Nonwoven Fabric, and Method for Producing Same

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a nonwoven fabric that makes it difficult to diffuse liquid in a plane direction and can absorb and transmit liquid in a spot manner, that is, a nonwoven fabric excellent in so-called spot absorbability. The nonwoven fabric according to the present invention is formed by mixing an artificial protein fiber and a hydrophobic synthetic fiber.

1 . A nonwoven fabric having a region formed by mixing an artificial protein fiber containing an artificial fibroin and a hydrophobic synthetic fiber. 
     
     
         2 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the artificial protein fiber containing an artificial fibroin and the hydrophobic synthetic fiber are mixed in an entire region. 
     
     
         3 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the artificial protein fiber containing an artificial fibroin and the hydrophobic synthetic fiber are uniformly mixed. 
     
     
         4 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the artificial fibroin is a modified spider silk fibroin. 
     
     
         5 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the artificial fibroin has an average hydropathy index of −1.0 or more. 
     
     
         6 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 5 , wherein the artificial fibroin has an average hydropathy index of more than 0.0. 
     
     
         7 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , comprising the artificial protein fiber in an amount of 10 to 90% by mass. 
     
     
         8 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic synthetic fiber has an official moisture regain of less than 2%. 
     
     
         9 . The nonwoven fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic synthetic fiber is at least one fiber selected from the group consisting of a polyethylene terephthalate fiber, a polypropylene fiber, and a polylactic acid fiber. 
     
     
         10 . A method for producing a nonwoven fabric, comprising mixing an artificial protein fiber containing an artificial fibroin and a hydrophobic synthetic fiber. 
     
     
         11 . The method for producing a nonwoven fabric according to  claim 10 , wherein a water flow is applied to a fibrous web formed by mixing an artificial protein fiber containing an artificial fibroin and a hydrophobic synthetic fiber to entangle the artificial protein fiber and the hydrophobic synthetic fiber with each other, thereby further promoting mixing.