Formation of Carded Webs from Microfibers.

Researchers examined the effects of carding machine parameters and fiber finish on the fabric quality of microfiber nonwoven fabrics manufactured using flat top carding machines. Data revealed a strong correlation between the number of neps and increases in short fiber content during carding. Nep generation was not uniform across the widt..

Measurement of Fiber orientation in Nonwovens: Optical Fourier Transform.

Researcher used optical Fourier transform (OFT) to determine fiber orientation in nonwoven fabrics and compared the results with those obtained using fast Fourier transform (FFT) image analysis techniques. The OFT method was easy to use, fast, accurate for fabric weighing up to 200 grams per square meter, and suitable for offline and onli..

The International Top 40.

An overview of nonwoven fabric manufacturers focuses on the leading 40 companies, which include 17 European, 15 North American, and 6 Japanese manufacturers. The leading nonwoven fabric manufacturers accounted for 92 percent of the $10.3 billion in roll goods sales in 2000. Reports on these companies provide company names, addresses, tele..

Current and Future Trends

The North American nonwoven fabrics market achieved sales of $3.8 billion in 2000. Durable goods and products accounted for approximately 40 percent of this total. Applications for durable nonwoven fabrics include home furnishings, floor coverings, geotextiles, interlinings, electronic components, coated and laminated substrates, and auto..

New Spunbond Technology

Rieter Perfojet's Perfobond 3000 spunbonding machine features a throughput of 300 kilograms per hour per meter per beam. The machine provides independent adjustment of quenching, stretching, laydown, and other processes for improved control of fiber and fabric properties and increased customization. A control system monitors, sets, and ad..

New Composite sheet Has Controlled Porosity over Wide Range.

Paragon Trade Brands' manufacturing process for composite microporous sheets offers excellent control of permeability and produces a variety of microporous materials with a wide range of porosities. The process involves sintering an easily fusible layer (A) and a thermally stable layer (B) to produce a three layer composite comprising A, ..

High Speeds and Capacities for Airlaid Machines.

Spinnbau's air laid fabric manufacturing machine uses centrifugal force to strip fibers off a roll and use pressure and a controlled air system to lay them on a scrim belt. The machine has a throughput capacity of 320 kilograms per hour per meter of forming width with 1.5 denier, 400 millimeter fine fibers, compared with 160 kilograms per..

Nonwovens -- Invest or Divest.

Companies that recently entered the spun bonded nonwoven fabric industry are at a manufacturing and marketing cost disadvantage with established companies that have paid off their investment costs. Most new facilities to compete with established spun bonded fabrics in such markets as lightweight polypropylene, pattern bonded fabrics for d..

Nonwovens Technology Conference Review.

The NTC nonwovens industry conference held in Germany in April 2001 included presentations on the history and future of air laid fabrics in the food packaging industry, the new generation of bonding fibers for calender binding and through air drying, three dimensional nonwoven fabrics manufactured using conventional flat rolls, BioLargo's..

Spunbonded & Melt Blown Nonwovens.

Overcapacity, raw material costs, and pricing pressures caused a variable market for spun bonded and melt blown fabrics during the past few years. Increased capacity and competition drove such new competitors as Unifi Incorporated out of the market. Unifi sold a new plant three months after commissioning it. leading markets for spun bonde..