What Are Spunlace Nonwoven Fabric And Its applications?

Nonwoven fabrics are getting highly preferred by various medical and industrial sectors. One of the major nonwoven fabric categories is Spunlace which is majorly used for wipes at homes, personal, medical and industrial purposes. They are made of high-quality viscose and polyester material with advanced hydroentangle technology. The production of spunlace nonwoven fabric can vary widely due to the material used and its size to get desired properties in the final product. 

You can find spunlace nonwoven fabric made from cotton and rayon too. This material is popularly known for excellent strength and durability, which makes it an ideal choice for various industrial uses. Read on to learn the technology behind spunlace fabric production and its various applications. 

What does Spunlace technology involve?

The technology used in Spunlace fabric production is known as Hydro-entanglement. Spunlace nonwoven fabric is made for the bonding process of dry or wet fibrous webs prepared with either carding, wet laying or air laying to produce bonded fabric. The high-pressure jet of water used in the process penetrates the web to hit the conveyor belt and then bounces back to cause the fibers to entangle. 

By applying high-pressure water jets to the fibers, the process of hydroentanglement forces them to interlock and create a robust, cohesive structure. High-speed and pressure water jets are used to obtain the desired level of entanglement and fabric characteristics. 

Spunlace technology can offer various benefits compared to other nonwoven fabric production. Due to this quick and effective method, high production rates are possible. It helps in creating fabrics with a variety of qualities, such as softness, absorbency, and strength. Additionally, free of chemical binders and adhesives, make the fabrics more environmentally friendly.

Fibers used in the process are mostly viscose and polyester staple fibers. Sometimes polypropylene material is also used for spunlace nonwoven fabric production. Other raw materials in the production can be cotton, chitin, Tencel, etc. These materials are more eco-friendly options for producing spunlace fabric. 

Major characteristics of Spunlace Nonwoven fabric material

Some of the major characteristics of Spunlace Nonwoven fabric material are:

• Flexible entanglement to not affect the original properties of the fiber.

• The Spunlace nonwoven fabric is closer in appearance to traditional textiles compared to others.

• These fibers offer superior strength and low fluffiness.

• Spunlace fiber has high and rapid moisture absorption.

• These are breathable fabric materials

• Spunlace fiber feels soft in texture 

• Due to its good shape, you can produce items in various patterns.

• There is no requirement for adhesive reinforcement in the production.

• These fibers are washable. 

What are the various types of Spunlace Nonwoven Fabric?

Spunlace comes in two varieties: Parallel lapped Spunlace Fabric and Cross Lapped Spunlace Fabric. It mostly depends on which lapping machine is used in the production of Spunlace nonwoven fabric. It is the fabric strength in the difference that distinguishes spunlace fabrics that are parallel lapped from the cross lapped fabrics. 

While cross-lapped spunlace is more difficult to tear and cannot be torn in a straight line, parallel-lapped spunlace is easier to tear straight with its vertical orientation. If we look at the application, cross-lapped spunlace fabric is mostly used for dry wiping cloths or leathers, while parallel-lapped spunlace is commonly used for wet wipes. 

Various applications of Spunlace Nonwoven fabric

Spunlace nonwoven fabric has versatile applications across different industries. Some of the common applications of spunlace nonwoven fabric include:

• As mentioned above, it is widely used for making wipes such as baby wipes, facial wipes, household cleaning wipes, etc. Due to their soft, absorbent and durable characteristics, they are mostly used for cleaning and wiping skin and other sensitive surfaces. 

• It is highly incorporated in medical or healthcare environments for producing items like surgical gowns, masks, and drapes. The fabric is hypoallergenic, sterile, and breathable, making it suitable for use in sensitive environments.

• Spunlace is also ideal for use in the automotive industry due to its durability, heat resistance, and ability to withstand harsh environments. It is mostly used for air and oil filtration, making headliners, and trunk liners.

• It is also ideal for use in the personal care industry as they are soft and comfortable. Spunlace fiber is commonly used for making sanitary napkins, disposable underwear, adult incontinence products, etc. 

Conclusion

Spunlace nonwoven fabric is a versatile and durable material made with entangled fibers using a high-pressure water jet. Due to its excellent strength, softness, and absorbency characteristics, it has become popular for producing web wipes, feminine hygiene products, diapers, drapes, surgical gowns, etc. 

Whether you require home or any other industrial cleaning, or you just want a replacement for the traditional fabrics to make things more appealing, you can use spunlace nonwoven fabric to improve your product's quality and efficiency. These fabrics are highly specialized for creating comfortable, safer and more environmentally friendly products.