The Applications of Nonwovens

in Technical Textiles
By 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
Requirements for the fiber

▫ Must be ▫ Must be able

Non-toxic
To sterilized without

Non-allergenic imparting any change

Non-carcinogenic in the physical or
chemical
characteristics

MEDTECH
• Natural and Regenerated • Microfibers
▫ High absorbency ▫ Soft handle
▫ Green ▫ Flexibility
▫ Smooth surfaces
• Synthetic Fibers
▫ Strength
▫ Solvent resistance
▫ Antimicrobial properties
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 • Medical
▫ Baby diapers ▫ Disposable caps
▫ Feminine hygiene ▫ Gowns
products ▫ Masks
▫ Adult incontinence ▫ Shoe covers
products ▫ Drapes
▫ Dry and wet wipes ▫ Wraps and packs
▫ Cosmetic removal pads ▫ Sponges
▫ Nursing pads ▫ Dressings and wipes
▫ Nasal strips ▫ Under pads
▫ Disposable underwear ▫ 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