automotive headliners and floor coverings [5]. There are various manufacturing routes for
nonwovens [2,4], which, in essence, depend on whether the precursor web comprises continuous filament (spunbond) [1,6] or staple fibre [3] and, in the latter case, whether it is formed either by dry (dry-laid) [7] or wet (wet-laid) [8] techniques; the ensuing can be bonded mechanically [9], thermally [10] or chemically [11] to produce the nonwoven fabric