Virtually all kinds of fibres can be used to produce nonwoven bonded fabrics. The choice of fibre depends on:
- the required profile of the fabric and
- the cost effectiveness to produce nonwoven bonded fabrics
- chemical fibres of both cellulosic and synthetic origin as well as
- natural fibres and
- inorganic fibres are mainly used
Because such a wide range of fabrics is either being developed or is already in production, it is impossible to name and describe all fabrics and fibres. The most important details will be provided below and the relevant literature will be cited.
Vegetable fibres
The most important constituent of vegetable fibres is cellulose, which is hydrophilic and hygroscopic. Apart from cellulose, vegetable fibres also consist of several other substances which affect their properties. Cotton is the most important vegetable fibre used to produce nonwoven bonded fabrics.
Animal fibres Sheep’s wool (Ovis aries)
Of all the animal wool and hair, only sheep’s wool is of any importance for the production of nonwoven bonded fabrics. As its price is high, it is used mainly in the form of reclaimed wool or cuttings. The variations in quality and the impurities in reclaimed wool as well as the chemical and physical properties determined by its provenance impose restrictions on its use.
Man-made fibres from synthetic polymers
The field of nonwoven bonded fabrics has become so broad that it includes nearly all kinds of existing fibres to some extent. However, specific fibre types have become predominant in certain areas within this field.
The two main types of fibre are polyamide 6, usually known as Perlon, and polyamide 6.6, which is generally called Nylon to distinguish it from Perlon. The number or numbers after the word ‘polyamide’ indicate how many carbon atoms there are in each molecule making up the polyamide.