Over a dozen industries are accepting non-woven fabrics over woven fabrics. In the last few years, they have gained immense popularity due to their extensive properties. Nonwoven fabric manufacturers have developed various types of these fabrics suitable for different industry needs.
In this article, we will know in detail about non-woven fabrics, their types, and how they are useful in different industries.
What are non-woven fabrics?
Non-woven fabrics are produced using advanced manufacturing techniques that form fabric directly from fibers, instead of using traditional methods like spinning fibers into yarn and weaving threads.
According to PAN Tex a leading Non Woven Fabric Manufacturer & Supplier in India these processes include mechanical (entangling fibers physically), chemical (using adhesives or binders), heat (melting fibers to bond them), or solvent (dissolving and reforming fibers) methods. These approaches give the fabric strength and porosity. The textile industry uses non-woven fabrics that skip the yarn-making step.
Simply, non-woven fabric manufacturers have created this fabric-like material directly from fiber rather than threads. They have properties that are very useful in industries, as they are lightweight, porous, and strong.
Types of Non-Woven Fabric
Non-woven fabrics are characterized into different types based on their manufacturing process. Each non-woven fabric has its own properties gained from techniques used by non-woven fabric manufacturers. Some of the popular non-woven fabrics are listed below:
1. Spunlace Non-Woven Fabric: Spunlace fabrics are strong and soft. The process uses high-pressure water jets to entangle and bond fibers together. Since no chemical binders or chemical processes are used, this fabric is considered eco-friendly.
2. Heat-Bonded Non-Woven Fabric: As the name suggests, this type requires heat to melt thermoplastic fibers—materials that become soft when heated and hard when cooled. Applied heat fuses the fibers without the need for adhesives. This makes the fabric strong, durable, and suitable for products in the hygiene, filtration, and insulation industries.
3. Spunbond Non-Woven Fabric: The extrusion process is used to form these fabrics. Thermoplastics are converted into continuous filaments. These filaments are arranged in a web-like structure to create bonds between fiber molecules using heat and pressure.
4. Meltblown Non-woven Fabric: It is a type of non-woven fabric that involves extrusion. The molten polymers are forced to pass through fine nozzles. At the end of the process, microfibers are collected into a web. These fine fibers provide meltblown fibers and a larger area of surface, making it suitable for face masks and air filters.
5. SMS (Spunbond-Meltdown-Spunbond) Non-woven Fabric: Non-woven fabric manufacturers have developed a unique fabric by creating a sandwich-style fabric. Meltblown fabric is placed between layers of spunbond fabric to create a fiber with properties of both. It gives strength and good filtration properties to the fabric and is widely used in medical, hygiene, and other industries.
Uses of Non-woven Fabrics
Non-woven fabrics use modern techniques and a single process; hence, their manufacturing is simple and easy. Their high absorbency, adjustable porous structure, and strength make them highly valued in the medical and hygiene industries according to PAN Tex, a leading Non Woven Fabric Manufacturer & Supplier in India . In this section, we will learn more about their applications in different industries.
1. Hygiene and Medical Industry
The hygiene industry always looks for material that has high absorption capacity and last longer. Non-woven fabrics have this property; hence, they are used to manufacture products like baby diapers, adult diapers, sanitary pads, wipes, and other incontinence products.
In the medical industry, infection is always a concern. This is the reason they are a popular choice to make surgical gowns, face masks, drapes, wound dressings, and examination gloves. They are porous, air can pass and are single-use for protection.
2. Household
Normal woven fiber requires extra care and maintenance, while non-woven fabrics are different. Their porosity and low-maintenance properties are widely exploited to manufacture items like wipes, dusters, and kitchen cloths. They get fewer infections and sustain longer.
Their softness has made them a great choice for upholstery, mattress interlining, and chair and sofa backs. You will be surprised to know that the tea and coffee bags are also made from non-woven material because they don’t have any taste or odor.
3. Automotive Industry
Slowly, the use of non-woven fabric is increasing in the automotive industry and will take over almost all places in a few years. The automotive industry is switching to non-woven fabrics because of their structure, durability, and sustainability. Boot liners, car mats, and seat covers are made of them and are easier to clean, and their life is extended.
Non-woven fabric types like meltblown have good filtration capacity; hence, they; hence, they are used in oil filters and cabin air filters. Other automotive equipment, like molded bonnet liners equipment, heat shields, etc., is manufactured using them.
4. Industrial and Construction use of non-woven fabric
Industries require fabrics that can hold extreme temperatures and maintain air and liquid control. Non-woven fabrics provide an advantage here over others. They can be used as filter media at higher temperatures and can filter both air and water or liquid.
In the geotextiles industry, they play a crucial role as soil stabilizers, helping in drainage and erosion control. They are used as insulators in the aerospace industry.
In the construction of buildings or houses, these are used as roofing underlays, surface covers, and house wraps.
5. Other Industries
With time, the use of non-woven fabrics has increased in apparel, packaging, and other sectors. Their properties have made them a better option for cloth interlining, disposable workwear, and other day-to-day garments.
Agricultural textiles like crop covers, weed barriers, etc., can handle extreme climate changes and moisture, and are least prone to infections.
Reusable shopping bags, packaging material, and other packing essentials are products of non-woven fabrics.
Conclusion
Non-woven fabrics are the backbone of industries. These are highly customizable, flexible, and strong, which provide better shelf life, fewer infections, and arrangements as per the need. Non-woven fabric manufacturers have helped industries to get the best quality non-woven fabrics.
Use of non-woven fabrics does not end here and if you are searching for the best quality you can trust PAN Tex, a leading Non Woven Fabric Manufacturer & Supplier in India as use of non-woven fabrics is vast and extensive.
Many other small industries use them for multiple purposes. These are the future of every industry, and in the upcoming years, more development and resources will evolve them further.
