Melt blown bicomponent fibers comprising a first thermoplastic polymeric material and a second thermoplastic polymeric material comprising homo- or co-polymer(s) of poly(m-xylene adipamide) or polyphenylene sulfide. The first thermoplastic polymeric material may be one or more homo- or co-polymer(s) of nylon 6 (polycaprolactam), nylon 6,6 (poly(hexamethylene adipamide)), polypropylene, and/or polybutylene terephthalate. A plurality of bicomponent fibers may thermally bonded to one another at spaced apart points of contact to define a porous structure that substantially resists crushing. The nonwoven fabric webs and rovings and self-supporting, three-dimensional porous elements may be formed from the plurality of bicomponent fibers.
