NON WOVEN TEXTILE STRUCTURE INCORPORATING STABILIZED FILAMENT ASSEMBLIES
A method of producing a nonwoven textile structure comprises the steps of: (a) stretching a plurality of substantially parallel continuous tow filaments (1) of absorbent material, such as cellulose acetate or solvent spun rayon, to provide a filament assembly, (b) consolidating the resulting filament assembly (4) by a compacting operation (at 5) to produce a three-dimensional rod or pack while maintaining substantially uninterrupted capillary along the entire length of the filament assembly, and (c) wrapping the three-dimensional rod or pack (6) in a water porous material (7). A plurality of the resulting wrapped rods or packs (9) may then be incorporated into a composite structure, such as that used for a thin diaper. Such wrapped rods or packs exhibit excellent fluid transmission and wet strength characteristics.