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A pleated filter is made from a monocomponent monolayer nonwoven web containing a bimodal mass fraction/fiber size mixture of intermingled larger size and smaller size continuous monocomponent polymeric fibers of the same polymeric composition. Rows of pleats are formed in the nonwoven web, and the

A pleated filter is made from a monocomponent monolayer nonwoven web containing a bimodal mass fraction/fiber size mixture of intermingled larger size and smaller size continuous monocomponent polymeric fibers of the same polymeric composition. Rows of pleats are formed in the nonwoven web, and the pleated web is cut to a desired size and shape to provide a filter element containing a self-supporting porous monocomponent monolayer matrix of fibers bonded to one another at at least some points of fiber intersection and having an average initial submicron efficiency of at least 15% at a 1.52 meters/sec face velocity. The filter element is deformation resistant without requiring stiffening layers, bicomponent fibers or other reinforcing measures in the filter media layer.

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We claim: 1. A process for making a pleated filter comprising: a) forming a monocomponent monolayer nonwoven web containing a bimodal mass fraction/fiber size mixture of intermingled larger size and smaller size continuous monocomponent polymeric fibers of the same polymeric composition, the web ha

We claim: 1. A process for making a pleated filter comprising: a) forming a monocomponent monolayer nonwoven web containing a bimodal mass fraction/fiber size mixture of intermingled larger size and smaller size continuous monocomponent polymeric fibers of the same polymeric composition, the web having a Gurley Stiffness of at least 100 mg, b) forming rows of pleats in the nonwoven web, and c) cutting the pleated web to a desired size and shape to form a self-supporting pleated filter element comprising a porous monocomponent monolayer matrix of fibers bonded to one another at at least some points of fiber intersection and having an average initial submicron efficiency of at least 15% at a 1.52 meters/sec face velocity, wherein the histogram of mass fraction vs. fiber size in μm exhibits a larger size fiber mode of about 10 to about 40 μm. 2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the histogram of mass fraction vs. fiber size in μm exhibits a smaller size fiber mode of about 1 to about 5 μm and a larger size fiber mode of about 12 to about 30 μm. 3. A process according to claim 1 wherein a histogram of fiber count (frequency) vs. fiber size in μm exhibits at least two modes whose corresponding fiber sizes differ by at least 50% of the smaller fiber size. 4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the number of smaller size fibers per larger size fiber is 6:1 or more. 5. A process according to claim 1 wherein the smaller size fibers provide at least 20% of the fibrous surface area of the web. 6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the smaller size fibers provide at least 40% of the fibrous surface area of the web. 7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the web has an Effective Fiber Diameter of about 8 to about 40 μm. 8. A process according to claim 1 wherein the web has a basis weight of about 65 to about 250 gsm. 9. A process according to claim 1 wherein the web has a Gurley Stiffness of at least about 200 mg. 10. A process according to claim 1 wherein the web has a Gurley Stiffness of at least about 300 mg. 11. A process according to claim 1 comprising meltspinning the larger and smaller size fibers. 12. A process according to claim 1 comprising meltspinning the larger size fibers and meltblowing the smaller size fibers. 13. A process according to claim 1 comprising meltblowing the larger and smaller size fibers. 14. A process according to claim 1 wherein the polymer is polypropylene. 15. A process according to claim 1 wherein the pleated filter element has an average initial sub-micron efficiency of at least about 25%. 16. A process according to claim 1 wherein the pleated filter element has an average initial sub-micron efficiency of at least about 50%. 17. A process according to claim 1 further comprising calendaring the web. 18. A process according to claim 1 further comprising charging the web. 19. A process according to claim according to claim 17 comprising hydrocharging the web.