Technical Textiles

& Nonwovens

Technical Textiles are value-added textile products that provide added functionality and applications other than regular fiber-to-fashion supply chain products.

These technical textiles encompass high performance fibers, yarns, woven, knitted, nonwoven, braided and composite structures.

What are Technical Textiles ?

Are Nonwovens Technical Textiles?

• Most of the nonwovens are technical textiles as they have not yet penetrated into the apparel sector.

• Nonwovens are predominantly disposable and semi durable goods.

• All nonwovens are technical textiles but all technical textiles are not nonwovens

What are Nonwovens?

• As the name indicates nonwovens are not woven fabrics.• Cost effective process as it skips intermediary processes

such as spinning, weave preparation and weaving.

Fiber Fabricwithout weaving

• High speed and productivity compared to conventional/woven processes.

General Definition of Nonwoven Fabrics

Nonwoven fabrics are flat structures mainly defined as sheets or webs made by bonding and entangling fibers or filaments by mechanical, thermal or chemical means.

Major Nonwoven Technologies

• Needlepunching

• Thermalbonding

• Airlaid

• Spunbonding

• Meltblowing

• Spunlacing/hydroentanglement

Nonwoven Technologies

Spunbond – SyntheticMeltblown – SyntheticNeedlepunching – Versatile (natural and

synthetic)Hydroentangling – Versatile (natural and

synthetic)

Typical Applications of Nonwovens

• Technical applications• Hospital fabrics• Surgical gowns• Face masks• Geo textiles• Consumer and industrial wipes• Upholstery paddings• Military decontamination wipes• Inner liners of protective fabrics• Automotive headliners• Automotive trunkliners• Acoustic and thermal insulation

materials

Technology and End-use Applications

• Spunbonding – surgical gowns, diaper cover stocks

• Meltbowning – barriers, filters and face masks

• Needlepunching – Geotextiles, automotive fabrics

• Thermalbonding – upholstering, cussion pads

• Hydroentangling – wipes

Needlepunching Technology

Contoured Needleboard Technology

Width: 1.2 mts.

Contoured Needle Zone

Nonwoven Line

Hopper Feeder

Double Cylinder Card

Cross Lapper

H1 Needle Loom

Opening – fine beating and tuft reduction

Web forming – removal of tufts; parallel orientation

Web formation - high loft, layered webs

Web consolidation – Interlocking of fibers

Meltblown Process

Spunbonding Process

Major Machinery Makers

Spunbond/Meltblow – Reifenhauser, Germany

Hydroentangling – Fleissner, Germany. Reiter Perfoject, Switzerland

Needlepunching – Dilo, Germany Saurer, Switzerland.

Fehrer nonwoven operations have been acquired recently by Saurer group

NSC (Asselin + Thibeu), France

Global Nonwovens

Outlook

Worldwide Production By Region (millions of tonnes)

2.69

5.75

8.41 R. Of WorldMid. EastSouth America

Asia Pacific

Europe - 27

NAFTA

0.9

0.8

0.80.1

1.2

1.3

1.2

0.2

1.5

1.7

2.0

0.3

1.8

2.3

3.2

0.4

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1997 2002 2007 2012

Source: INDA Estimates, Ian Butler, INTC-2008

Nonwoven Growth By Region(%, based upon tonnes)

0 5 10 15 20

Other Asia Pacific

Mid East

Japan

Europe (27)

NAFTA

China

World

2007-2012

1997-2007

Source: INDA Estimates, Ian Butler, INTC-2008

Nonwoven Consumption Per Capita(kilograms)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Taiwan

Korea

NAFTA

Europe -27

Australia

Japan

Malaysia

Saudi Arabia

Turkey

Mexico

China

South America

Brazil

S. Africa

Russia

India

Developed Markets

Early Development Markets

Emerging Markets

High export volumes

Source: INDA Estimates, Ian Butler, INTC-2008

Nonwoven Consumption Rises as GDP Per Capita Increases *

Source: INDA Estimates, Ian Butler, INTC-2008

* PPP in US$ equivalents

Kg/Capita

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

$0 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000

Czech Rep.

Korea

Brazil

Turkey

Europe

Japan

NAFTA

Taiwan

India now

China now

India, 2012

Trend line

Agrotextiles(Few

Examples)

What are Agrotextiles ?

Agricultural Textiles are used for Increasing yield, quality and safeguarding agricultural products.

Agrotextiles are basically technical textiles that have specialty applications in agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, animal husbandry & forestry.

Agricultural Textiles find applications right from sowing to harvesting.

They offer new insight on solving the problems faced by agricultural industry.

Various technical textiles such as woven, nonwoven, knitted, nets and coated textiles are used as agrotextiles.

Applications of Agrotextiles

• Sunscreening (shade cloth)• Frost Covering• Harvesting• Wind protection• Landscape covering• Bird protection• Insect protection• Turf protection• Irrigation• Drainage• Aquaculture• Insulation• Horticulture• Animal Husbandary

Agro Shade Cloths

• Shade cloth/Shade Netting

These are sunscreens and provide necessary protection to the plants against:

• Excessive heat,• Burning of the crops due to

direct sunshine and• UV damage. Source: www.karatzis.gr/products/agricultural/04s.jpg

Examples:

Knitted or woven polyethylene fabrics.

Should not rot or become brittle & should avoid mildew formation

Range of shade percentages are:

25%, 35%, 50%, 75% and 90%

Frost Covering

• Adverse Effects of Frost

Frost can kill the seeds and adversely affect the ariel portion of the plant. Frost makes the plant loose its moisture and dry out.

• Frost Covering

Minimizes moisture and heat loss.Keeps the plant warm and healthy.

Nonwoven fabrics are preferred for Frost Covers:

Lightweight, breathable and those which dry quickly are used. These fabrics should provide open spaces for crop treatments.

Source: http://www.anti-frost.com/

Source: http://www.anti-frost.com/

Examples:Nonwoven spunbonded mesh fabric and nonwoven UV resistant polypropylene fleece.

Harvesting Aides

• Harvesting nets are used to collect the fruits falling from a tree.

• This helps to keep the

cost of cultivation low by eliminating additional labor associated with harvesting.

• Harvesting nets are predominantly grip structures which can be developed using warp knitting technology.

Source: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/2638810726_a4ceefdcc6.jpg?v=0

Source: http://lh3.ggpht.com

Windshields

• Windshields are used to protect the crops from high velocity wind damage.

• These can also be used to control the temperature by hindering cooling due to the wind.

• These are installed perpendicular to the direction of the wind to reduce the wind speed.

These Prevent:

Breaking of branches,Early falling of the fruits andDamage to the leaves and flowers.

Source: http://www.karatzis.gr

Source: http://www.arrigoni.it

Examples:Woven and knitted UV stabilized windshields using high density polyethylene monofilaments.

Landscape Covers

• These are used for weed control and prevent penetration of thin roots of weeds.

• In addition they also maintain optimal soil temperatures for rapid plant growth.

Source: http://www.terramdirect.com

Examples:Biodegradable needlepunched nonwovens and coated fabrics

Pesticide Protective Clothing

Pesticide Protective Materials

Three layered Chemical Protective Fabric: Patent Pending