Industrial nonwoven fabrics for technical markets, manufactured to order

Industrial and technical markets buy nonwovens for what they do, not for what they are. An aerospace buyer, an automotive trim engineer and a construction products manufacturer arrive with different specifications and leave with fabrics from the same three or four processes, differentiated by polymer, construction and treatment. That is the argument for the category: one material family, adapted per end use, and produced to order rather than pulled from a catalogue.

In aerospace the tolerance for failure is zero and the weight budget is tight. Aircraft seat construction uses specialty meltblown composite fabrics that meet the cabin's safety requirements while keeping the seat light and comfortable, and those fabrics are treated to be flame retardant and UV stabilised as a matter of course. Interior trim and acoustic insulation use polypropylene and polyester spunbond, which contribute to the finished appearance of the cabin and do the real work of reducing noise at altitude. Carpeting uses spunlace, with colour dyeing and fire-retardant treatment, which gives an airline both the performance and the brand identity it needs on the floor.

The automotive requirements overlap but are driven by cost and cleanliness as well as performance. Acoustic insulation made from nonwovens reduces road noise measurably and produces a quieter cabin. Interior trim, including dashboard covers, door panels and headliners, uses the same versatility, and antibacterial and anti-dust-mite treatments are specified where buyers care about what is living in the interior. Nonwoven carpeting gives a durable, easy-to-clean floor covering with a wide colour and design range.

In construction the fabric fights noise and weather. Treated nonwoven acoustic insulation cuts noise transmission in dense urban buildings. Roofing materials and wall coverings built on nonwoven substrates hold up against sunlight and humidity when UV stabilisation and flame retardancy are specified into them, and that durability is what makes the difference between a ten-year and a thirty-year assembly.

The specialty constructions are where a technical buyer usually lands. High-quality meltblown composite fabrics carry the barrier and filtration functions; corona treatment is applied where filtration relies on electrostatic charge. Wipe substrates are produced with Honeycomb, Flower, Quilt and Diamond emboss patterns, with antistatic, hydrophilic and UV-stabilised finishes, bonded by calendering or ultrasonic methods, and supplied in perforated rolls. Pulp-containing composites add absorbency and bulk. Beyond polypropylene and polyester, fabrics are produced in PBT, in elastomeric TPU and in PLA.

The treatment lists are long because the end uses are specific. Polypropylene spunbond is produced dyed in vibrant colours, hydrophilic, UV resistant, antistatic, antibacterial, anti dust-mite, flame retardant, optically enhanced, luminous, scented or aluminium coated. Polyester spunbond is produced dyed black, flame retardant, aluminium coated, UV stabilised and as high-visibility material. Spunlace is produced with an acrylic binding agent, with water, alcohol and oil repellency, pre-treated for inkjet printing, flame retardant and colour dyed. Send us the performance the part has to deliver and we will quote the construction and treatment package delivered by the container.