Fibrous web having cellulosic fibers

A thermally bonded multilayered nonwoven laminate web having improved wicking and liquid absorption and retention properties, comprising

• first and third layers which each comprise thermoplastic melt-blown man-made fibers, said first and third layers each having a weight of between about 0.05 and about 10 oz/yd.sup.2, and
• a second layer sandwiched between the first and third layers which comprises non-wood cellulose-based staple fibers, said second layer having a weight of between about 0.1 and about 10 oz/yd.sup.2, the fibers of said second layer having a fiber length of between about 0.5 and about 3 inches and a fineness equivalent to between about 2 and about 5 Micronaire units,
• the layers being thermally bonded at spaced apart bonding areas to form a coherent web having a an air permeability of between about 25 and 37 ft.sup.3 /min/ft.sup.2 and a weight of between about 0.5 and about 24 oz/yd.sup.2, the area of bonding between the layers being between about 5 and about 75% of the area of the laminate web.

A thermally bonded multilayered nonwoven laminate web having improved wicking and liquid absorption and retention properties, comprising

• first and third layers which each comprise thermoplastic spunbonded man-made fibers, said first and third layers each having a weight of between about 0.05 and about 10 oz/yd.sup.2, and
• a second layer sandwiched between the first and third layers which comprises non-wood cellulose-based staple fibers, said second layer having a weight of between about 0.1 and about 10 oz/yd.sup.2, the fibers of said second layer having a fiber length of between about 0.5 and about 3 inches and a fineness equivalent to between about 2 and about 5 Micronaire units,
• the layers being thermally bonded at spaced apart bonding areas to form a coherent web having a weight of between about 0.5 and about 24 oz/yd.sup.2, the area of bonding between the layers being between about 5 and about 75% of the area of the laminate web.

A multilayered nonwoven laminate web having improved wicking, liquid absorption and retention properties, comprising

• a first and third layers which each comprise fibrous nonwoven material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic meltblown man-made fibers, thermoplastic spunbonded man-made fibers, and combinations thereof, said first and third layers having a weight of between about 0.05 and about 10 oz/yd.sup.2, and
• a second layer sandwiched between the first and third layers which comprises non-wood cellulose-based staple fibers, said second layer having a weight of between about 0.1 and about 10 oz/yd.sup.2, the fibers of said second layer having a fiber length of between about 0.5 and about 3 inches and a fineness equivalent to between about 2 and about 5 Micronaire units,
• the layers being thermally bonded at spaced apart bonding areas to form a coherent web having a weight of between about 0.5 and about 24 oz/yd.sup.2, the area of bonding between the layers being between about 5 and about 75% of the area of the laminate web.