Nonwoven sheets comprising surface enhanced pulp fibers, surgical gowns and surgical drapes incorporating such nonwoven sheets, and methods of making the same

Abstract

A nonwoven sheet can comprise a plurality of cellulosic pulp fibers and a plurality of synthetic polymeric fibers. The cellulosic pulp fibers can include a plurality of cedar pulp fibers that have a length weighted average fiber length of at least 1.0 millimeters (mm), optionally between 1.5 and 2.0 mm, and an average hydrodynamic specific surface area of at least 4.5 square meters per gram (m2/g), optionally at least 5 m2/g. The cellulosic pulp fibers can also include a plurality of softwood pulp fibers that, optionally, are NBSK pulp fibers and do not include cedar pulp fibers. The synthetic polymeric fibers can comprise polyester fibers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.