Nonwoven fabric for wiper

Abstract

A nonwoven fabric contains extra-fine fibers which contain linear bonded regions and/or dot-like bonded regions, and non-bonded regions on a surface of the extra-fine fibers. The bonded regions account for from 10 to 80% of a surface area of the nonwoven fabric. A distance between neighboring bonded regions is at most 20 mm. The nonwoven fabric has an excellent ability to wipe off dirt including oily stains and persistent stains, it well follows even three-dimensionally patterned faces of the articles to be wiped with it. Its feel and its washing resistance are good.

1 . A nonwoven fabric, comprising: 
 extra-fine fibers comprising: 
 bonded regions in a form selected from the group consisting of linear bonded regions, dot-like bonded regions and mixtures thereof, and non-bonded regions on a surface of said extra-fine fibers;  
   wherein said bonded regions account for from 10 to 80% of a surface area of said nonwoven fabric; and    wherein a distance between neighboring bonded regions is at most 20 mm.    
     
     
         2 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein said surface has an embossed pattern; 
 wherein a height difference between the hills and the valleys of said embossed pattern is at least 20% of the thickness of the nonwoven fabric.    
     
     
         3 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1  which comprises 100% of extra-fine fibers.  
     
     
         4 . A wiper made of the nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         5 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein a single fiber fineness of said extra-fine fibers is not more than 0.5 dtex.  
     
     
         6 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein said extra-fine fibers are splittable conjugated fibers.  
     
     
         7 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 6 , wherein said splittable conjugated fibers comprise at least two different types of resin.  
     
     
         8 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 7 , wherein said resin is selected from the group consisting of polyester polymers, polyolefin polymers, polyamide polymers, polystyrene polymers, polyacrylonitrile polymers, polyvinyl alcohol polymers, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 6 , wherein said splittable conjugated fibers comprise two different types of resin components which are conjugated in the following manner: 
 1) into bicomponent fibers having a chrysanthemum-patterned cross-sectional profile in which the two resin components are alternately radially aligned;    2) into bicomponent fibers having a bimetal-patterned cross-sectional profile in which the two resin components are alternately layered; or    3) into bicomponent fibers having a sea/island patterned cross-sectional profile in which islands of one resin component are dispersed in a sea matrix of the other resin component.    
     
     
         10 . The nonwoven fabric for wipers according to  claim 1 , comprising heat-fusing fibers.  
     
     
         11 . The nonwoven fabric for wipers according to  claim 10 , wherein a melting point difference between said extra-fine fibers and said heat-fusing fibers is at least 10° C.  
     
     
         12 . The nonwoven fabric for wipers according to  claim 10 , wherein said heat-fusing fibers comprise 6-nylon/polyethylene copolymer, polypropylene/polyethylene copolymer, polypropylene/ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyester/polypropylene copolymer, polyester/polyethylene copolymer, 6-nylon/66-nylon copolymer and high-density polyester/low-density polyester copolymer.  
     
     
         13 . The nonwoven fabric for wipers according to  claim 1 , wherein said bonded regions of the nonwoven fabric are formed by using a resin binder.  
     
     
         14 . The nonwoven fabric for wipers according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of said extrta-fine fibers in said non-bonded regions embedded in said bonded regions.