What Is Nonwoven Fabric ?
Posted by hasnainkhatri on July 16th, 2021
Non woven fabric are widely used in our daily life. But few people know what nonwoven fabric is. Most of them confuse it with woven fabric. Nonwoven fabric is a fabric-like web made by non woven machine. It bonds together with filaments mechanically, thermally or chemically. Process of weaving or knitting is not required in nonwoven fabric. In past few years, nonwovens have become an alternative to plastic
Nonwoven Fabric History
In 1942, the first piece of nonwoven fabric is used as the interlining on shirts and garments. Staple fibers are bonded together to form a web by dry-laid process. It gives garments a strong support. The structure looks better than before.
In 1950’s, nonwoven fabric manufacturer Chicopee Mills successfully developed wet wipes. Nonwoven fabric is applied in household field at the first time.
At the same time, more and more garment factories used nonwoven fabric in lining and interfacing in the United States. Pellon Corporation was one of the biggest manufacturers of nonwoven industry.
In 1960’s, composite nonwoven fabric appeared. People mixed two or more different raw materials to process into nonwoven. At that time, fiberglass was a hot selling compost which mixed fibers and foam.
Nonwoven Fabric Characteristics
Nonwoven fabric is of absorbency, liquid repellency, resilience, stretch, softness and strength. It’s also characterized as flame retardancy, washability, cushioning, filtering, bacterial barriers and sterility. It achieves a good balance between use-life and cost. On the other hand, it’s very close to woven fabric in appearance, texture and strength. Thick nonwoven fabric is also a good stuffing for paddings.
Differences Between Woven and Nonwoven Fabric
Nonwoven fabric is different from woven in many aspects.
Production Process
Production process is the main difference between nonwoven and woven. Raw material of nonwoven is directly bonding by physical ways. Then nonwoven fabric forms. It doesn’t need to weave or knit. So there is no weft and warp in nonwoven. While woven fabric is weaved by looms or hands. Warp and weft threads are clearly seen.
Raw Material
Nonwoven fabric is commonly made of chemical fiber such as PP, PET, PA, viscose and acrylic fiber. While woven fabric is made with plant fiber. It refers to cotton, wool, silk, linen, ramie, hemp and leather. In recent years, people start to use PLA nonwoven fabric as it is environment friendly. Its raw material is corn, cassava, sugarcane or sugar beet pulp.
Durability
Woven fabric performs much better than nonwoven in durability. The products made by woven fabric usually have a long use-life. By contrast, nonwoven fabric is easily splitted.
Degradability
Nonwoven fabric can not be degraded to water or gas.But it will be effectively decomposed. As reported, nonwoven fabric can decompose in 90 days outdoors and 8 years indoors. The chemical structure of polypropylene is not strong. The molecular chain breaks easily. While the woven fabric’s internal structure is more strong and stable. It can not be degraded naturally as fast as nonwovens.
