The Applications of Nonwovens

in Technical TextilesBy Muhammad Kamran Iqbal

Outline

• Technical Textiles▫ Classification of technical textiles

• Nonwoven in technical textile• Nonwoven

▫ Applications▫ Advantages

• Important market sectors for Pakistan▫ Agrotech▫ Geotech▫ Medtech

• Other Asian countries▫ China ▫ India

• Conclusion

Technical Textiles

• The Textile Institute, textile terms and definitions, defines;

▫ ‘textile materials and products manufactured primarily for their technical and performance properties rather than their aesthetic or decorative characteristics’.

Technical Textiles

Technical textiles is not a single coherent industry market segment

Classification of Technical Textiles by

Applications

• Techtexil defines 12 main application areas;

Scope of Technical Textiles

• The global demand for technical textiles is projected to increase from US$75billion (2006) to around US$130 billion (2010).

• World market of technical textiles is projected the annual growth rate of 3.6%.

• Volume growth will average between 4% - 5% per annum to year 2010.

• Asia is expected to account for 45% of the market share in 2010.

World Consumption of Technical

Textiles

Nonwoven in Technical Textiles

• To improve textile properties

▫ Durability, breathability, water repellency, fire retardancy, antimicrobial properties and barrier properties etc.

• Nonwoven accounts for about 40% of technical textiles in terms of tonnage.

What is Nonwoven

• ASTM defines Nonwoven as;

▫ ‘A textile structure produced by bonding or interlocking of fibers, or both accomplished by mechanical, chemical, thermal or solvent means and combination of there of’.

• It can also be defined as

▫ ‘A fabric made directly from fibers or from the chemicals from which the fibers themselves are made’.

Nonwoven

• Nonwovens are Engineered Fabrics

• Nonwovens are manufactured by high-speed, low-cost processes – Large Volume, Lower Cost than traditional processes

Applications of Nonwoven

Agrotech

Buildtech

Clothtech

Geotech

Hometech

Indutech

Medtech

Medtech

Mobiltech

Packtech

Protech

Sporttech

Oekotech

Advantages of Nonwoven

Advantages of Nonwovens for Technical

Applications

• Fabrics made by nonwovens technology can be made up to five times more durable than conventional textile fabrics of the same weight.

• Some fabrics can withstand extremely high temperatures -silica materials can be used up to 1100ºc.

• Nonwoven webs have high barrier properties; they can filter almost anything ranging from macro to nano scale particle sizes.

Advantages of Nonwovens for Technical

Applications

• Its resistance to tears, soil, chemical, mildew, rot, freeze/thaw conditions

• Excellent strength, breathability and barrier properties

Advantages of Nonwovens for Technical

Applications

• Easily customized

• Acoustic insulation

• Abrasion resistance

• Appealing integrity

• Cost effective

Important Sectors for Pakistan

• GEOTECH

▫ Growth and development of infra-structure

• MEDTECH

▫ Health, hygiene and medical use

• AGROTECH

▫ Agricultural country- lucrative scope for investment.

GEOTECH

GEOTECH

• Three main properties required ▫ Mechanical response▫ Filtration ability▫ Chemical resistance

• Raw materials used ▫ Mainly Polyolefin and Polyester

• Nonwoven technology ▫ Staple fiber needlepunch▫ Spunbond needlepunch

AGROTECH

• Areas of application

▫ Horticulture, animal husbandry, and farming

• Important requirement for Agrotech

▫ Weather resistant

▫ Microorganism resistant

• Use of nonwoven reduces the need for pesticides and keeps manual labor to a minimum

AGROTECH

• Raw material used

▫ Mainly PET and PP

• Nonwoven technology

▫ Spunbond needlepunch

� Good control over porosity and permeability of the structure

MEDTECH

• Why Nonwovens for Medical Products?

▫ Excellent Barrier Performance

▫ Superior Efficiency

▫ Increased Protection for the User

▫ Less Potential for Cross-contamination

▫ Water/oil repellency

▫ Disposability

▫ Comfort

MEDTECH

▫ Must be� Non-toxic

� Non-allergenic

� Non-carcinogenic

▫ Must be able � To sterilized without

imparting any change in the physical or chemical characteristics

Requirements for the fiber

MEDTECH

• Natural and Regenerated ▫ High absorbency

▫ Green

• Synthetic Fibers ▫ Strength

▫ Solvent resistance

▫ Antimicrobial properties

• Microfibers▫ Soft handle

▫ Flexibility

▫ Smooth surfaces

MEDTECH

• Nonwoven Technology▫ Spunlaced � Ultra-strong� Highly absorbent� Low-linting� Solvent resistant

▫ Spunbond/Meltblown/ Spunbond� Barrier Properties� Comfort� Water vapor transmission

MEDTECH

• Cotton in nonwoven▫ Highly absorbent of body fluids, blood and other fluids

▫ Naturally breathing fiber (prevents the passage of fluids), but lets gas and water vapor pass

▫ Easy to launder and to be sterilized

▫ Dimensional stability and strength even at temperatures of up to 175°C

▫ Biodegradable

Some Cotton Nonwoven Products

• Personal Care/Hygiene

▫ Baby diapers▫ Feminine hygiene

products ▫ Adult incontinence

products ▫ Dry and wet wipes ▫ Cosmetic removal pads ▫ Nursing pads ▫ Nasal strips ▫ Disposable underwear

• Medical

▫ Disposable caps▫ Gowns▫ Masks ▫ Shoe covers▫ Drapes▫ Wraps and packs▫ Sponges▫ Dressings and wipes▫ Under pads ▫ Heat packs

Other Asian Countries

• Asian nonwoven market will grow at a rate of 9.6% per annum

• Key players for Asia are

▫ China and India

• Palm Jumeirah Islands in Dubai can only be built with the use of extremely durable nonwovens

CHINA

• Spending on nonwoven is growing at 30% a year

• China has more than 600 nonwoven manufacturing companies

• The growth rate of geononwoven is about 15%

INDIA

• Overall technical textile market will grow at a rate of 10%

• By 2012, India will be the largest consumer and producer of technical textiles and nonwovens in Asia

• In the last 3 years, the market size for technical textiles and nonwoven has increased almost $2.3bn, in which 93% was domestic market

• In India, geotextiles was placed between the sub-base of black cotton soil- acting as a reinforcing layer▫ Preventing the formation of ruts▫ Road was built in 2004

• Very light, flexible sheets are laid over seed beds, creating a microclimate in which the heat and humidity are controlled. ▫ Plant growth is accelerated, and the plants are

protected from adverse weather conditions and vermin.

Conclusion

• Despite the current difficult economic climate, the nonwoven industry remains a strong and growing market with nearly every producer reporting sales growth and several announcing expansion plans in a number of technologies.

Acknowledgment

• Textile Research and Innovation Center

• Textile Institute of Pakistan

• Pegasus consultancy (Pvt.) Ltd.

Questions