Nonwoven fabrics of short individualized bast fibers and products made therefrom

1. A nonwoven fabric comprising substantially pectin-free, straight, individualized bast fibers having a mean length less than 6 millimeters (mm).

2. The nonwoven fabric of claim 1 , wherein bast fibers are fibers extracted from flax, hemp, jute, ramie, nettle, Spanish broom, kenaf plants, or any combination thereof.

3. The nonwoven fabric of claim 1 , wherein the bast fibers have less than 10% by weight of the pectin content of the naturally occurring fibers from which the substantially pectin-free fibers are derived.

4. The nonwoven fabric of claim 1 , wherein the bast fibers have less than 15% by weight of the pectin content of the naturally occurring fibers from which the substantially pectin-free fibers are derived.

5. The nonwoven fabric of claim 1 , wherein the bast fibers have less than 20% by weight of the pectin content of the naturally occurring fibers from which the substantially pectin-free fibers are derived.

6. The nonwoven fabric of claim 1 , wherein the bast fibers having a mean length of at least about 4 mm.

7. The nonwoven fabric of claim 1 , further comprising crimped or straight staple fibers.

8. The nonwoven fabric of claim 1 , further comprising crimped or straight man-made cellulosic fibers, thermoplastic fibers, or any combination thereof.

9. The nonwoven fabric of claim 1 , further comprising pulp fibers.

10. The nonwoven fabric of claim 1 , further comprising staple fibers and pulp fibers.

11. The nonwoven fabric of claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven fabric is a wet wiper, a dry wiper, an impregnated wiper, a sorbent, a medical supply product, a personal protective fabric, an automotive protective covering, a personal care article, a fluid filtration product, a home furnishing product, a thermal insulation product, an acoustic insulation product, an agricultural application product, a landscaping application product, or a geotextile application product.

12. The nonwoven fabric of claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven fabric is a baby wipe, a cosmetic wipe, a perinea wipe, a disposable washcloth, a kitchen wipe, a bath wipe, a hard surface wipe, a glass wipe, a mirror wipe, a leather wipe, an electronics wipe, a lens wipe, a polishing wipe, a medical cleaning wipe, a disinfecting wipe, a surgical drape, a surgical gown, a wound care product, a protective coverall, a sleeve protector, a diaper, a feminine care article, a nursing pad, an air filter, a water filter, an oil filter, or a furniture backing.

13. A method of making the nonwoven fabric of claim 1 , the method comprising:

chemically treating naturally occurring fibers to substantially remove pectin and form straight, substantially individualized bast fibers;

forming randomly arrayed fiber web of the straight, substantially individualized bast fibers; and

bonding the randomly arrayed fiber web to form the nonwoven fabric.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising adding thermoplastic fibers to the individualized fibers and thermal bonding the nonwoven fabric.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein bonding is hydroentangling.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the randomly arrayed fiber web is formed using an airlaid forming process.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the randomly arrayed fiber web is formed using a coform process.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising embossing to provide a pattern.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the randomly arrayed fiber web is formed in a belt-creped process.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the randomly arrayed fiber web is formed in a wet-lay process.

21. The method of claim 13 , wherein the randomly arrayed fiber web is bonded using an adhesive.

22. A laminate comprising the nonwoven fabric of claim 1 , a film, and an adhesive disposed between the fabric and the film.

23. The laminate of claim 22 , wherein the film comprises a polyethylene polymer, a polyethylene copolymer, a polypropylene polymer, a polypropylene copolymer, a polyurethane polymer, a polyurethane copolymer, or a styrenebutadiene copolymer.

24. The laminate of claim 22 , wherein the film comprises linear low density polyethylene.

25. The laminate of claim 22 , wherein the adhesive is a sprayable latex, a polyalphaolefin, or an ethylene vinyl acetate.

26. The laminate of claim 22 , wherein the film is a breathable film.

27. A method of making the laminate of claim 22 , the method comprising:

chemically treating naturally occurring fibers bundled with pectin to substantially remove pectin and form substantially individualized bast fibers;

forming a randomly arrayed fiber web comprising the substantially individualized bast fibers;

bonding the randomly arrayed fiber web to form the nonwoven fabric having a support surface;

disposing an adhesive onto either the support surface of the nonwoven fabric or a film;

disposing the film onto the support surface of the nonwoven fabric; and

nipping to form the laminate.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the film comprises a polyethylene polymer, a polyethylene copolymer, a polypropylene polymer, a polypropylene copolymer, a polyurethane polymer, a polyurethane copolymer, or a styrenebutadiene copolymer.

29. The method of claim 27 , wherein the film comprises linear low density polyethylene.

30. The method of claim 27 , wherein the adhesive is a sprayable latex, a polyalphaolefin, or an ethylene vinyl acetate.

31. A laminate comprising a first nonwoven fabric and another fabric bonded to the first nonwoven fabric, the first nonwoven fabric being the nonwoven fabric of claim 1 , the another fabric being at least one of a second nonwoven fabric or a woven fabric, the second nonwoven fabric optionally being an additional nonwoven fabric of claim 1 .

32. The laminate of claim 31 , wherein the another fabric is bonded to the first nonwoven fabric with an adhesive.