How many products are made from nonwoven fabric?

In recent years, the nonwoven fabric sector has grown significantly in importance. Technical advancements in polymers, nonwoven processing, and fabric finishing have significantly improved the physical and mechanical characteristics of the fabric, including handling and traceability, tensile properties, abrasion resistance, dyeing, pilling and washing stability, and printing, opening up possibilities for nonwoven fabric uses, particularly in outerwear for clothing.

What do you mean by nonwoven fabric?

Nonwoven fabric is categorized as a technological textile and comes in third place after woven and knitted textiles in the production of textile surface materials. Over woven and knitted fabric, nonwoven fabric has several advantages, including the ability to be designed with specifically targeted properties, the ability to be produced with significant variations in thickness, voluminosity, elasticity, mass, and stiffness, and the ability to be produced relatively quickly and inexpensively. Data from earlier research on nonwovens’ manufacturing demonstrate their ongoing expansion and rising use.

As the nonwoven fabric has unrivaled sound and vibration insulation characteristics, it is one of the most widely used products in the automotive industry. Synthetically produced nonwoven fabric is used in the automotive industry. The essential requirement for automotive textiles is non-flammability, and this can be easily met through selecting the fibres correctly and making alterations to them during the production process.

How many products are made from nonwoven fabric?

Below are some of the most common products that are made by using nonwoven fabric,

Masks:

Nonwovens are widely utilized in the medical industry because they offer protection against infections and illnesses because of their essential safety qualities. The prevention of cross-contamination and the transmission of contagious bacterial and viral strains depends heavily on nonwovens. They are even used to create surgical masks.

PPE:

PPE stands for Personal Protective Products.

Nonwovens are cutting-edge, high-tech, engineered textiles created from fibres that are utilized in various consumer and industrial applications, according to the European Disposables and Nonwovens Association.

Micron-sized threads are created by melting polypropylene pellets and pumping the liquid through small holes in the pricey apparatus that makes these items. Congealing, these threads form a light nonwoven fabric that may catch small particles and droplets.

A central layer of melt-blown polypropylene fabric is thermally sandwiched between two layers of spun-bond polypropylene fabric in the principal nonwoven tri-laminate material known as spunbond/melt blown/spunbond (SMS), which is used in the production of personal protective equipment (PPE).

The characteristics of each of these separately produced fabric layers contribute to the final SMS product. These two nonwoven textiles work together to offer water resistance, comfort, and breathability.

Bags:

Nonwoven bags are produced thermally, chemically, or mechanically using fibres for manufacturing textiles. It is more adaptable than woven bags due to the textiles used, has a larger range of uses, is less costly, and is a better alternative to plastic bags.

Nonwoven is regarded as a new generation of material that has several advantages, including being moisture-resistant, flexible, breathable, non-combustible, light, non-toxic, non-irritating, simple to decompose, and the ability to apply rich colours. 

Because the nonwoven fabric is lightweight and flexible, tailoring and sewing with it are highly convenient. Distinct materials will produce different nonwoven styles, including polypropylene, polyester, nylon, acrylic, spandex, and others.

Since nonwoven polypropylene is a thermoplastic polymer, it may be melted, recycled, and used to create several other things. By creating a cross-thatched design and pressing it into the fabric, the NWPP appears to be ‘woven’.

The bags are made by spinning polypropylene polymers through heat and air, turning them into long fluffy threads and pressing them in the middle of hot rollers to achieve a solid yet flexible kind of fabric with a weave-like texture comparable to a canvass. The texture makes the fabric breathable, which looks and feels generally pleasant simultaneously. Colours and texture last for many years too.

Beauty products:

Looking back at the garment sector, the first observation would be the advancements that have altered the textile business over the past ten years. The garment sector has steadfastly advanced in the correct direction but is not yet ready to savour its success.

Advancements are being reported from the sector daily, and customers worldwide accept and praise them. The issues were met head-on by the garment business, and as a consequence, fresh textiles were introduced, altering how the sector operated.

The apparel industry has embraced nonwoven fabrics wholeheartedly to enhance the fabric’s performance. Nonwoven textiles are web constructions mechanically, thermally, or chemically linked together by interlaced fibre or filaments.

Nonwoven textiles are neither knitted nor woven, such as felt, and do not involve the conversion of fibres into yarn. Most of the time, backing or densification is used to strengthen nonwoven materials. Polyurethane foam has also been replaced with nonwoven.

The amount of recycled and oil-based materials used in nonwoven fabrics typically varies depending on the strength required. Nonwoven textiles are considered environmentally benign since they may be recycled after use, provided the necessary equipment and treatment are in place.

Other areas where nonwoven fabric is used:

Carpet/carpet backings:

Nonwoven fabric is particularly suited for carpet construction improvement by extending the life of a carpet, maintaining the integrity of the such product, and lowering the risks for mould formation or bacterial accumulation with correct use and deployment. These also make installation easier, assist protect hardwood surfaces, and help make repairs more practical.

Healthcare:

Healthcare items include surgical scrub suits, gowns, drapes and coverings, face masks, dressings and swabs, ostomy bag liners, isolation gowns, and surgical supplies.

Building materials:

It includes roofing and tile underlay, house wrap, understanding, drainage, and insulation against heat and sound.

Geotextiles:

Paving over asphalt, stabilizing soil, drainage, preventing sedimentation and erosion, etc.

Filtration:

Hepa, Ulpa, Hevac, water, coffee, tea, liquid cartridge, bag filters, vacuum bags, allergy membranes, or laminates with nonwoven layers all include HEPA filtration.

Personal care and hygiene products:

Adult incontinence supplies, feminine hygiene items, nursing pads, dry and wet pads, nasal strips, wound dressings, and bandages are all examples of hygiene and personal care products.

Bed linen:

Because of their propensity to remain soft to the touch, not scratch tabletops, be completely biodegradable & ecologically friendly, have lovely patterns, be suitably sanitary, and be fairly priced, these disposable goods are useful and accessible.

Automotive:

Shelf trim, boot liners, cabin air filters, heat shields, airbags, moulded bonnet liners, decorative textiles, tapes, etc.

Laundry Dryer Sheets:

Most people have at least once in their lives utilized dryer sheets. These resilient textiles, often anti-static and have a very thin structure, can withstand extremely high dryer temperatures. They can also be designed to gradually release certain softeners and smells over time as the garments dry. 

“Smart” Nonwoven Products:

Why should it be surprising that nonwovens will soon join the ranks of smartphones, TVs, and possibly a “Smart” automobile given that we currently have these items in our lives? In the future, goods like carpets with incorporated alarm systems, blast-resistant drapes, and burglar-proof blinds may be offered. Like stem cell technology, nonwoven fabric technology offers a virtual blank canvas or blank check of engineering possibilities. This isn’t just sci-fi fantasy.

Tea Bags & Coffee:

Where would the world be without the technology that nonwovens have provided to users of coffee and tea bags? These unique materials are relatively sturdy, good at filtering moisture while holding the solid firmly in place behind and give neither flavour nor odour to the priceless cargo they contain (even when wet).

A brief list of products that are made of nonwoven fabric:

Conclusion:

Amazingly, nonwovens are utilized in various domestic applications, from cleaning and filtering to improving a home’s aesthetics. High-quality and performance nonwovens provide practical, cosy, safe, sanitary, and—most importantly—attractive solutions for contemporary home life when used in kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms.
Since nonwovens can shine, enrich, and astound, they have been employed in both workplaces and home furnishings, lifting the bar on what materials should be able to do in many ways. What else can they contribute to human progress? The sky is the limit, in all honesty, but maybe that’s an understatement. there is another article that talks about non-woven fabric features.

Recommended readings:

NONWOVEN FABRICS IN EVERYDAY ITEMS：https://www.wptnonwovens.com/blog/nonwoven-fabrics-in-everyday-items/
Types of non-woven fabric, manufacturing processes and applications: https://www.textiletoday.com.bd/types-non-woven-fabrics-manufacturing-processes-applications/