Introduction and Application of the Early Nonwoven Fabric Manufacturing Process - Impregnation Method

The impregnation method is one of the earliest manufacturing processes for nonwoven fabrics, and most early nonwoven products were produced using this method. Currently, this method is still used for producing some low-grade, low-cost products, such as various disposable finger wipes, adhesive interlining base fabrics for luggage linings, packaging materials, and agricultural thermal insulation materials.

With the continuous advancement of the impregnation production process and the development of new varieties of adhesives and various additives, the application fields of nonwoven products made by the impregnation method have been expanded. For example, wipes made from viscose fiber or cotton as raw materials use acrylate, vinyl acetate, and their copolymers as adhesives, with a basis weight of approximately 4 g/m². Agricultural thermal insulation materials typically have a lighter basis weight, around 30 g/m². They are used to cover the surface of farmland after seeds are sown to reduce the day-night temperature difference and protect seed buds from sudden cold weather. This type of product has good air permeability, moderate strength, can be reused, and has low cost.

Key Terminology Notes

• Nonwoven fabric: An industrial standard term referring to fabric formed without spinning or weaving, also known as "nonwoven cloth".

• Impregnation method: One of the core processes in nonwoven fabric production, which realizes fiber web consolidation into fabric by impregnating the fiber web in an adhesive solution.

• Basis weight: A professional term in the textile/nonwoven industry, referring to the weight of a material per unit area. The unit is usually g/m², which directly affects the thickness, strength, and cost of the product.

• Adhesive: Specifically refers to polymer materials used for bonding fibers in nonwoven fabric production, such as acrylate, vinyl acetate copolymer, etc.