Nonwoven fabric

Abstract

A nonwoven fabric is suitable for human cleansing and cosmetic wiper application. This nonwoven fabric exhibits high absorption, retention and release of liquid such as water and chemical solutions, excellent bulkiness and softness with good texture and reduced skin irritation, and high wiping ability. The nonwoven fabric includes 20 to 80% by weight of a polyester fiber having an oblate multilobal cross section and 20 to 80% by weight of a cellulose fiber, and the polyester fiber has an oblate multilobal cross section with an oblate cross section having at least six lobes on its periphery. The polyester fiber has predetermined degree of oblateness and degree of irregularity.

1 .- 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A nonwoven fabric comprising 20 to 80% by weight of a polyester fiber having an oblate multilobal cross section and 20 to 80% by weight of a cellulose fiber, wherein
 the polyester fiber having an oblate multilobal cross section has an oblate cross section with at least 6 lobes on its periphery, and   when the cross section of the polyester fiber having a multilobal oblate cross section has maximum length A, maximum width B, length C of line connecting adjacent lobe apexes in a section with largest lobes, and length D of perpendicular between the line C connecting the adjacent lobe apexes and the bottom of recess between the adjacent lobes,   degree of oblateness (A/B) and degree of irregularity (C/D) simultaneously satisfy relations (1) and (2):
   Degree of oblateness ( A/B )=2.0 to 3.0  (1), and
 
   Degree of irregularity ( C/D )=2.0 to 5.0  (2).
 
   
     
     
         6 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 5  wherein, when maximum length A of the polyester fiber having an oblate multilobal cross section is an axis of symmetry, and line segments are depicted between opposing lobe apexes on opposite sides of the maximum length A, and second longest line segment next to the maximum width B of the line segments has length E, lobe ratio (E/B) satisfies relation (3):
   Lobe ratio ( E/B )=0.6 to 0.9  (3).
 
 
     
     
         7 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 5  wherein the polyester fiber having a multilobal oblate cross section has a single-fiber fineness of up to 2.0 dtex. 
     
     
         8 . A nonwoven fabric for a wiper comprising the nonwoven fabric according to  claim 5 . 
     
     
         9 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 6  wherein the polyester fiber having a multilobal oblate cross section has a single-fiber fineness of up to 2.0 dtex. 
     
     
         10 . A nonwoven fabric for a wiper comprising the nonwoven fabric according to  claim 6 . 
     
     
         11 . A nonwoven fabric for a wiper comprising the nonwoven fabric according to  claim 7 .