Fibers formed from aromatic polyester and polyether copolymer

1. A fiber for use in forming a nonwoven web, the fiber being formed from a thermoplastic composition comprising at least one aromatic polyester in an amount from about 75 wt. % to about 99 wt. % and at least one polyether copolymer in an amount from about 1 wt. % to about 25 wt %, wherein the polyether copolymer contains from about 40 mol.% to about 95 mol.% of a repeating unit (A) having the following formula:

wherein,

x is an integer from 1 to 250,

the polyether copolymer further containing from about 5 mol.% to about 60 mol.% of a repeating unit (B) having the following formula:

wherein,

n is an integer from 3 to 20; and

y is an integer from 1 to 150,

wherein the polyether copolymer has the following general structure;

wherein

z is an integer from 0 to 200;

A is hydrogen, an alkyl group, an acyl group, or an aryl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and

B is hydrogen, an alkyl group, an acyl group, or an aryl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

2. The fiber of claim 1 , wherein the carboxylic acid constituent is obtained from terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, napthalic acid, derivatives thereof, or combinations of the foregoing.

3. The fiber of claim 1 , wherein the aromatic polyester includes poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(propylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthlate), derivatives thereof, or a mixture of the foregoing.

4. The fiber of claim 1 , wherein n is an integer from 3 to 6.

5. The fiber of claim 1 , wherein the repeating unit (B) is derived from 1,2-propanediol.

6. The fiber of claim 1 , wherein A is hydrogen, B is hydrogen, and z is an integer from 2 to 125.

7. The fiber of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic composition has a glass transition temperature of about 5° C. to about 70° C.

8. The fiber of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic composition has a melting temperature of from about 150° C. to about 350° C.

9. The fiber of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic composition has a melt flow index of from about 100 to about 800 grams per 10 minutes, determined at a load of 2160 grams and temperature of 270° C. in accordance with ASTM Test Method D1239.

10. A nonwoven web comprising the fiber of claim 1 .

11. The nonwoven web of claim 10 , wherein the web is a meltblown web, coform web, spunbond web, or a combination thereof.

12. An absorbent article comprising the nonwoven web of claim 11 .