Nonwoven continuously-bonded trilaminate

A nonwoven composite material having a basis weight ranging from 1-3 oz/yd.sup.2, suitable for use as a sterilization wrap, comprising:

• a layer of a meltblown fabric of thermoplastic polymeric microfibers having an average fiber diameter of up to 10 microns and a basis weight ranging from 0.3 to 0.6 oz/yd.sup.2 ;
• two prebonded reinforcing fabric layers of thermoplastic polymer filaments selected from spunbonded, wetlaid and carded webs and having basis weights that may be identical or different and range from 0.3 to 2.0 oz/yd.sup.2 ;
• wherein said meltblown fabric layer and said reinforcing fabric layers are positioned in juxtaposed surface-to surface relationship, said meltblown fabric layer positioned between said reinforcing fabric layers, and wherein all of said layers are continuously-bonded together in a nip of double helical grooved rolls by the application of heat and pressure to form a composite material having areas of heavy bonding, areas of intermediate bonding and areas of light bonding.