Non-woven fabrics are flat, porous sheets or web-structured materials created through the bonding of fibers or perforation of films using chemical, mechanical, or thermal processes. Unlike woven materials, non-woven fabrics do not require weaving or knitting, so the component fibers do not need to be converted into yarn first.
Non-wovens are available in a wide range of materials and designs and can be enhanced to offer numerous advantages over woven fabrics, including:
- Increased Absorbency
- Improved Filtering
- Flame Retardancy
- Liquid Repellency
- Sterility and Bacterial Barrier
- Strength and Resilience
- Softness and Flexibility
- Improved Washability
Needle-Punched Non-Wovens
Needle-punched non-woven fabrics are created by carding loose fibers into a felt-like batting that is then punched together using barbed felting needles. The process can be used to create fabrics of varying thickness and strength, and the needling process often leaves a pattern of holes on the surface that varies depending on the number of needles in the needle board, needle size, punching density, and type of fiber.
