A method in which a molten polymer is extruded into a high velocity hot gas stream that converts it into fibers. The molten plastic is blown with hot, high velocity gas through the extruder dies. The filaments exiting from the extruder are attenuated during their formation until they break. The fibers break into short lengths rather than being continuous as those formed in spunlaid nonwovens. The short fibers thereby created are spread with cool quench air onto a moving belt called a forming fabric or onto a drum, where they bond to each other to form a opaque, fine fiber web.