Textiles and Nonwovens

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What Are Geo-Textiles?

January 15th, 2023

Geo-Textiles can be defined as “a fabric or synthetic material placed between the soil and a pipe, gabion or retaining wall; to enhance water movement and retard soil movement and act as a blanket to add reinforcement and separation.” These are generally made up of woven, nonwovens and knitted type of fabrics. Geo-Textiles also known as Industrial Textiles, High Performance Textiles, Engineered Textiles, Technical Textiles and Industrial Fabrics are specially designed and engineered structures that are generally used in processes /services of non textile industries. They are materials and products manufactured primarily for their technical and performance properties rather than for aesthetic and decorative characteristics.

These are generally made up of woven, non-wovens and knitted type of fabrics. Geo-Textiles are the largest group of geo-synthetics in terms of volume and are used in geo-technical engineering, heavy construction, building and pavement construction, hydro-geology, environment engineering. Technical Textiles is the fastest growing branch of textile industries worldwide with bright prospects. The total global sale of Technical Textiles in 1995 was US$42 bn. It is estimated to be US$72 bn in 2005 and is expected to reach US$126 bn by 2010. Asia is the chief producer and consumer of Technical Textiles.

Uses of different types of Geo-Textiles are as follows:

Woven geo-textiles concrete bases used for coastal works, water ways, embankments and in forming geocell for road

Nonwoven geo-textiles used for Filtration, drainage, reinforcement between soil stone or aggregate and in roads, railways works, erosion prevention and separation. As filter fabric for dams, under drainage system liners for pile foundation, coated pvc and bitumen s to skin traction

Knitted geo-textiles used Knitted bags for protection of dam’s riverbank etc. Warp knitted fabric of Kevlar yarns used in automobile and marine application.

It is also used with foundations, soil, rock, earth or any other related material as an integral part of human man made project, structure or system.

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Future of Nonwoven Fabrics

November 15th, 2022

Introduction

Usually people consider textile fabrics as the common categorization such as woven, knitted, braided or tufted constructions. They commonly abandon nonwoven fabrics form the textile group. In the conventional fabric, the fibre is first made into yarns; on the other hand, nonwovens are manufactured sheets or webs directionally or randomly orientated fibres, bonded through resistance, solidity or sticking together into a fabric.

The demands for fabrics have increased sharply. Conventional textiles are not able to meet the production cost and higher cost of upgradation along with demanding consumers in new fields of consumption. With better customization of characteristics into the fabric and appropriateness to certain end uses being advantages, nonwovens have emerged rapidly as the fabrics of the future.

Nonwoven fabrics presents many advantages over conventional fabrics, the clearest benefit is cost savings. In recent couple of years the nonwoven industry has emerged at a rapid speed, offering a huge range of products to several diversified fields. Conversely, nonwoven fabrics hold some natural characteristics, which led them to be counted for non-usable in certain applications. At present, many research and development has been conducted on enhancing the characteristics of nonwoven fabrics. Nonwovens are also entering into some astonishing fields, with making its mark in fashion apparel also.

Currently, three fibers lead the worldwide market:

Polypropylene (synthetic – 63 percent)

Polyester (synthetic – 23 percent)

Cellulosic staple fiber (natural-based 8 percent)

Manufacturing Process

To manufacture a nonwoven fabric, first a web is made, and then it is tied (bonded together) to give strength. Usually, Nonwoven fabrics are made from two processes, a one-step or two-step.

One-step process: In this process, the formation of web and bonding is conducted continuously. The processes, spunbond and melt blown are considered under one-step.

Spunbond process: The thermoplastic fibers are extruded via a spinneret, and then is it spread on a conveyor belt to make a web. Following the process, the web is bonded by passing it through two calendar rollers.

Melt blown process: The thermoplastic fibers are driven onto a collector screen to make a web. The combination of fibers fixing and snaring, results bonding.