People tend to search for new ways of producing different materials. Fabrics are widely used all over the world and new technologies of fabric manufacturing is always welcomed.
Nonwoven Fabric is a fabric-like material made from long fibers, bonded together by chemical, mechanical, heat or solvent treatment. The term “Nonwoven Fabric” is used in the textile manufacturing industry to indicate fabrics, such as felt, which are neither woven or knitted.
Nonwoven materials lack strength unless they are densified or reinforced by a backing. In recent years, nonwovens have become an alternative to polyurethane foam.
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Nonwoven fabrics are widely described as web or sheet structures bonded together by entangling fiber or filaments (and by perforating films) mechanically, chemically or thermally.
They are flat, porous sheets that are made directly from separate fibers or from molten plastic or plastic film. This fabric is not made by knitting or weaving and do not require converting the fibers to yarn. In, a certain percentage of recycled fabrics and oil-based materials are used in nonwoven fabrics. The percentage of recycled fabrics vary based upon the strength of material needed for the specific use.
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Nonwoven fabrics are engineered fabrics that may be a limited life, single-use fabric or a very durable fabric.
Nonwoven fabrics provide specific functions such as absorbency, resilience, stretch, softness, strength, flame resistance, cushioning, filtering, bacterial barrier and sterility. These properties are often combined to create fabrics suited for specific jobs, while achieving a good balance between product use-life and cost. The fabric can copy the appearance, texture and strength of a woven fabric and can be as bulky as the thickest padding. Nonwoven fabric in a combination with other materials provide a spectrum of products with diverse properties. They are also used alone or as components of apparel, home furnishings, health care, engineering, industrial and consumer goods.
In the video below you may see Fabric Meltblowing Process
Advantages
- Low Price
- Abrasion resistance
- Breathability
- Durable
- Flexible
- Hydrophobicity
- Soft
- Temperature resistance
- Water resistance
Disadvantages
- Although this fabric is durable, its still weaker in durability and intensity compared to the textiles;
- It requires different washing method as other fabrics;
- Bad cracking-resistance
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Application
- Agriculture use: Sprout cultivation cloth, warming drape, pond and canal water barriers, foundation stabilizers;
- Garment use: Interlining for front part, interlining for shoes and hat, shopping bags;
- Household use: Gown, house-wraps, table cover, bed clothing, pillowcases, blankets;
- Industrial use: industrial filtering cloth, roll goods, insulation protection, roof material, cement wrapper, geomembrane, industrial wipes;
- Medical use: Surgical operation coat, protective apparel, medical mask, medical bandages, baby diapers, sanitary napkin, household and personal wipes, lab coat, surgical drape , feminine hygiene, etc.
- Other use: automotive carpet, interior decoration lining for automobile, spray-bonded nonwovens, automotive headliner;
