Spunlace nonwoven fabric (also known as hydroentangled fabric) is a high-performance fabric made by entangling fibers through a jet of high-pressure water. This process eliminates the need for adhesives, bonding agents, or chemicals, making spunlace a clean, sustainable, and highly versatile material used in a wide variety of applications.
Key Features of Spunlace Nonwoven Fabric
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Composition:
- Spunlace nonwoven fabric is made from a variety of fibers, including polyester (PET), polypropylene (PP), viscose, cotton, bamboo, and even wood pulp. These fibers can be blended together to enhance different characteristics, such as strength, softness, and absorbency.
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Manufacturing Process:
- In the spunlace process, fibers are carded into a web, which is then subjected to high-pressure water jets that entangle the fibers. This process creates a fabric with excellent strength, softness, and flexibility without using any chemical bonding agents.
Key Properties
- Softness: The fabric is known for its soft texture, which makes it ideal for use in products that come in contact with skin, such as baby wipes, facial tissues, and medical dressings.
- Absorbency: Spunlace fabrics excel in their ability to absorb liquids, making them perfect for use in wipes, diapers, towels, and medical absorbent pads.
- Strength: Despite its softness, spunlace fabric retains a high level of strength, ensuring it holds up under pressure and remains durable, especially in industrial or cleaning applications.
- Breathability: The fabric is breathable, ensuring comfort in applications such as surgical gowns, disposable medical garments, and personal care products.
- Eco-Friendly: Spunlace nonwoven fabrics are often produced with minimal use of chemicals, which makes them a more environmentally friendly option compared to other fabrics made with adhesives or synthetic bonding agents.
Applications of Spunlace Nonwoven Fabric
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Healthcare and Medical:
- Wound Care: Spunlace fabrics are widely used in wound dressings, bandages, and gauze pads due to their absorbency and soft, non-irritating nature.
- Surgical Gowns and Drapes: The fabric is ideal for medical gowns, surgical drapes, and masks as it offers protection while being soft and breathable.
- Personal Care: Spunlace nonwoven fabric is a key material in the manufacture of wet wipes, makeup removal wipes, and baby wipes, offering both absorbency and comfort.
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Hygiene Products:
- Diapers and Incontinence Products: Spunlace is used in diapers, adult incontinence pads, and other hygiene products for its softness, absorbency, and skin-friendliness.
- Sanitary Pads: It is used in feminine hygiene products, providing softness and fluid absorption capabilities.
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Cleaning and Household:
- Cleaning Wipes: Spunlace fabric is widely used in household cleaning wipes, industrial wipes, and surface cleaning wipes, especially in situations that require durability and liquid absorption.
- Towels and Sponges: Due to its absorbency and flexibility, spunlace is used in disposable towels and sponges for cleaning purposes.
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Agriculture:
- Agricultural Covers: Spunlace nonwoven fabric can be used as a protective cover in agricultural settings, including frost protection and crop covers, where air and water permeability are essential.
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Industrial Applications:
- Filtration: It is used as a filter media in various applications, including air and water filtration, due to its fine, uniform structure.
- Oil Absorbents: Spunlace fabrics are effective at absorbing oils and are used in oil spill recovery and clean-up applications.
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Fashion and Apparel:
- Although not as common in fashion, spunlace nonwoven fabric is occasionally used in protective clothing, linings, and interfacing due to its light weight and durability.
Advantages of Spunlace Nonwoven Fabric
- Gentle on Skin: The softness of spunlace fabric makes it perfect for sensitive applications, such as baby care, personal hygiene, and medical applications.
- Superior Absorbency: The fabric’s ability to absorb liquids makes it ideal for use in wipes, cleaning products, and medical products.
- High Strength: Despite its soft feel, spunlace fabric has impressive strength and durability, suitable for industrial wipes and protective apparel.
- Eco-Friendly Production: The water-based process used to manufacture spunlace nonwoven fabric reduces the need for chemicals, making it a more sustainable option than other nonwoven fabrics.
- Versatility: Spunlace can be customized to suit different needs, with various fiber blends, thicknesses, and finishes to meet specific product requirements.
Conclusion
Spunlace nonwoven fabric is a versatile, eco-friendly, and high-performance material that is used in a wide range of industries, from healthcare to hygiene to industrial applications. Its unique properties of softness, absorbency, strength, and breathability make it a popular choice for medical products, cleaning wipes, personal care items, and much more. At Shanghai Uneed Textile Co., Ltd., we offer high-quality spunlace nonwoven fabrics tailored to meet the specific needs of our clients, ensuring excellent performance in every application