The Flexibility of Non-woven Fabrics

Non-woven fabrics are lightweight, durable, and elastic materials. So, how good is the flexibility and bendability of non-woven fabrics? It depends on the softness of the fibers. The softer the cellulose fibers used in the production of non-woven fabrics, the softer the resulting fabric. Non-woven fabrics offer advantages such as breathability, softness, and durability. Flexible fibers like rayon can be used to create highly drapeable fabrics. Different types of non-woven fabrics may exhibit variations in flexibility, and the desired level of flexibility should be evaluated during the selection process.

Key Characteristics of Non-woven Fabrics

Non-woven fabrics are non-woven textiles that are similar to woven fabrics but are not created through weaving. They have a very thin thickness, even thinner than paper. Non-woven fabrics can have a semi-transparent appearance. They can be manufactured through methods like bonding, sewing, or thermal bonding. Non-woven fabrics have good elasticity and a soft texture. Both non-woven fabrics and other non-woven textiles are porous, similar to a mesh. If natural fiber non-woven fabrics are used, they can possess excellent water absorption and elasticity. Some natural fibers also have biodegradable capabilities.

Applications of Non-woven Fabrics

Non-woven fabrics have a wide range of applications, and there are numerous types of non-woven fabrics, each with its own specific functions. For example, spunlace non-woven fabrics are used primarily in wet wipes, facial mask fabrics, and medical non-woven fabrics. Spunbond non-woven fabrics can be used for carpet backing, filters, and more. Meltblown non-woven fabrics are used in medical masks such as N95 respirators. Non-woven fabrics also find applications in medical products, industrial protective clothing, hazardous material handling, surgical gowns, packaging, sealing, blankets, insulation, soundproofing, and more.

The Four Main Types of Non-woven Fabrics

Spunlace Non-woven Fabric:

Spunlace non-woven fabric is produced by applying high-pressure water jets to one or multiple layers of fiber web, pushing the fibers into a lace-like pattern. The irregularity of the fiber interlayer gives this non-woven composite its strength.

Spunbond Non-woven Fabric:

To produce high-quality spunbond non-woven fabric, continuous filaments are laid into a fiber web through polymer extrusion and stretching. The fiber web is then reinforced through self-bonding and thermal bonding. Spunbond non-woven fabric is commonly used in applications such as carpet backing and filters.

Thermal Bonded Non-woven Fabric:

Thermal bonded non-woven fabric is formed by bonding fibers together using hot melt adhesive. During the manufacturing process, fibers are bonded together by heat treatment, creating a strong fiber network structure. Thermal bonded non-woven fabric exhibits good strength and abrasion resistance and is commonly used in home goods, footwear, packaging materials, and other fields.

Chemical Bonded Non-woven Fabric:

Chemical bonded non-woven fabric is formed by bonding fibers together using chemical adhesives. During the manufacturing process, chemical adhesives are used to bond the fibers together, creating a tightly bonded fiber network. Chemical bonded non-woven fabric has soft, breathable, and adjustable characteristics, and is commonly used in hygiene products, home goods, agricultural covers, and other fields.

What are the other types of non-woven fabrics?

Pulp Airflow Bonded Non-woven Fabric

Pulp airflow bonded non-woven fabric, also known as dust-free paper, utilizes airflow bonding technology. It loosens wood pulp fibers into individual fibers and then aggregates and solidifies the fiber web into fabric.

Meltblown Non-woven Fabric

Meltblown non-woven fabric has been widely used in the past three years. Wherever there are people, there is the existence of meltblown non-woven fabric. Meltblown fabric is produced by extruding molten polymer fibers through hundreds of small holes in a linear mold head, forming long and fine fibers. As they fall, they are stretched and cooled by hot air, and then collected on a collector screen to form self-adhesive non-woven fabric.

Conclusion

Above, I have introduced various types and applications of non-woven fabrics. The flexibility of non-woven fabrics depends on the softness of the fibers. Therefore, when choosing non-woven fabrics from manufacturers, it is important to consider your specific needs. Non-woven fabrics have extensive uses in medical, furniture, packaging, and other industries. Spunlace non-woven fabric, which is our flagship product at Husheng Non-woven Manufacturer, can be used to produce wet wipes, dry wipes, facial masks, and other daily necessities.