Spunbonded Fabrics Research Articles

Antimicrobial Face Masks and Mask Covers with a Salt-Coated Stacked Spunbond Polypropylene Fabric: Effective Inactivation of Resilient Pathogens and Prevention of Contact Transmission.

In response to the ongoing threat posed by respiratory diseases, ensuring effective transmission protection is crucial for public health. To address the drawbacks of single-use face masks/respirators, which can be a potential source of contact-based transmission, we have designed an antimicrobial face mask and mask covering utilizing a stack of salt-coated spunbond (SB) fabric. This fabric acts as an outer layer for the face mask and as a covering over a conventional mask, respectively. We evaluated the universal antimicrobial performance of the salt-coated three-stacked SB fabric against enveloped/nonenveloped viruses and spore-forming/nonspore-forming bacteria. The distinctive pathogen inactivation efficiency was confirmed, including resistant pathogens such as human rhinovirus and Clostridium difficile. In addition, we tested other filter attributes, such as filtration efficiency and breathability, to determine the optimal layer for salt coating and its effects on performance. Our findings revealed that the outer layer of a conventional face mask plays a crucial role in contact transmission through contaminated face masks and respirators. Through contact transmission experiments using droplets involving three types of contaminants (fluorescent dyes, bacteria, and viruses), the salt-coated stacked SB fabric demonstrated a superior effect in preventing contact transmission compared to SB or meltblown polypropylene fabrics─an issue challenging to existing masks. Our results demonstrate that the use of salt-coated stacked SB fabrics as (i) the outer layer of a mask and (ii) a mask cover over a mask enhances overall filter performance against infectious droplets, achieving high pathogen inactivation and low contact-based transmission while maintaining breathability.

Evaluating layer contributions and salt coating effects on mask performance.

The impact of respiratory diseases is vast and multifaceted, affecting individuals, healthcare systems, and global economies. In response to the spread of respiratory pathogens, masks and respirators have become pivotal, demonstrating their capability to mitigate transmission. However, the limitations of conventional face masks or respirators, such as their single-use nature, environmental impact, and the risk of contact-based transmission, have accelerated the development of antimicrobial masks. Designing effective antimicrobial masks requires a deep understanding of the properties of each layer and the identification of an optimal configuration to enhance their protective efficiency. In this study, we investigated the filtration performance, including filtration efficiency and breathability, of individual layers in conventional 3-ply masks and stacked spunbond (SB) fabrics with and without salt coating, under both dry and wet fabric conditions. We aimed to elucidate the filtration efficiency of each mask layer with respect to particle size and type (NaCl aerosols, DOP aerosols), with particular focus on the impact of salt-coated SB fabric and its application. While bare fabrics showed a decrease in filtration efficiency with increased wetness, salt-coated fabrics exhibited enhanced filtration efficiency. Importantly, evaluating the efficacy of a stack comprised of salt-coated SB fabrics across diverse antimicrobial respiratory devices highlighted its efficacy as both the outermost layer in a 3-ply mask and as a mask covering (i.e., a supplementary layer over a mask or respirator). This investigation not only emphasizes the significance of salt-coated antimicrobial technology in mitigating disease transmission but also offers a practical approach for adeptly implementing this technology in respiratory protection devices.

Upscaling of Electrospinning Technology and the Application of Functionalized PVDF-HFP@TiO2 Electrospun Nanofibers for the Rapid Photocatalytic Deactivation of Bacteria on Advanced Face Masks.

In recent years, Electrospinning (ES) has been revealed to be a straightforward and innovative approach to manufacture functionalized nanofiber-based membranes with high filtering performance against fine Particulate Matter (PM) and proper bioactive properties. These qualities are useful for tackling current issues from bacterial contamination on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) surfaces to the reusability of both disposable single-use face masks and respirator filters. Despite the fact that the conventional ES process can be upscaled to promote a high-rate nanofiber production, the number of research works on the design of hybrid materials embedded in electrospun membranes for face mask application is still low and has mainly been carried out at the laboratory scale. In this work, a multi-needle ES was employed in a continuous processing for the manufacturing of both pristine Poly (Vinylidene Fluoride-co-Hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) nanofibers and functionalized membrane ones embedded with TiO2 Nanoparticles (NPs) (PVDF-HFP@TiO2). The nanofibers were collected on Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) nonwoven spunbond fabric and characterized by using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), Raman spectroscopy, and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analysis. The photocatalytic study performed on the electrospun membranes proved that the PVDF-HFP@TiO2 nanofibers provide a significant antibacterial activity for both Staphylococcus aureus (~94%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (~85%), after only 5 min of exposure to a UV-A light source. In addition, the PVDF-HFP@TiO2 nanofibers exhibit high filtration efficiency against submicron particles (~99%) and a low pressure drop (~3 mbar), in accordance with the standard required for Filtering Face Piece masks (FFPs). Therefore, these results aim to provide a real perspective on producing electrospun polymer-based nanotextiles with self-sterilizing properties for the implementation of advanced face masks on a large scale.

Enhancing melon growth and sustainability through spun-bonded polypropylene fabric wrapping

This study aimed to assess various weights of spun-bonded nonwoven polypropylene (PP) fabrics for wrapping outdoor-grown melons, providing cost-effective options for both construction and insect protection. Fruit wrap bags were crafted using different materials, and spun-bond fabrics with weights of 30, 40, 50, and 60 gsm were tested for encasing melons. The results demonstrated that the 50 gsm spun-bonded bags significantly improved melon growth after a four-week period, establishing them as the preferred choice for outdoor melon cultivation. To evaluate their growth in comparison to unwrapped fruits, we measured melon circumference after four weeks. Unwrapped melons exhibited the slowest growth, whereas those enveloped in 50 gsm spun-bond fabric displayed the most substantial growth. Additionally, we employed hanging weights to gauge melon development. Melons encased in 30, 40, 50, and 60 gsm spun-bond fabric weighed 663, 680, 707, and 870 grams, respectively. Significantly, melons wrapped in 50 gsm spun-bond fabric exhibited the highest weight gain, underscoring its effectiveness. This study highlights the potential of spun-bonded PP fabric as a sustainable packaging option and a growth enhancer for melons, contributing to sustainable agriculture and improved crop quality.

Enhanced Adhesion of Electrospun Polycaprolactone Nanofibers to Plasma-Modified Polypropylene Fabric.

Excellent adhesion of electrospun nanofiber (NF) to textile support is crucial for a broad range of their bioapplications, e.g., wound dressing development. We compared the effect of several low- and atmospheric pressure plasma modifications on the adhesion between two parts of composite-polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrous mat (functional part) and polypropylene (PP) spunbond fabric (support). The support fabrics were modified before electrospinning by low-pressure plasma oxygen treatment or amine plasma polymer thin film or treated by atmospheric pressure plasma slit jet (PSJ) in argon or argon/nitrogen. The adhesion was evaluated by tensile test and loop test adapted for thin NF mat measurement and the trends obtained by both tests largely agreed. Although all modifications improved the adhesion significantly (at least twice for PSJ treatments), low-pressure oxygen treatment showed to be the most effective as it strengthened adhesion by a factor of six. The adhesion improvement was ascribed to the synergic effect of high treatment homogeneity with the right ratio of surface functional groups and sufficient wettability. The low-pressure modified fabric also stayed long-term hydrophilic (ten months), even though surfaces usually return to a non-wettable state (hydrophobic recovery). In contrast to XPS, highly surface-sensitive water contact angle measurement proved suitable for monitoring subtle surface changes.

Design and development of an adequate ventilation system to preserve freshly harvested onions

In many nations, onions are one of the significant economic crops that are farmed on a huge basis. The process of harvesting onion crops requires five to ten days for a big farm. Also, for better storage life onions should be gone through a field curing and drying process. So, daily harvested onions are temporarily stored on the farm with the help of a Tarpaulin. But heat and moisture emitted by onions do not get dissipated as conventional Tarpaulin, made up of Polyethylene, Nylon, Canvas, etc. are not breathable. Due to this improper ventilation, 30 to 60 % of onions get spoiled and their storage life decreases. Study shows that for the storage of the onion bulb the temperature should be 25 to 30 °C and relative humidity should be 65 to 75 %. This condition lowers the deterioration, rotting, and sprouting that occur as a result of physiological weight loss during storage. When we compare temperature and humidity variation for different onion storage systems, we found out that Polyethylene Tarpaulin cannot maintain the required temperature and humidity. Canvas can maintain humidity range but cannot maintain temperature. To achieve desired temperature and humidity range, we can use a forced ventilation storage system with the help of a duct system and spunbond fabric. To cool the onions, outside dry and cool air is circulated through the onions by using a blower and duct system. As spunbond fabric is breathable it is used to allow hot and humid air to pass. According to experimental results, a forced ventilated storage system is recommended to farmers which assures maximum marketable product, less cost, and simplicity in design.

Mitigation of microfibers release from disposable masks – An analysis of structural properties

The use of disposable face masks increased rapidly among the general public to control the COVID-19 spread. Eventually, it increased the disposal of masks and their associated impacts on environmental pollution. Hence, this study aims to analyze the impact of nonwoven fabric structural parameters and weathering on the microfiber release characteristics. Spunbond polypropylene nonwoven with four different weights and meltblown nonwoven with two different weights were used in this study to analyze microfiber release at dry, and wet conditions to simulate improper disposal in the environment. Exposure to sunlight significantly increases the microfiber release from 35 to 50% for spunbond fabric and 56–89% for meltblown fabric. Weathering in sunlight structurally affected the tensile properties of the polypropylene fibers due to photodegradation. The study showed that each mask can produce 1.5 × 102 and 3.45 × 101 mg of microfiber/mask respectively in dry and wet states. In the case of structural parameters, a higher GSM (grams per square meter), abrasion resistance, bursting strength, and thickness showed a positive correlation with microfiber release in both fabrics. Significantly a higher microfiber release was reported with meltblown fabric than the spunbond for a given GSM. The presence of finer fibers and more fibers per unit area in meltblown fabric was noted as the main cause. Nonwoven fabric GSM and the number of fibers in a specific area showed a higher influence on microfiber release. Based on the mask consumption reported in the literature, India alone can produce around 4.27 × 102 tons of microfibers/week as an average of dry and wet conditions. The study suggests that the proper selection of physical parameters can significantly reduce the microfiber fiber release at all stages.

Statistical analysis of the effect of melt flow index and weight changes on strength properties of polypropylene spunbond fabrics

Spunbond method is widely used in the production of nonwoven fabrics. Melt flow index (MFI) is one of the most important polymer processing parameters. In this paper, tensile strength and elongation values of spunbond fabrics with four different weights produced from polypropylene polymers with two different MFI values were measured. Tensile strength tests were analyzed by two-way multiple variance analysis (Two-Way Manova) in the SPSS statistical package program, and the effects of MFI and weight values on the strength properties of spunbond textile surfaces were examined. As a result of the statistical analysis, it was observed that statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) occurred in both tensile strength and elongation values with the change of weight value. In addition, significant differences (p < 0.05) occurred in tensile strengths with the change of MFI value, but the differences in elongation values were not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

DESAIN DAN IMPLEMENTASI APD SERTA ALAT BANTU PENCEGAHAN VIRUS CORONA BAGI TENAGA KESEHATAN DI PUSKESMAS BUNGUS TELUK KABUNG PADANG

Puskesmas adalah tulang punggung dalam menghadapi dan melawan wabah Covid-19, sebagai layanan primer yang paling dekat dengan masyarakat. Puskesmas memiliki peran yang sangat besar dan sangat diperlukan. Sebagai garda terdepan untuk penanganan corona di tingkat desa atau kelurahan, tenaga kesehatan (nakes) diharapkan tetap menggunakan Alat Pelindung Diri (APD saat memeriksa kesehatan masyarakat. Dengan ketersediaan APD, nakes akan tetap terlindungi dari risiko terkena covid-19. Minimnya jumlah APD sehingga banyak petugas khususnya tenaga medis di daerah terpaksa masih menggunakan pelindung seadanya. Dari rasa peduli dan keprihatinan atas keterbatasan APD yang ada di Puskesmas Bungus Kota Padang, Jurusan Sistem Komputer Universitas Andalas Komputer berinovasi membuat APD dan Alat bantu pencegahan penularan virus corona. Metode yang digunakan dalam pelaksanaan kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat adalah dengan cara membuat dan mengembangkan APD dan alat bantu pencegahan virus corona agar terlindungi dari risiko terpapar Covid-19. Alat Bantu Pencegahan dan APD dibuat bukan sekadar untuk memenuhi kebutuhan saja, tapi tetap mengutamakan protokol keselamatan keamanan serta kenyamanan bagi pemakainya. Beberapa keunggulan alat yang diserahkan yaitu tiang sterilisasi yang portable, alat bantu hand sanitizer tidak tersentuh tangan. Face Shield seperti topi dengan bahan mika bisa di pakai ulang dengan mencuci atau dilap menggunakan disinfektan. Masker hijab yang terbuat dari bahan kain spunbond yang nyaman dan waterproof sehingga aman dari cipratan droplet.

Preparation and Application of Waterproof Polypropylene Nonwoven Fabrics for Grape Bagging

Bags of nonwoven fabrics with good air or water permeability are widely used in fruit agriculture due to their porosity. However, vegetables or fruit in bags often rot, a problem caused by the water permeability of the bags in high-moisture environments. Therefore, to improve the water repellency of polypropylene (PP) nonwoven fabric bags for fruit, a water-repellent treatment was applied by the surface deposition of a film composed of a water-repellent agent and a crosslinking agent. The effect of the waterproof bags made of PP spun-bonded nonwoven fabric on the grape growth microenvironment was investigated. This study provided technical inspiration for the development of related plant protection products using nonwoven engineered after-treatments.

Investigation Barrier Properties of Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) Spunbond Fabrics

Nonwovens are a growing worldwide market that has a vital proposition in many sectors such as geotextile, medical textile, automotive industry etc. which are supported by technological developments according to the desired characteristics. Among the production methods of the nonwovens, spunbond nonwovens made of polyprophylene (PP) have disposable and durable functions and are preferred especially in the field of disposable hygiene textiles. Although the fabric volume market of PP spunbond nonwovens is expected to grow rapidly owing to personal hygiene awareness with an increase in the aging population and regulations for hygiene, polyethylene spunbond nonwovens can probably share the application area due to having a lower melting point and easy processable. This study evaluates the effect of the weight of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) spunbond nonwovens on barrier properties such as resistance to air flow and water. Results showed that weight has significant effect on air permeability and hydrostatic head pressure.

The Effect Of Calender Temperature And Number Of Fabric Layers On Fabric Performans In Combining Nonwovens With Calender Method

Nonwoven kumaş endüstrisinde, son üründe istenen özelliklere göre lif esaslı tülbent tabakaları başlıca mekanik, ısı ve kimyasal yöntemlerle bağlanarak tekstil yüzeyi haline getirilmektedir. Çevre koruma konusundaki farkındalık, kimyasal maddelerle yapılan doku bağlamanın kullanımı yerine ısı ile bağlama yöntemleri tercih edilmeye başlanmıştır. Isı ile doku oluşturma (kalender) ile doku bağlama yönteminde yüksek üretim hızı, daha iyi fiziksel özellik (kopma ve yırtılma mukavemeti) ve çevre dostu üretim yapılabilmesi bu yöntemi ilgi çekici hale getirmiştir. Dokusuz kumaş üreticileri sürekli olarak üretim hızını arttırmaya ve aynı güç için daha yüksek güç, daha az ağırlık veya yüksek genişletilebilirlik gibi performansı artırmaya çalışıyor. Üretim hızını artırmak için, kalender silindir sıcaklığı yükseltilir, böylece daha az zamanda daha fazla ısı emilir. Nonwoven kumaşlara uygulanan sıcaklık ve basınç değeri kumaşların mukavemetlerine doğrudan etki etmektedir. Bu çalışmada, farklı kalender sıcaklıklarında, ısıl bağlanmanın lif üzerinde sebep olduğu bozunmalar sonucunda elde edilecek spunbond kumaşların yırtılma, kopma mukavemeti ve su sütunu değerleri karşılaştırılmıştır. Deneysel çalışma sonucunda hem nonwoven üreticilerine hem de tüketicilerine kalender yöntemi ile birleştirmede sıcaklık değerlerinin kumaş fiziksel özelliklerine etkisi hakkında yönlendirme yapılmıştır.

The investigation of the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of multi-layered nanocomposite materials from reduced graphene oxide-doped P(AN-VAc) nanofiber mats/PP spunbond

In this study, the production of an electromagnetic shielding material by doping reduced graphene oxide was aimed. Graphene oxide was produced from graphite through modified Hummer's method, and reduced graphene oxide was obtained by reducing graphene oxide. The reduced graphene oxide- doped poly(acrylonitrile-co-vinyl acetate) nanofiber mats were spun on the Polypropylene spunbond fabrics by a multi-needle electrospinning device at different lap numbers. Multi-layered surface samples of spunbond/nanofiber mats were obtained via calendaring process after overlapping in different layer numbers. The electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (EMSE) of these samples was measured in the range of 0.03–1.5 GHz according to ASTM D4935 standard. The effects of the numbers of laps and layers on the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of the mats were also investigated. It was found that electromagnetic shielding effectiveness is greatly affected by changing the numbers of laps and layers. Consequently, the highest electromagnetic shielding effectiveness value of 35.49 dB was obtained from the sample containing two layers of nanofiber mats, each of which consisted 50 laps of nanofibers.

Analysing effect of the factors on ultrasonic seam tensile properties of nonwoven fabrics by Nested Anova Design

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors effecting ultrasonic seam tensile properties.Design/methodology/approach– In this study, 100 percent polypropylene and 100 percent polyester spunbond and meltblown nonwoven fabrics were sewn by using ultrasonic sewing machine with different rollers which have two, three and four rows. Seam tensile properties of the sewn nonwoven fabrics were investigated. Four-Level Nested Anova Design was applied to the data by using Minitab 15 software program.Findings– Higher seam strength values were obtained by using four rows roller, PP fiber, spunbond fabric and 50 g/m2 fabric area density for all nonwoven fabrics. Statistical significance was found between fabric area density, roller rows and seam tensile strength properties and between fabric type, roller rows and seam elongation at break values.Originality/value– When the authors look at the studies related to ultrasonic sewing, several researchers studied on welding parameters of ultrasonic sewing but very limited studies were performed on assembling of nonwoven fabrics with ultrasonic sewing. Therefore effect of production methods of nonwoven fabrics on the properties of ultrasonic sewing such as seam strength and elongation at break should be investigated.

Research on the Porosity and Pore Size of Spun-Bonded Fabrics Based on Matlab7.0 Image Processing Technology

The image with high resolution was obtained through scanning the spun-bonded fabric, and processed with the help of Matlab7.0 software to calculate the pore structure of the spun-bonded fabric. On the basis of the relationship between number of pixels and area, the porosity and average pore size of spun-bonded fabric were analyzed; pore size and porosity were calculated by using the equation method and the air bubble test method as well. By comparing the data of the two methods, the correlation between them was gotten. Finally, it was shown that using the image processing technology to research the pore structure of spun-bonded fabric was a feasible way. There are various factors affecting the performance of textile filtering materials, and the porosity and pore size of the fabrics play an important role in filtration. As is known to all, fabric porosity and pore size are indicators to measure the size of fabric pore volume, one is the ratio of pore volume with the total fabric volume, and the other one refers to the average diameter of the holes in the textile filter material. They directly affect the permeability, the hydraulic conductivity of the fabric and the ability to prevent the particles getting through. Generally speaking, the bigger the porosity and pore size, the greater the permeability coefficient and the better the permeability of the filter material. Porosity and pore size directly affect the product's function and application. Therefore, the pore structure has a great impact on textile filter performance [1]. Nowadays, the formula method was generally used to calculate the porosity, and the bubble method was always used in testing pore size.

Atmospheric pressure plasma treatment and breathability of polypropylene nonwoven fabric

Atmospheric pressure plasma treatment is a surface modification technique, which can be used for surface finishing and pretreatment of textiles using a broad range of reactive gases. In this study, atmospheric pressure plasma was created using a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen and was applied to polypropylene spunbond fabric. Physical properties like moisture vapor transport, pore size distribution and tensile strength were evaluated to understand the effect of the plasma treatment on spunbond polypropylene. Chemical composition of the fabric before and after plasma treatment was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The spectra showed that oxygen and nitrogen containing groups were generated on the surface of the plasma-treated fabric. Scanning electron microscope was used to observe the surface morphology of the substrate. It is evident from the capillary flow porometer results, pore size increased after plasma treatment resulting in enhanced moisture vapor transport rate. No significant decrease in breaking load was observed after the plasma treatment.

Studies on the properties of nonwoven surgical gowns

Polypropylene spunbond, spunbond/meltblown/spunbond, and spunlace fabrics of 35 and 50 g/m2 weight are tested for barrier properties against microorganisms and liquid or body fluids to estimate their suitability for surgical gowns. The fabrics are also treated with different levels of antibacterial and fluorochemical finishes in a single bath using pad-dry-cure method. Liquid barrier properties of samples are analyzed by water impact penetration, hydrostatic pressure test, and blood repellency test. Parallel streak method is used to measure the antibacterial activity on the fabric samples with Staphylococcus aureus. The fabric samples are also analyzed for air permeability and stiffness. It is observed that spunbond/meltblown/spunbond fabric of 35 and 50 g/m2 weight offer sufficient liquid barrier properties for level 2 protection as per the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation barrier protection classification. Spunlace and spunbond fabrics of 35 and 50 g/m2 weight offer only level 1 protection. Spunbond/meltblown/spunbond fabrics are poorest in terms of comfort, because of their higher stiffness and lower air permeability values; spunlace fabric offers the highest air permeability and lowest stiffness force. Spunbond/meltblown/spunbond fabric samples with 4% and 7% fluorochemical finish and 1.5% antibacterial finish can provide level 4 protection. Spunbond fabrics require 4% and spunbond/meltblown/spunbond fabrics require 1% fluorochemical finish to achieve level 2 protection.

Direct purification of lysozyme from chicken egg white using weak acidic polyacrylonitrile nanofiber‐based membranes

AbstractA highly efficient membrane process for direct purification of lysozyme from chicken egg white is reported. The ion‐exchange nanofibrous membrane (AEA‐COOH) comprises a polyethyleneterephthalate spunbond fabric as a supporting layer with upper and lower electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous layers treated with NaOH hydrolysis to transform CN bond into COOH functional group. SEM results demonstrate a porous structure with a fiber diameter ranged between 150 and 200 nm. Organic solvent residue analysis proves no significant dimethylacetamide release from electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers. The lysozyme was directly purified from the chicken egg white using Millipore stirred cell reactor equipped with AEA‐COOH membranes. Despite a protein recovery of only 22.3%, the purified lysozyme had an activity recovery as high as 80.5% with a 73.6‐fold purification. SDS‐PAGE confirms the purified lysozyme product. This study thereby verified that lysozyme protein can be isolated and purified directly from chicken egg whites using AEA‐COOH membranes. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012

High surface area nonwovens via fibrillating spunbonded nonwovens comprising Islands-in-the-Sea bicomponent filaments: structure–process–property relationships

The subject matter discussed herein relates generally to fabrics composed of micro-denier fibers wherein said fibers are fractured/fibrillated by mechanical means by employing ‘Islands-in-the-Sea’ (I/S) technology instead of the conventional splittable fibers such as segmented pie. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to methods for manufacturing high strength, high surface area, flexible, and durable fabrics through the use of bicomponent fibers fractured mechanically by hydroentangling where the hydroentangling energy is sufficient for separating the fibrils as well as entangling (bonding) the fibers. This paper specifically deals with physical properties of spunbond fabrics consisting of I/S bicomponent fibers. This paper also deals with the bonding energy requirements for fracturing I/S filament. The results for two different polymer combinations (Polyester/Nylon and Nylon/Polyethylene) are discussed below. The influence of different process parameters and fiber characteristics on the physical properties of the fabrics is discussed. The role of the number of islands in the cross-section is also discussed. Finally, the influence of changing the ‘Sea’ polymer on the fabric performance is also discussed.

Strength Optimization of Thermally Bonded Spunbond Nonwovens

Recent research on all aspects of thermally point bonded nonwovens has led to considerable improvements in the understanding of material requirements for these nonwovens, the changes that occur during bonding and the resultant deterioration of the mechanical properties of the nonwoven materials. This paper addresses how one may use a bicomponent fiber technology to overcome the shortcomings of the thermal bonding and obtain high strength spunbond fabrics. In particular, we present the utility of islands-in-the-sea (I/S) bicomponent fibers for optimizing the strength of thermally bonded fabrics. To examine the role of various bonding temperatures on the fabric performance, pre-consolidated webs were formed and subsequently, thermally bonded. Thus, any influence introduced by potential variations in the structure was minimized. Point-bonded bicomponent samples made up of nylon-6 (N6) as the islands and low density polyethylene (PE) as the sea showed great promise with respect to their mechanical properties, suggesting that the use of bicomponent fibers can be beneficial for strength optimization of thermally bonded spunbond nonwovens.