PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOME COMMERCIAL NON-WOVEN FABRICS

Abstract

A résumé of the methods of production of non-woven (bonded fibre) fabrics is given. Measurements of the following physical properties have been carried out on a range of commercially available parallel-laid, cross-laid, random-laid, composite, and perforated non-woven fabrics: weight, thickness and density; tensile stress-strain curves, giving modulus, yield point, breaking point and anisotropy; stress relaxation; elastic recovery; bursting and tear strengths; bending length and crease-recovery; and, in some instances, shear modulus and drape coefficient. The results show the range of available properties. In addition, certain correlations between various physical parameters have been found, establishing a fairly rational pattern of behaviour and giving some indication of the factors governing this behaviour.