Nayem: minor cleanup

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minor cleanup

>Glakes: Importing Wikidata short description: "Sheet of fibers" (Shortdesc helper)

2021-11-20T04:52:54Z

Importing Wikidata short description: "Sheet of fibers" (Shortdesc helper)

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{{Short description|Sheet of fibers}}
[[File:Material Non-Woven Fabric.jpg|thumb|Multiple colored swatches of non-woven fabric]]
'''Nonwoven fabric''' is a [[fabric]]-like material made from staple fibre (short) and long fibres (continuous long), bonded together by chemical, mechanical, heat or solvent treatment. The term is used in the [[textile industry|textile manufacturing industry]] to denote fabrics, such as [[felt]], which are neither [[Weaving|woven]] nor [[knitting|knitted]].<ref name=geo/> Some non-woven materials lack sufficient strength unless densified or reinforced by a backing. In recent years, non-wovens have become an alternative to [[polyurethane]] foam.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.textilemates.com/non-woven-filtration-review/|title=Non-Woven In Filtration - A Review {{!}} Types Of Filtration {{!}} Scope Of Filtration - Textile Mates|date=2017-03-14|work=Textile Mates|access-date=2017-03-17|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318015358/https://www.textilemates.com/non-woven-filtration-review/|archive-date=2017-03-18|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Applications==
Nonwoven fabrics are broadly defined as sheet or web structures bonded together by entangling fiber or filaments (and by perforating films) mechanically, thermally or chemically. They are flat or tufted porous sheets that are made directly from separate fibres, molten plastic or plastic film. They are not made by weaving or knitting and do not require converting the fibres to yarn. Typically, a certain percentage of recycled fabrics and oil-based materials are used in nonwoven fabrics. The percentage of recycled fabrics varies based upon the strength of material needed for the specific use. In addition, some nonwoven fabrics can be recycled after use, given the proper treatment and facilities. For this reason, some consider non-woven a more ecological fabric for certain applications, especially in fields and industries where disposable or single use products are important, such as hospitals, schools, nursing homes and luxury accommodations.

Nonwoven fabrics are engineered fabrics that may be single-use, have a limited life, or be very durable. Nonwoven fabrics provide specific functions such as absorbency, liquid repellence, resilience, stretch, softness, strength, flame retardancy, washability, cushioning, thermal insulation, acoustic insulation, filtration, use as a bacterial barrier and sterility. These properties are often combined to create fabrics suited for specific jobs, while achieving a good balance between product use-life and cost. They can mimic the appearance, texture and strength of a woven fabric and can be as bulky as the thickest paddings. In combination with other materials they provide a spectrum of products with diverse properties, and are used alone or as components of apparel, home furnishings, health care, engineering, industrial and consumer goods.

Non-woven materials are used in numerous applications, including:

===Medical===
*isolation gowns
*surgical gowns
*surgical drapes and covers
* [[surgical mask]]s
*surgical scrub suits
*caps
*medical [[packaging]]: porosity allows gas sterilization
*gloves
*shoe covers
*bath wipes
*wound dressings
*drug delivery<ref>{{cite journal|last=Balogh, A., Farkas, B., Faragó, K., Farkas, A., Wagner, I., Van Assche, I., ... & Marosi, G.|title=Melt‐blown and electrospun drug‐loaded polymer fiber mats for dissolution enhancement: A comparative study|journal=Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences|year=2015|volume=104|issue=5|pages=1767–1776|doi=10.1002/jps.24399|pmid=25761776|url=http://real.mtak.hu/28275/1/Final_MB_MES_ES_2015_JPS.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=QDevelopment|title=Melt blowing|url=http://www.qdevelopment.hu/meltblowing.html|access-date=1 June 2016}}</ref>
*plasters

===Filters===
*gasoline, oil and air – including [[HEPA]] filtration
*water, coffee, tea bags
*pharmaceutical industry
*mineral processing
*liquid cartridge and bag filters
*vacuum bags
*allergen membranes or laminates with non woven layers

===Geotextiles===
[[File:Nonwoven geotextile containers.jpg|thumb|Nonwoven [[geotextile]] bags are much more robust than woven bags of the same thickness.<ref name=geo>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1088/1468-6996/16/3/034605|pmid=27877792|pmc=5099829| title = Geosynthetics in geoenvironmental engineering| journal = Science and Technology of Advanced Materials| volume = 16| issue = 3| pages = 034605| year = 2015| last1 = Müller | first1 = W. W. | last2 = Saathoff | first2 = F. |bibcode=2015STAdM..16c4605M}}</ref>]]
[[File:Geocomposite drain2.jpg|thumb|Geocomposite drain consisting of needle-punched nonwoven filter and carrier geotextiles of [[polypropylene]] staple fibers each having a mass per area of 200 g/m².<ref name=geo/>]]
Nonwoven geotextile containers (sand bags) are used for
*soil stabilizers and roadway underlayment
*foundation stabilizers
*erosion control
*canals construction
*drainage systems
*[[geomembrane]] protection
*frost protection
*pond and canal water barriers
*sand infiltration barrier for drainage tile
*landfill liners

They are more robust in handling as compared to their woven counterparts, and therefore were often preferred in large-scale erosion protection projects such as those at [[Amrumbank West]]; [[Narrow Neck, Queensland]]; Kliffende house on [[Sylt]] island, and the [[Eider Barrage]]. In the last case, only 10 bags out of 48,000 were damaged despite a high installation rate of 700 bags per day.<ref name=geo/>

===Other===
*[[diaper]]stock, feminine hygiene, and other absorbent materials
*[[carpet]] backing, primary and secondary
*[[Composite material|composites]]
**marine sail laminates
**[[tablecover]] laminates
**chopped strand mat
*backing/stabilizer for [[machine embroidery]]
*[[packaging]] where porosity is needed
*Shopping bags
*[[thermal insulation|insulation]] ([[fiberglass]] [[Batting (material)|batting]])
*[[acoustic insulation]] for appliances, automotive components, and wall-paneling
*pillows, cushions, mattress cores, and [[upholstery]] padding
*[[Batting (material)|batting]] in quilts or comforters
*consumer and medical face masks
*mailing [[envelope]]s
*tarps, tenting and transportation (lumber, steel) wrapping
*disposable clothing (foot coverings, coveralls)
*weather resistant house wrap
*cleanroom wipes
*potting material for plants

==Manufacturing processes==
Nonwovens are typically manufactured by putting small fibers together in the form of a sheet or web (similar to [[paper]] on a [[paper machine]]), and then binding them either mechanically (as in the case of felt, by interlocking them with serrated needles such that the inter-fiber friction results in a stronger fabric), with an [[adhesive]], or thermally (by applying [[Binder (material)|binder]] (in the form of powder, paste, or [[polymer]] melt) and melting the binder onto the web by increasing temperature).

===Staple nonwovens===
Staple nonwovens are made in 4 steps. Fibers are first spun, cut to a few centimeters length, and put into [[:wikt:bale#Etymology 3|bale]]s. The staple fibers are then blended, "opened" in a multistep process, dispersed on a [[conveyor belt]], and spread in a uniform [[web handling|web]] by a wetlaid, airlaid, or carding/crosslapping process. Wetlaid operations typically use {{convert|0.25|to|0.75|in|cm|abbr=on}} long fibers, but sometimes longer if the fiber is stiff or thick. Airlaid processing generally uses {{convert|0.5|to|4.0|in|cm|abbr=on}} fibers. Carding operations typically use ~1.5" (3.8 cm) long fibers. [[Rayon]] used to be a common fiber in nonwovens, now greatly replaced by [[polyethylene terephthalate]] (PET) and [[polypropylene]]. Fiberglass is wetlaid into mats for use in roofing and shingles. Synthetic fiber blends are wetlaid along with [[cellulose]] for single-use fabrics. Staple nonwovens are bonded either thermally or by using resin. Bonding can be throughout the web by resin saturation or overall thermal bonding or in a distinct pattern via resin printing or thermal spot bonding. Conforming with staple fibers usually refers to a combination with melt blowing, often used in high-end textile insulations.

=== Melt-blown===
[[Melt blowing|Melt-blown]] nonwovens are produced by extruding melted polymer fibers through a spin net or die consisting of up to 40 holes per inch to form long thin fibers which are stretched and cooled by passing hot air over the fibers as they fall from the die. The resultant web is collected into rolls and subsequently converted to finished products. The extremely fine fibers (typically polypropylene) differ from other extrusions, particularly spun bond, in that they have low intrinsic strength but much smaller size offering key properties. Often melt blown is added to spun bond to form SM or SMS webs, which are strong and offer the intrinsic benefits of fine fibers such as fine filtration, low pressure drop as used in face masks or filters and physical benefits such as acoustic insulation as used in dishwashers. One of the largest users of SM and SMS materials is the disposable diaper and feminine care industry.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111006122227/http://www.disposablediaper.net/faq.asp?1 The use of Non wovens in the hygiene industry]. The Diaper Industry Source</ref>

===Spunlaid nonwovens===
Spunlaid, also called spunbond, nonwovens are made in one continuous process. Fibers are spun and then directly dispersed into a web by deflectors or can be directed with air streams. This technique leads to faster belt speeds, and cheaper costs. Several variants of this concept are available, such as the REICOFIL machinery.<ref>manufactured by Reifenhäuser [http://www.reicofil.com REICOFIL GmbH & Co. KG] ([[Germany]])</ref> PP spunbonds run faster and at lower temperatures than PET spunbonds, mostly due to the difference in melting points

Spunbond has been combined with melt-blown nonwovens, conforming them into a layered product called SMS (spun-melt-spun). Melt-blown nonwovens have extremely fine fiber diameters but are not strong fabrics. SMS fabrics, made completely from PP are water-repellent and fine enough to serve as disposable fabrics. Melt-blown is often used as filter media, being able to capture very fine particles. Spunlaid is bonded by either resin or thermally. Regarding the bonding of Spunlaid, Rieter <ref>[http://www.rieter.com Rieter Nonwovens Systems]. Rieter.com. Retrieved on 2015-05-10.</ref> has launched a new generation of nonwovens called [[Spunjet]]. In fact, [[Spunjet]] is the bonding of the Spunlaid filaments thanks to the [[hydroentanglement]].

===Flashspun===
{{Main|Flashspun}}
Flashspun fabrics are created by spraying a dissolved resin into a chamber, where the solvent evaporates.

===Air-laid paper===
{{main|Air-laid paper}}

Air-laid [[paper]] is a textile-like material categorized as a nonwoven fabric made from [[wood pulp]].<ref name=PBG>{{cite book |last1=Paulapuro |first1=Hannu |title=Paper and Board grades |series= Papermaking Science and Technology |volume= 18 |year= 2000|publisher= Fapet Oy|location= Finland|isbn= 952-5216-18-7 |pages= 95–98 |chapter= 4}}</ref> Unlike the normal [[paper machine|papermaking process]], air-laid paper does not use water as the carrying medium for the fiber. Fibers are carried and formed to the structure of paper by air.

===Other===
Nonwovens can also start with films and fibrillate, serrate or vacuum-form them with patterned holes. Fiberglass nonwovens are of two basic types. Wet laid mat or "glass tissue" use wet-chopped, heavy [[Denier (unit)|denier]] fibers in the 6 to 20 micrometre diameter range. Flame attenuated mats or "batts" use discontinuous fine denier fibers in the 0.1 to 6 range. The latter is similar, though run at much higher temperatures, to melt-blown thermoplastic nonwovens. Wet laid mat is almost always wet resin bonded with a curtain coater, while batts are usually spray bonded with wet or dry resin. An unusual process produces polyethylene fibrils in a [[Freon]]-like fluid, forming them into a paper-like product and then calendering them to create [[Tyvek]].

===Bonding===
Both staple and spunlaid nonwovens would have no mechanical resistance in and of themselves, without the bonding step. Several methods can be used:
*thermal bonding
**use of a [[heat sealer]]
**using a large oven for [[Curing (chemistry)|curing]]
**[[calendering]] through heated rollers (called spunbond when combined with spunlaid webs), calenders can be smooth faced for an overall bond or patterned for a softer, more tear resistant bond
*[[Hydroentanglement|hydroentanglement]]: mechanical intertwining of fibers by water jets (also called [[Hydroentanglement|spunlace]])<ref>{{cite journal|last=Xiang|first=P.|author2=Kuznetsov, A. V. |author3=Seyam, A. M. |title=A Porous Medium Model of the Hydro entanglement Process|journal=Journal of Porous Media|date=2008|volume=11|issue=1|pages=35–49|doi=10.1615/JPorMedia.v11.i1.30}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite patent|title=Process and apparatus for preparing a molded, textured, spunlaced, nonwoven web|gdate=2007-08-03|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US7530150B2/en}}</ref>
*ultrasonic pattern bonding: used in high-loft or fabric insulation/quilts/bedding
*needlepunching/needlefelting: mechanical intertwining of fibers by needles
*chemical bonding (wetlaid process): use of binders (such as latex emulsion or solution polymers) to chemically join the fibers. A more expensive route uses binder fibers or powders that soften and melt to hold other non-melting fibers together
**one type of cotton staple nonwoven is treated with sodium hydroxide to shrink bond the mat, the caustic causes the cellulose-based fibers to curl and shrink around one another as the bonding technique
**one unusual polyamide(Cerex) is self-bonded with gas-phase acid
*melt-blown: fiber is bonded as air attenuated fibers intertangle with themselves during simultaneous fiber and web formation.

==Disposability==
The industry has attempted to define "[[flushability]]". They encourage voluntary testing of flushability by producers. They also encourage clear marking of non-flushable products as "No Flush" (rather than fine print on the bottom of products) including creating a "No Flush" logo.<ref>"[http://www.inda.org/issues-advocacy/flushability/ Flushability]", ''INDA.org''.</ref>

The [[wastewater|wastewater industry]] is encouraging a standard definition (rather than one which varies with each producer) of flushability, including [[dispersibility]], and third-party assessment or verification, such as by [[NSF International]]. They believe that products should be safe for both septic ''and'' sewer systems (flushable and dispersible, respectively).<ref>Arhontes, Nick J. (15 October 2012) "[http://www.pwmag.com/wastewater/strangled-by-disposables.aspx Strangled by disposables]", ''PWmag.com''.</ref> [[Orange County Sanitation District]] has created a campaign, "What 2 Flush", which recommends flushing only the "three P's—pee, poop and [toilet] paper".<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20120304155919/http://www.ocsd.com/index.aspx?page=260 What 2 Flush: Know what should go down the drain that is sewer safe]", Orange County Sanitation District.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Disposable towel]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commonscat|Nonwoven fabrics}}
*[http://www.edana.org/ Association of Nonwovens] (EDANA: Europe)
*[http://www.inda.org/ The Association of the Nonwovens Fabrics Industry] (INDA: US)

{{Fabric}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nonwoven Fabric}}
[[Category:Nonwoven fabrics| ]]
[[Category:Synthetic paper]]
[[Category:Packaging materials]]

Nonwoven fabric - Revision history

Nayem: minor cleanup

>Glakes: Importing Wikidata short description: "Sheet of fibers" (Shortdesc helper)