Non-woven web

Abstract

A non-woven web is disclosed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A nonwoven web comprising a plurality of fibers formed from a molten polymer having an average fiber diameter ranging from between about 0.5 microns to about 50 microns, a basis weight of at least about 0.5 gsm, and a tensile strength, measured in a machine direction, ranging from between about 12 gf/gsm/cm width of said non-woven web to about 100 gf/gsm/cm width of said non-woven web. 
     
     
         2 . The non-woven web of  claim 1  wherein said average fiber diameter ranges from between about 1 micron to about 30 microns. 
     
     
         3 . The non-woven web of  claim 1  wherein said average fiber diameter ranges from between about 1 micron to about 20 microns. 
     
     
         4 . The non-woven web of  claim 1  wherein said average fiber diameter ranges from between about 1 micron to about 10 microns. 
     
     
         5 . The non-woven web of  claim 1  wherein said molten polymer is a homopolymer. 
     
     
         6 . The non-woven web of  claim 1  wherein said non-woven web is formed from two different polymer resins. 
     
     
         7 . The non-woven web of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of fibers in said non-woven web have a standard deviation which ranges from between about 0.9 microns to about 5 microns. 
     
     
         8 . The non-woven web of  claim 1  wherein said fibers are randomly arranged. 
     
     
         9 . The non-woven web of  claim 8  wherein said fibers are mechanically bonded. 
     
     
         10 . A nonwoven web comprising a plurality of fibers formed from a molten homopolymer having an average fiber diameter ranging from between about 0.5 microns to about 50 microns, with a basis weight of at least about 0.5 gsm, and a tensile strength, measured in a machine direction, ranging from between about 12 gf/gsm/cm width of said non-woven web to about 80 gf/gsm/cm width of said non-woven web. 
     
     
         11 . The non-woven web of  claim 10  wherein said fibers are hydromechanically bonded. 
     
     
         12 . The non-woven web of  claim 10  wherein said fibers are thermally bonded. 
     
     
         13 . The non-woven web of  claim 10  wherein said fibers are chemically bonded. 
     
     
         14 . The non-woven web of  claim 10  wherein said average fiber diameter ranges from between about 1 micron to about 10 microns, and said tensile strength ranges from between about 13 gf/gsm/cm width of said non-woven web to about 70 gf/gsm/cm width of said non-woven web. 
     
     
         15 . The non-woven web of  claim 10  wherein said homopolymer is polypropylene. 
     
     
         16 . A nonwoven web comprising a plurality of fibers formed from a molten homopolymer having an average fiber diameter ranging from between about 1 micron to about 50 microns, a basis weight of at least about 1 gsm, and a tensile strength, measured in a machine direction, ranging from between about gf/gsm/cm width of said non-woven web to about 50 gf/gsm/cm width of said non-woven web. 
     
     
         17 . The non-woven web of  claim 16  wherein said average fiber diameter ranges from between about 1 micron to about 30 microns. 
     
     
         18 . The non-woven web of  claim 16  wherein said average fiber diameter ranges from between about 1 micron to about 15 microns. 
     
     
         19 . The non-woven web of  claim 16  wherein said average fiber diameter ranges from between about 1 micron to about 10 microns. 
     
     
         20 . The non-woven web of  claim 16  wherein said fibers are randomly arranged and mechanically bonded.