibers composed of first and second fiber formable polymers, respectively, and water-absorptive staple fibers. The first and second split staple fibers have a fineness of not greater than 0.5 denier per fiber. The first and second fiber formable polymers are different polymers selected from the group consisting of a polyamide, a polyester and a polyethylene which are incompatible with each other. The fiber split degree of the first and second split staple fibers is not lower than 85%. The constituent fibers are three-dimensionally entangled with each other.

1 . A staple fiber non-woven fabric comprising: 
 first and second split staple fibers composed of first and second fiber formable polymers, respectively, and obtained by splitting splittable bicomponent conjugate staple fibers composed of the first and second fiber formable polymers; and    water-absorptive staple fibers,    wherein the first and second split staple fibers have a fineness of not greater than 0.5 denier per fiber,    wherein the first and second fiber formable polymers are different polymers selected from the group consisting of a polyamide, a polyester and a polyethylene which are incompatible with each other,    wherein a fiber split degree of the first and second split staple fibers is not lower than 85%,    wherein the first split staple fibers, the second split staple fibers and the water-absorptive staple fibers are three-dimensionally entangled with each other.    
     
     
         2 . A staple fiber non-woven fabric as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the water-absorptive staple fibers are selected from natural fibers and regenerated fibers.  
     
     
         3 . A staple fiber non-woven fabric as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the water-absorptive staple fibers are present in a proportion of 30 to 70 wt %.  
     
     
         4 . A process for producing a staple fiber non-woven fabric, comprising the steps of: 
 spinning splittable bicomponent conjugate fibers composed of first and second fiber formable polymers which are different polymers selected from the group consisting of a polyamide, a polyester and a polyethylene which are incompatible with each other;    forming a non-woven web by blending the splittable bicomponent conjugate staple fibers with water-absorptive staple fibers; and    subjecting the non-woven web to a high pressure liquid stream treatment, whereby the conjugate staple fibers are split at a fiber split degree of not lower than 85% into first split staple fibers composed of the first fiber formable polymer and having a fineness of not greater than 0.5 denier per fiber and second split staple fibers composed of the second fiber formable polymer and having a fineness of not greater than 0.5 denier per fiber, and the first and second split staple fibers and the water-absorptive staple fibers are three-dimensionally entangled with each other.