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Unveiling the secrets of non-woven fabrics: definition and its essential difference from traditional fabrics
Non-woven fabrics, also known as non-woven fabrics, are innovative materials that break through traditional textile processes. It is not formed by the interweaving of warp and weft threads (such as woven fabrics) or the stringing of coils (such as knitted fabrics), but by directly connecting or reinforcing the fibers through physical or chemical methods to form a sheet structure with certain strength and flexibility.
The core of the definition of non-woven fabrics lies in its "non-woven" characteristics. This means that its production process omits the two crucial steps of spinning and weaving in traditional textiles. Fibers can be directly derived from polymers (such as polypropylene and polyester) and directly formed into a web on the production line, or short fibers (such as cotton, viscose, and polyester staple fibers) can be opened, combed, laid, and then consolidated.
The essential difference between non-woven fabrics and traditional fabrics
There are significant differences between non-woven fabrics and traditional fabrics in production principles, structural characteristics, performance, and application areas:
Production principles and processes
Traditional fabrics: Follow the process of "spinning first, then weaving". The fibers are spun into yarns, which are then interwoven longitudinally (warp) and transversely (weft) by a loom, or bent into loops and interlaced by a knitting machine to form a stable and dense fabric structure. This process has high requirements for fiber length, strength and cohesion.
Non-woven fabrics: Adopt the "direct fabric" method. The fibers are directly formed into a cloth-like structure through web forming (such as air-laid, wet-laid, spunbonded, melt-blown) and consolidation (such as thermal bonding, chemical bonding, spunlace, needle punching) processes without going through the steps of spinning into yarns. This directness greatly simplifies the production process and reduces costs.
Structural characteristics
Traditional fabrics: Have a clear and regular warp and weft or coil structure, and the fiber arrangement is directional. Its structure is stable and usually has good drape and deformation resistance.
Non-woven fabrics: The fiber arrangement is usually random and does not have warp and weft in the traditional sense. Due to the irregular interlacing of fibers, the anisotropy (performance difference in different directions) of non-woven fabrics is relatively small. Its structure can present various characteristics such as fluffy, dense, porous, etc. according to different production processes.
Performance
Traditional fabrics: high strength, good wear resistance, soft feel, moderate air permeability, and usually have good drape and resilience.
Non-woven fabrics: Highly adjustable performance. It can be given a variety of special functions such as waterproof, breathable, filtering, barrier, water absorption, insulation, wear resistance, anti-static, etc. by selecting different fibers, web forming methods and consolidation methods. Generally, the tensile strength and tear resistance of non-woven fabrics are not as good as traditional fabrics of the same gram weight, but its porous structure gives it advantages in filtration and adsorption.
Application fields
Traditional fabrics: Mainly used in clothing, home textiles, decoration and other fields, emphasizing comfort, beauty and durability.
Non-woven fabrics: Widely used in special functional fields such as medical and health care (masks, surgical gowns, protective clothing), industrial filtration, geotechnical construction, agriculture, automobiles, packaging, disposable products (wet wipes, diapers), etc., and pay more attention to its functionality, cost-effectiveness and disposable characteristics.
Interpretation of nonwoven fabrics: Overview of mainstream production processes
As a modern material, nonwoven fabrics have a variety of production processes, each of which gives nonwoven fabrics unique properties and application characteristics.
1. Spunbond
Spunbond is one of the most widely used processes in nonwoven production. It directly uses polymer chips (such as polypropylene and polyester) as raw materials, which are melted and extruded to form continuous filaments. These filaments are stretched and cooled under the action of air drafting, and directly laid on the conveyor belt to form a fiber web. The fiber web is then consolidated by hot rolling, hot air bonding or needle punching to finally form a spunbond nonwoven fabric. Spunbond nonwoven fabrics usually have high strength, good air permeability and wear resistance, and are widely used in sanitary products, geotextiles, medical materials and packaging.
2. Meltblown
Meltblown is known for its ability to produce ultra-fine fibers. The polymer melt is extruded through a specially designed spinneret hole and blown by a high-speed hot air flow, stretching the melt flow into micron-sized ultrafine fibers. These ultrafine fibers are randomly deposited on the receiving net under the action of the air flow to form a highly fluffy and highly porous fiber web. The meltblown fiber web mainly relies on the self-bonding and electrostatic adsorption consolidation between the fibers, without the need for additional adhesives. Meltblown non-woven fabrics are known for their excellent filtration performance (highly efficient barrier ability for particles and bacteria) and are the core technology for the production of medical masks, air and liquid filtration materials.
3. Spunlace/Hydroentangled
Spunlace is a physical reinforcement process that uses high-pressure, multi-strand fine water jets to repeatedly impact the fiber web. The kinetic energy of the water flow causes the fibers in the fiber web to displace and entangle, thereby achieving mechanical consolidation of the fiber web. Spunlace non-woven fabrics do not use chemical adhesives, so they have the advantages of being soft, skin-friendly, breathable, hygroscopic and not easy to shed. It is often used to produce products with high requirements for hand feel and environmental protection, such as wet wipes, medical dressings, beauty towels, and artificial leather base fabrics.
4. Needle Punching
Needle Punching is also a mechanical reinforcement method. The prefabricated fiber web is repeatedly punctured through a needle plate with barbs. During the puncture process, the barbs on the needle bring the fibers on the surface of the fiber web into the interior of the fiber web and entangle the fibers with each other, thereby reinforcing the fiber web and forming a dense non-woven fabric. Needle-punched non-woven fabrics usually have high thickness, density and wear resistance, and are widely used in geotextiles, carpet base fabrics, filter materials, automotive interiors, and sound insulation materials.
5. Thermal Bonding
Thermal bonding uses heat to melt the fibers in the fiber web and bond them to each other. This can be achieved by adding low-melting point fibers (such as bicomponent fibers) to the fiber web or heating the fiber web by hot air, hot pressing rollers, etc. Thermal bonding can produce non-woven fabrics with a variety of hand feels, from soft and fluffy to stiff and dense. Its advantage is that the production process is clean and does not use chemicals. Thermally bonded nonwovens are widely used in disposable hygiene products, thermal insulation materials, diaper top layers and core materials, etc.
6. Chemical Bonding
Chemical bonding uses chemical adhesives to consolidate the fiber web. Liquid adhesives (such as latex, acrylic polymers) are applied to the fiber web by spraying, dipping or foam coating, and then the adhesive is cured by heating, drying and other steps to bond the fibers together. The performance of chemically bonded nonwovens depends on the type of adhesive selected, and a variety of functional properties can be achieved. This type of nonwoven fabric is often used to produce wet wipes, disposable medical supplies, wipes, etc.
7. Wetlaid
The wet-laid process is similar to the traditional papermaking process. Short fibers (usually shorter natural or man-made fibers) are dispersed in water to form a uniform slurry, which is then dehydrated on a filter screen through a wet-laid machine to form a fiber web. The fiber web is then usually consolidated by thermal bonding, chemical bonding or hydroentanglement. Wet-laid nonwoven fabrics have uniform fiber distribution and good isotropy, and are suitable for filter materials, battery separators, medical papers, etc. that require high uniformity.
8. Drylaid
Drylaid webs mainly include carding webs and airlaid webs. Carding webs are to open and comb short fibers into a directional fiber web through a carding machine. Airlaid webs are to disperse short fibers and deposit them randomly or directional into a web through airflow. The fiber web after drylaid web formation usually needs to be given strength and stability through subsequent consolidation processes such as thermal bonding, needle punching, hydroentanglement or chemical bonding. Drylaid nonwoven fabrics are one of the most widely used types of nonwoven fabrics, and are often used to produce disposable sanitary products, medical dressings, wipes, etc.
Insight into non-woven fabrics: Exploring the diverse charm of materials from the source
The performance and application range of non-woven fabrics are closely related to the raw materials they use. The source and characteristics of these raw materials directly determine the various indicators of non-woven fabric products and affect their applicability in different fields.
1. Synthetic fiber
Synthetic fiber is the most important and widely used raw material for non-woven fabrics, mainly including:
Polypropylene (PP) fiber:
Source: Derived from petrochemical products, it is a fiber made by melt spinning of polypropylene resin.
Features: Lightweight (specific gravity is less than water), soft, strong chemical corrosion resistance, easy to process, cost-effective, and has good waterproof and breathable properties. However, its aging resistance and UV resistance are relatively weak.
Application: Widely used in disposable sanitary products (such as diapers, the surface and bottom layers of sanitary napkins), medical protective clothing, masks, geotextiles, packaging materials, etc.
Polyester (PET) fiber:
Source: Also derived from petrochemical products, it is a fiber made by melt spinning of polyester resin.
Features: High strength, good heat resistance, excellent dimensional stability, strong wrinkle resistance, wear resistance, and good filtering performance.
Application: Commonly used in filter materials, geotextiles, automotive interiors, roof waterproofing materials, linings, wet wipes and other fields with high requirements for strength and durability.
Bicomponent (ES) fiber:
Source: Usually made of two polymers with different melting points (such as polyethylene/polypropylene, polyethylene/polyester) composite spinning to form a skin-core structure or a parallel structure.
Features: Utilizing the different melting points of the two components, the low-melting-point component melts and bonds during heat treatment, without the need to add additional adhesives, so that the non-woven fabric has excellent softness, fluffiness and comfort. The production process is clean and environmentally friendly.
Application: Mainly used in disposable sanitary products (such as the surface and core materials of diapers), medical dressings, wet wipes, high-end wipes, etc.
Polyamide (PA/nylon) fiber:
Source: Derived from petrochemical products.
Features: Excellent strength and elasticity, excellent wear resistance, smooth feel, but relatively high cost.
Application: Used in some high-performance filter materials, wear-resistant linings and special industrial fields.
Polyethylene (PE) fiber:
Source: Derived from petrochemical products.
Features: Good softness, waterproofness, low melting point, often used as a blending component or in bicomponent fibers to give the product better thermal adhesion and softness.
Application: Mainly used in the production of disposable medical supplies, packaging materials, diaper bottom film, etc.
2. Natural fiber
Natural fiber is also used in the production of non-woven fabrics, especially in the field of pursuing environmental protection, biodegradability or specific feel:
Viscose fiber (Viscose Fiber):
Source: Made from natural plant cellulose (such as wood pulp, cotton lint) through chemical processing.
Features: Good hygroscopicity, good breathability, soft feel, skin-friendly, and good biodegradability. The wet strength is relatively low.
Application: Widely used in wet wipes, mask base fabrics, medical dressings, disposable wipes, etc., especially in products that come into contact with the skin.
Cotton Fiber:
Source: Natural plant fiber, from cotton.
Features: Excellent hygroscopicity, breathability, softness and skin-friendliness, non-irritating, and biodegradable. However, the cost is relatively high, and the fiber length is different, making processing difficult.
Application: Mainly used in high-end wet wipes, cosmetic cotton, medical gauze and other products that have extremely high requirements for naturalness and comfort.
3. Other special fibers
In addition to the above mainstream fibers, some special fibers will also be used in non-woven fabric production according to specific needs:
Glass fiber: High temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, good insulation, used for high temperature filtration and insulation materials.
Carbon fiber: Conductive, high strength, corrosion resistance, used for antistatic materials and structural reinforcement materials.
Bio-based or degradable fibers: Such as polylactic acid (PLA) fibers, which are in line with environmental protection trends and are biodegradable.
In-depth analysis: Classification and diversified applications of non-woven fabrics
Due to their unique production process and customizable performance, non-woven fabrics have developed into a variety of types, each of which serves a specific industry or product due to its differences in structure and characteristics.
1. Spunbond Nonwovens
Features: Made of continuous filaments directly laid, thermally bonded or needle-punched. Usually has high strength, good toughness, wear resistance and good breathability. Can achieve single-layer or multi-layer composite structure (such as SMS, SMMS) to take into account both strength and barrier properties.
Applicable industries/products:
Sanitary products: diapers, sanitary napkins surface, bottom film, leak-proof edge materials, and adult incontinence products.
Medical and health: disposable surgical gowns, surgical drapes, hats, shoe covers, outer and inner layers of masks.
Geotechnical construction: geotextiles, anti-seepage pads, roof waterproofing materials.
Packaging: shopping bags, gift bags, disposable packaging materials.
Agriculture: agricultural covering cloth, seedling cloth.
2. Meltblown Nonwovens
Features: Made of ultra-fine fibers (usually less than 10 microns in diameter) sprayed by high-speed hot air flow and randomly laid. The fibers form an extremely fine pore structure, which has excellent filtration efficiency and adsorption performance, but the strength is relatively low.
Applicable industries/products:
Filter materials: air filters (such as HEPA filter materials), liquid filters, and automobile air conditioning filters.
Medical and health care: the core filter layer of masks, the middle layer of medical protective clothing, and blood filtration materials.
Oil-absorbing materials: industrial wipes, oil spill treatment materials.
3. Spunlace Nonwovens / Hydroentangled Nonwovens
Features: The fiber web is physically entangled and reinforced by high-pressure water jets without the use of chemical adhesives. Therefore, the product feels soft, skin-friendly, breathable, hygroscopic, and not easy to shed.
Applicable industries/products:
Medical and health care: medical dressings, surgical towels, protective clothing, wipes.
Personal care: wet wipes, cosmetic cotton pads, facial mask base cloths, soft towel rolls, makeup remover cotton pads.
Household cleaning: disposable rags, wipes.
Artificial leather base cloth: as the base material of synthetic leather.
4. Needle Punch Nonwovens
Features: The fiber web is repeatedly punctured with a hook needle to entangle and reinforce the fibers. The product is usually thick, high density, fluffy, good wear resistance, and can be compacted to varying degrees as needed.
Applicable industries/products:
Geotechnical construction: geotextiles, drainage boards, isolation layers, roof pads.
Automotive industry: automotive interiors (carpets, ceilings, sound insulation materials), trunk linings.
Filter materials: industrial filter cloths, dust filter bags.
Household items: carpet base cloths, mattresses, furniture pads, thermal insulation materials.
5. Thermal Bonded Nonwovens
Features: The low melting point components in the fiber or bicomponent fiber are melted after heating and cooled to consolidate the fiber web. The feel of the product can be controlled from soft and fluffy to stiff, and the production process is clean.
Applicable industries/products:
Sanitary products: Surface and flow-guiding layers, core materials of diapers and sanitary napkins.
Filling materials: Flakes, thermal insulation materials, clothing linings.
Medical materials: Certain disposable medical consumables.
6. Chemical Bonded Nonwovens
Features: The fibers are bonded by spraying, dipping or foaming chemical adhesives, and then drying and curing. The product has various properties, which can achieve enhanced strength, improved feel or specific functions.
Applicable industries/products:
Wipes: Disposable or reusable cleaning wipes.
Clothing linings: Enhance the stiffness of clothing.
Medical supplies: Some disposable medical consumables.
7. Wetlaid Nonwovens
Features: Similar to the papermaking process, the short fibers are dispersed into pulp in water and then dehydrated on the filter screen to form a net. The fibers are evenly distributed and the product has good isotropy.
Applicable industries/products:
Filter materials: Special high-precision filter media.
Medical paper: Disposable examination towels, absorbent pads.
Battery separators, capacitor paper.
Precise Control: The Secret of Nonwoven Thickness and Density and Its Application
The thickness and density of nonwoven fabrics are key indicators to measure their performance and determine their application scenarios. The precise control of these two parameters is the core competitiveness of nonwoven production technology.
Control mechanism of nonwoven thickness and density
The thickness (usually measured in millimeters or microns) and density (usually expressed in grams/cubic centimeters or grams/thickness, where grams is the mass per unit area, gsm) of nonwoven fabrics do not exist independently, but are controlled by the synergistic effect of multiple process parameters.
Raw material selection and fiber degree: The type of fiber (such as polypropylene, polyester, viscose), the fineness (denier) and length of the single fiber are the basis. Using thicker or longer fibers usually forms a fluffier and thicker fiber web.
Web forming method:
Airflow web and carding web: By adjusting the air flow speed, fiber feed amount, opening degree and carding machine parameters, the uniformity, fluffiness and initial thickness of the fiber web can be controlled.
Spunbond and meltblown: The polymer extrusion amount, drafting air velocity, receiving belt speed and spinneret design directly affect the fiber laying amount and stacking density, thus determining the thickness and grammage of the initial fiber web.
Consolidation method and parameters:
Hot rolling (calendering): The thickness and density of the nonwoven fabric can be greatly changed by adjusting the temperature, pressure and roller gap of the hot rolling roller. High pressure and high temperature usually make the fibers more tightly combined, reduce thickness and increase density.
Needle punching: The needling density (number of needling per square centimeter), the type of needle (hook shape and number) and the needling depth directly affect the degree of fiber entanglement and the density of the fiber web. Increasing the needling density and depth usually makes the nonwoven fabric thinner and denser.
Hydroentanglement: Water pressure, water column diameter, jet angle and number of hydroentanglements affect the degree of fiber entanglement. High pressure and multiple hydroentanglements will make the nonwoven fabric tighter and denser.
Hot air bonding: Applicable to fluffy non-woven fabrics, hot air is used to bond low-melting point fibers, mainly controlling the fluffiness and softness, and the relative density is low.
Chemical bonding: The amount, type and application method of the adhesive affect the consolidation strength of the fiber and the stiffness of the cloth, which in turn affects its final thickness and density.
Finishing and lamination: Subsequent operations such as calendering, drying, and winding tension will also affect the final thickness and density of the non-woven fabric. The multi-layer composite process can combine non-woven fabrics of different densities and properties to form a composite material with specific functions.
Application scenarios of non-woven fabrics of different densities
The difference in density of non-woven fabrics directly determines its structural characteristics, thereby giving it different functions, and is widely used in various fields:
Low-density non-woven fabrics (usually light weight and fluffy structure):
Features: High porosity, good air permeability, high softness, strong water absorption, and excellent thermal insulation performance.
Applicable scenarios:
Sanitary products: Surface layer, breathable bottom film, and flow-guiding layer of diapers and sanitary napkins, pursuing softness, comfort, and breathability.
Medical dressings: Gentle fit to the skin, good breathability, and conducive to wound healing.
Filling and insulation materials: Down jacket lining, sleeping bag filling, and sound insulation materials, using their fluffy structure to capture air for thermal insulation.
Disposable wipes: Emphasize water absorption and softness.
Some primary filter materials: Lower resistance, used for coarse particle filtration.
Medium-density non-woven fabric (moderate weight, structure with both flexibility and certain strength):
Features: Strength, softness, breathability and other properties are relatively balanced, and it has a wide range of uses.
Applicable scenarios:
Medical protection: Surgical gowns, isolation gowns, and the middle layer of masks (such as the spunbond layer in the spunbond-meltblown-spunbond SMS structure), providing certain strength and barrier function.
Wet wipes base cloth: It has good water absorption and tensile strength and is not easy to break.
Agricultural covering cloth: It has breathability and warmth retention, and can withstand certain environmental stress.
Lining of some clothing: It provides support and shaping while maintaining wearing comfort.
High-density non-woven fabric (usually heavier weight, tight structure, high compaction):
Features: It has high strength, wear resistance, tear resistance, good dimensional stability, strong barrier performance, and low permeability.
Applicable scenarios:
Geotextile: It is used for reinforcement, isolation, filtration, drainage and protection of roads and water conservancy projects, requiring high strength and durability.
Automotive interior: Carpet base fabric, sound insulation material, ceiling material, requiring high strength, wear resistance and sound absorption performance.
High-efficiency filter material: Industrial dust filter bag, high-pressure liquid filtration, requiring high capture efficiency and pressure resistance.
Synthetic leather base fabric: It provides a high-strength base and gives synthetic leather excellent physical properties.
Durable wipes: Industrial wipes that need to be used multiple times or in harsh environments.
Non-woven surface treatment technology
As a functional material, the performance of the base material of non-woven fabric is certainly important, but through precise surface treatment technology, its application boundaries can be greatly expanded and it can be given more excellent additional functions.
1. Water-repellent/hydrophilic finishing
Technical principle: By introducing chemicals with low surface energy (such as fluorocarbons, silicone polymers) on the surface of non-woven fabrics or changing the surface structure of the fiber, an ultra-thin hydrophobic film is formed to prevent water droplets from penetrating. Hydrophilic finishing reduces the contact angle of water droplets on the fiber by introducing hydrophilic groups or surfactants, thereby improving its wettability and water absorption.
Application:
Water-repellent finishing: medical protective clothing, surgical drapes, outdoor protective equipment, disposable raincoats, and certain industrial filter materials, designed to block liquid penetration.
Hydrophilic finishing: The surface layer of diapers/sanitary napkins (rapid diversion of urine or menstrual blood), medical dressings (rapid absorption of exudate), and wet wipes base fabrics, designed to improve moisture absorption and moisture permeability.
2. Antistatic finishing
Technical principle: Apply conductive substances (such as carbon black, metal powder, hydrophilic polymer) or surfactants to the surface of non-woven fabrics to increase surface conductivity, so that static charges can be quickly dissipated and prevent static electricity accumulation. It can also be achieved by mixing conductive fibers into the fiber web.
Application: Medical surgical gowns, electronic product packaging materials, clean room wipes, certain industrial filter materials, explosion-proof work clothes, aiming to avoid the risk of adsorbed dust, electric shock or sparks caused by static electricity.
3. Antibacterial/antiviral finishing
Technical principle: Chemical substances with antibacterial and antiviral activity (such as silver ions, quaternary ammonium compounds, nano titanium dioxide) are fixed on the surface of non-woven fabric fibers by padding, spraying or finishing liquid cross-linking to inhibit or kill microbial growth.
Application: Medical masks, surgical gowns, wound dressings, wet wipes, air filters, shoe linings, aiming to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses and improve the level of hygiene protection.
4. Flame retardant finishing
Technical principle: Introduce flame retardants containing elements such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and halogens to give non-woven fabrics flame retardant properties by covering, impregnating or blending. Flame retardants can decompose and produce non-flammable gases during combustion, or form a carbonized layer to isolate the air, thereby delaying or preventing the spread of flames.
Application: Automotive interiors, furniture linings, building insulation materials, firefighting clothing, special industrial protective equipment, aiming to improve the fire safety of materials.
5. Composite lamination/coating technology
Technical principle: Through hot pressing, adhesives or extrusion lamination, non-woven fabrics are combined with films (such as breathable films, PE films), mesh fabrics, other non-woven fabric layers or coatings (such as polyurethane coatings) to form a multi-layer composite structure.
Application:
Breathable composite film: Medical surgical gowns, high-end diaper bottom films (to achieve waterproof and breathable).
Anti-slip coating: Carpet backing, bottom of medical shoe covers.
Enhanced composite: Geotextiles are composited with membranes to improve waterproof and anti-seepage properties; high-strength packaging materials.
6. Printing and coloring
Technical principle: Printing patterns, texts or overall coloring on the surface of non-woven fabrics by gravure printing, flexographic printing, inkjet printing, etc.
Application: Shopping bags, packaging materials, promotional materials, decorative non-woven fabrics, cartoon patterns on children's diapers, aiming to enhance the visual appeal and brand recognition of products.
7. Skin-friendly/soft finishing
Technical principle: Apply silicone oil, softener, hydrophilic polymer, etc. to improve the friction coefficient and feel of the fiber, making it softer and smoother, or achieve a soft effect by itself through processes such as spunlace.
Application: High-end wet wipes, facial mask base fabrics, baby diaper surface, medical dressings, aiming to improve the comfort and skin-friendly feel of the product.
Diversified application areas of non-woven fabrics
Non-woven fabrics, as a material that is directly formed and consolidated from fibers without spinning and weaving, have become an indispensable key material in modern industry and daily life due to their unique combination of properties and cost-effectiveness. Its wide range of applications covers almost all major industrial fields.
1. Health and medical fields
Non-woven fabrics play a vital role in the health and medical industry. Its softness, breathability, water absorption or barrier properties, and the convenience of disposable use make it an ideal choice.
Personal hygiene products: diapers, sanitary napkins, adult incontinence products, surface layers, drainage layers, leak-proof edges and bottom films, providing comfort, dryness and protection.
Medical protection and surgical supplies: disposable surgical gowns, surgical drapes, masks (inner and outer layers, filter layers), protective clothing, surgical caps, shoe covers, hole towels, etc., are used to isolate germs, liquids and particles to ensure the safety of medical staff and patients.
Medical dressings: Wound dressings, bandages, medical wipes, with good liquid absorption, breathability and mildness to the skin.
2. Filtration and separation field
The porous structure and controllable pore size distribution of non-woven fabrics make them excellent in the field of filtration, and can effectively capture various particulate matter, microorganisms or separate fluids.
Air filtration: air conditioning filter elements, automobile air conditioning filters, industrial dust removal filter bags, HEPA/ULPA high-efficiency filter materials (used in clean rooms, biological safety cabinets), used to purify the air and remove dust, pollen, bacteria, viruses, etc.
Liquid filtration: drinking water filters, industrial water treatment filters, food and beverage filtration, blood filtration, oil filtration, to achieve liquid purification and solid-liquid separation.
Gas filtration: industrial waste gas treatment, special gas separation.
3. Geotechnical and construction field
In civil engineering and construction, non-woven fabrics (usually needle-punched or spunbonded) play an important role in reinforcement, isolation, drainage, filtration and protection.
Geotextile: Used for base reinforcement, isolation of different material layers, reverse filtration and drainage, prevention of soil erosion and as a protective layer for anti-seepage membranes in projects such as roads, railways, dams, tunnels, and reservoirs.
Roofing materials: As the base material of asphalt waterproofing membranes and roof pads, it provides strength and durability.
Indoor sound insulation and thermal insulation: Sound insulation and thermal insulation materials for walls, floors and ceilings.
4. Automotive industry
Non-woven fabrics are widely used in interior decoration, sound insulation, filtration and structural parts in automobile manufacturing.
Interior materials: Carpet base fabrics, ceilings, door panel linings, seat pads, trunk linings, providing comfort, sound insulation and beauty.
Sound insulation materials: Under the hood and in the car, reduce noise and improve driving experience.
Automotive filters: Air filters, oil filters, fuel filters, cabin air filters, to protect the health of the engine and passengers.
5. Packaging and agricultural fields
Non-woven fabrics are also widely used in packaging and agricultural fields due to their light weight, breathability, and adjustable strength.
Packaging materials: shopping bags, gift bags, clothing dust covers, tea bags, desiccant packaging, food packaging.
Agricultural coverings: seedling cloth, crop covering cloth, weed control cloth, and greenhouse film, which are used for heat preservation, insect prevention, weed prevention, and promotion of crop growth.
6. Clothing and home furnishing fields
Although not traditional fabrics, non-woven fabrics have also found specific applications in clothing and home textiles.
Clothing accessories: linings, flakes, shoulder pads, and chest linings, which provide clothing with stiffness, warmth, and shape support.
Protective clothing: disposable work clothes, isolation clothing.
Household items: wall cloth substrates, carpet base fabrics, mattress and furniture padding, and disposable sheets.
7. Industrial wiping and special applications
Non-woven fabrics also perform well in industrial cleaning, polishing, and some professional special fields.
Industrial Wipes: Suitable for cleaning and wiping in clean rooms, precision instruments, electronic products, automobile manufacturing and other fields, with the characteristics of low chip shedding and high liquid absorption.
Polishing Materials: Grinding and polishing cloth substrate.
Battery Separator: As a separator material in lithium-ion batteries and other fields, it ensures ion conduction and electrochemical stability.
Cable Coating Materials: Provide insulation and protection.
Key points for non-woven fabric storage
As a functional material, the storage method of non-woven fabric directly affects the performance stability and service life of the product. Professional storage management is an important link to ensure the quality of non-woven fabrics and avoid unnecessary losses.
1. Environmental control
The environmental conditions for storing non-woven fabrics are crucial.
Temperature: The ideal storage temperature should be kept within a relatively stable range, usually recommended between 15°C and 35°C. Too high a temperature may cause some low-melting point non-woven fabrics (such as thermal bonding) to soften, deform or stick. Too low a temperature may make the material brittle, especially vulnerable to damage during handling.
Humidity: Relative humidity should be controlled in the range of 50% to 70%. Too high humidity can easily cause non-woven fabrics to become damp and moldy, especially for non-woven fabrics containing natural fibers (such as viscose and cotton), which are more likely to breed microorganisms and affect the hygienic performance of the product. Too low humidity may increase the risk of static electricity accumulation or make some materials too dry and brittle.
Light: Avoid long-term exposure of non-woven fabrics to direct sunlight or other strong ultraviolet light sources. Ultraviolet rays accelerate the aging and degradation of polymers (especially polypropylene), causing the non-woven fabric to turn yellow, lose strength, and deteriorate in performance. The storage area should be kept cool and shade measures should be taken when necessary.
2. Dust prevention and cleaning
Clean environment: The storage warehouse or area should be kept clean, dry, and dust-free. Dust and impurities may adhere to the surface of the non-woven fabric, affecting its cleanliness, especially for medical, sanitary or filtration-grade non-woven fabrics, which will directly affect the product quality.
Dust prevention measures: Non-woven fabric rolls or finished products should be sealed and wrapped with appropriate packaging materials (such as plastic film, dust cover) to prevent dust, moisture and external pollution.
3. Stacking and handling
Stacking method: Non-woven fabric rolls should be stacked stably to avoid tilting or deformation under pressure. The stacking height should be moderate and not too high to prevent the bottom roll from being deformed or indented due to long-term pressure, affecting subsequent processing and use. It is recommended to use shelf storage, keep ventilation, and avoid direct contact with the ground.
Handling operation: Handle with care during handling, avoid dragging, collision or rough loading and unloading to prevent damage to the edge of the roll, scratches on the surface or deformation of the core tube. Use appropriate handling tools (such as forklifts and carts) to ensure smooth and safe operation.
4. Pest and rodent prevention
Pest and rodent protection: Effective pest and rodent prevention measures should be taken in the storage area, such as setting up rodent-proof boards, using insect repellents (note that they are harmless to non-woven fabrics), and regularly checking and cleaning potential insect and rodent habitats. Some natural fiber non-woven fabrics are more susceptible to pests and rodents.
5. Labeling and first-in-first-out principle
Clear labeling: Each non-woven roll or package should have clear labeling, including product name, specifications, batch number, production date and other information, for easy management and traceability.
First-in-first-out (FIFO): Strictly follow the "first-in-first-out" storage principle to ensure inventory turnover and avoid long-term backlog of old batches of products causing performance degradation. This is especially important for non-woven products with a shelf life or whose performance may change over time.
