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Abstract:
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This thesis research investigated the hydroentangling
process for consolidating nonwoven fabrics and the factors
that influence subsequent end properties of the fabric.
Although hydroentangling has been available commercially for
over twenty years, there is a little published about the
understanding of how the system works, primarily because of
the proprietary nature of nonwoven manufacturing. In
contrast to conventional nonwoven bonding techniques, there
is no need for environmentally hazardous chemicals or costly
thermal binding fibers. It is possible to produce nonwoven
fabrics with unique textile-like properties of strength,
hand, drape and bulk that cannot be achieved using any other
nonwoven bonding system.
A survey of previous investigations indicated that
little detailed information on the effect of specific energy
and ratio of specific energy usage on hydroentangled
nonwoven fabric properties had been published. Because
consumption of hydroentangled nonwovens is projected to grow
12 percent annually, a research project to develop such
information was undertaken.
To determine the effects of processing parameters on
fabric physical properties, fifty-four carded and cross lapped webs were hydroentangled at various levels of
basis weight, specific energy and ratio of specific energy
usage. A variety of physical performance tests were
performed and statistically analyzed to determine the
effects of processing variables.
The following general results were noted:
1. Fabric physical properties were affected by varying
levels of specific energy usage.
2. Increasing specific energy levels resulted in
increased fabric strengths, up to a point.
Additional energy increases had no effect on
strength.
3. Greater specific energy ratios increased fabric
air permeability and percent fiber attrition
(weight loss). Increased specific energy ratios
resulted in increased cross direction tensile
strength. specific energy ratios had no other
effect on fabric strength or performance.
4. Fiber web basis weight and web type influenced
fabric physical properties and performance.
5. Normalized strength test results indicate that
hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics can be engineered
to compare favorably with conventional yarn-based woven and knit fabrics for certain end-use
applications.
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