Studies on hydroentangled nonwovens for their suitability to medical products

Abstract

After reviewing the past studies on hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics, which belong to a distinct class of nonwovens, it came to light that the research work carried out on their frictional properties, the effect of gauge length on their tensile and moisture management behaviour, wickability, antimicrobial functional finishing and low stress mechanical properties was scant. Hence, research on these issues has been taken up and this thesis principally addresses them. Although non-woven fabrics are used in many different applications including wipes, incontinence products, interlinings, blinds, bed linen, protective clothing and in agriculture, the fabrics used here are mostly restricted to spun-bond, melt-blown or needle punched types. Information on the use of hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics supported by relevant tests is very essential for marketing these products, consumers, manufacturers with regards to their multiple creative options for use in the medical industry. For this purpose, a series of non-woven fabrics comprising five hydroentangled fabrics and one needle punched fabric was produced using viscose (VSF), polypropylene (PP) using 1.7dtex and 2.2dtex fibres and 4 Deep Grooved polyester(4DG PET) fibres was produced. These fabrics were studied for low stress mechanical properties, newlinenamely, bending, compression and surface properties using Kawabata Evaluation System in both machine and cross directions. The hydroentangled nonwovens made from viscose, polypropylene and 4DG polyester fibres were subjected to two types of plasma treatments using oxygen and argon gases. An investigation of the comfort related properties of these plasma treated fabrics such as Overall Moisture Management Capability (OMMC), wickability and air permeability were carried out newline newline