Nonwoven fabric and method of production thereof

DETAILED DESCRIPTION That which is claimed is: 1.
A method of producing a nonwoven fabric comprising the steps of: forming a batt comprising acrylic fibers and additional fibers selected from the group consisting of polyester fibers, nylon fibers and mixtures of polyester and nylon fibers; drafting said batt; needling said batt; and selectively fusing at least a portion of said additional fibers of said thus drafted and needled batt while allowing said acrylic fibers to remain substantially unfused.
2.
A nonwoven fabric produced in accordance with claim 1.
3.
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said additional fibers of said batt are fused by infrared radiation.
4.
A nonwoven fabric produced in accordance with claim 3.
5.
A method in accordance with claim 1 or claim 3 wherein said batt is heat stabilized subsequent to said fusing step.
6.
A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said batt is heat stabilized and dyed with a cationic dye in a liquid bath at about 100.
degree.
C.
7.
A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said batt is heat stabilized in a liquid at about 100.
degree.
C.
8.
A nonwoven fabric in accordance with claim 7.
9.
A method in accordance with claim 1 or claim 3 wherein said batt is simultaneously heat stabilized and dyed in a liquid bath at about 100.
degree.
C.
subsequent to said fusing step.
10.
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said additional fibers are polyester fibers.
11.
A method of producing a nonwoven fabric comprising the steps of: forming a batt comprising acrylic fibers and additional fibers selected from the group consisting of polyester fibers, nylon fibers and mixtures of polyester and nylon fibers, wherein said acrylic fibers and said additional fibers are positioned generally in a first direction; drafting said thus formed batt in a second direction, said second direction being generally normal to said first direction; needling said thus drafted batt; drafting said thus needled batt in said first direction; and selectively fusing at least a portion of said additional fibers of said batt subsequent to drafting said batt in the first direction while allowing said acrylic fibers to remain substantially unfused