Fiber, nonwoven fabric and uses thereof

Abstract

An object of the invention is to develop fibers which include an olefin polymer and are suitable to form a nonwoven fabric, and to develop such nonwoven fabrics. The invention provides a fiber including an olefin polymer composition including 100 parts by weight of an olefin polymer and 0.1 to 30 parts by weight of an acid-form anionic surfactant, the acid-form anionic surfactant having been melt kneaded in the fiber.

1 . A fiber comprising an olefin polymer composition comprising 100 parts by weight of an olefin polymer and 0.1 to 30 parts by weight of an acid-form anionic surfactant, the acid-form anionic surfactant having been melt kneaded in the fiber. 
     
     
         2 . The fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the acid-form anionic surfactant has an aliphatic hydrocarbon group in which a hydrophobic group has not less than 9 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         3 . The fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the acid-form anionic surfactant is a fatty acid having not less than 9 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the acid-form anionic surfactant is a phosphate ester surfactant in which a hydrophobic group has not less than 9 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         5 . The fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the olefin polymer composition comprises 0.1 to 30 parts by weight of a nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the olefin polymer is a propylene polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The fiber according to  claim 6 , wherein the propylene polymer is a propylene/α-olefin random copolymer comprising propylene and an α-olefin and having a melting point (Tm) in the range of 125 to 155° C. 
     
     
         8 . The fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the fiber is a continuous fiber. 
     
     
         9 . A nonwoven fabric comprising the fiber described in  claim 8 . 
     
     
         10 . An absorptive article in which the nonwoven fabric described in  claim 9  is used in a top sheet and/or a second sheet. 
     
     
         11 . An absorptive article in which the nonwoven fabric described in  claim 9  is used in an absorbent-wrapping sheet. 
     
     
         12 . The fiber according to  claim 7 , wherein the fiber is a continuous fiber. 
     
     
         13 . A nonwoven fabric comprising the fiber described in  claim 12 . 
     
     
         14 . An absorptive article in which the nonwoven fabric described in  claim 13  is used in a top sheet and/or a second sheet. 
     
     
         15 . An absorptive article in which the nonwoven fabric described in  claim 13  is used in an absorbent-wrapping sheet.