Method of making glazed nonwoven fabric

摘要

A glazing method for improving abrasion resistance using a heated smooth roll to melt the lower-melting-point portion of bicomponent fibers as the spunbond web passes over the heated smooth roll. Because there is no external pressure exerted in a nip by an opposing second roller, as in calendering, the outer surface of the web which does not contact the heated smooth roll remains essentially unchanged and the nonwoven fabric exhibits no compression as a result of the glazing process. The roll temperature and dwell time (roll diameter, wrap angle and line speed) are controlled for the purpose of surface treating only one side of the nonwoven fabric to improve abrasion resistance while allowing the air permeability and web thickness to remain essentially unchanged.

主权项

1. A method of fabricating nonwoven fabric having enhanced abrasion resistance of a surface of the nonwoven fabric, comprising
providing a thermally bonded nonwoven fabric comprising thermoplastic bicomponent sheath/core filaments with a polyethylene sheath and a polyethylene terephthalate core and having a thickness to basis weight ratio of at least 5 μm/gsm, wrapping said thermally bonded nonwoven in a tensioned state around and in contact with a portion of a circumferential surface of a heated smooth roll which subtends a wrap angle to apply heat and pressure on one surface of a portion of said thermally bonded nonwoven fabric so that at least one side of said thermally bonded nonwoven fabric comprises thermoplastic filaments which are at least partially flattened while not applying any heat or pressure on the other surface of said portion of said thermally bonded nonwoven fabric, said one side having an average weight loss not greater than 0.62% calculated based on weight loss measured by a Taber shaving weight loss test method as indicated in the description.