Fine particle filtration medium including an airlaid composite

A filtration medium comprising:

• a) a thin, calendered airlaid composite further comprising:
• i) pulp fibers;
• ii) at least about 2% by weight bicomponent fiber comprising a first polymer component and a second polymer component, wherein said first polymer component melts at a temperature lower than the melting temperature of said second polymer component, and further wherein said bicomponent fibers are integrally mixed and evenly dispersed with said pulp fibers and said first polymer component is bonded to many of said pulp fibers and bicomponent fibers;
• wherein percent by weight is based on the total weight of i) and ii), and further wherein said airlaid composite has a drape stiffness of at least about 6 cm, and a dry tensile strength of at least about 4 kg;
• iii) moisture;
• and
• b) a support structure.

A filtration medium comprising:

• a) a thin, calendered airlaid composite further comprising:
• i) pulp fibers;
• ii) at least about 2% by weight bicomponent fiber comprising a first polymer component and a second polymer component, wherein said first polymer component melts at a temperature lower than the melting temperature of said second polymer component, and further wherein said bicomponent fibers are integrally mixed and evenly dispersed with said pulp fibers and said first polymer component is bonded to many of said pulp fibers and bicomponent fibers;
• iii) moisture;
• and
• b) a support structure;
• wherein percent by weight is based on the total weight of i) and ii), and further wherein said airlaid composite has a drape stiffness of at least about 6 cm, a bubble point of less than about 27 microns, and a dry tensile strength of at least about 4 kg.