Nonwovens

Fabrics made of mechanically interlocked fibers are one of the oldest forms of fabric and were used by the early Greeks and Romans. During the eighth century, A.D. a Benedictine Monk named Fuerte is said to have placed some greased wool in his sandals to cushion his feet. Mechanical action coupled with the heat and moisture resulted in an interlocked, matted fabric.

Natural fibers have historically played a prominent role in nonwovens production and recently there has been renewed interest and increased use.The physical properties of flax, true hemp, kenaf and other bast (stem) fibers, leaf fibers such as abaca and sisal and seed hair fibers such as cotton all demonstrate outstanding potential and, have the advantage of being biodegradable.

Much of the demand has focused on use in needle-punched nonwoven mats comprised of natural, cellulose fibers blended with thermoplastic fibers, such as polypropylene, in automotive interior applications.

Door panels, headliner and package trays using these materials have exhibited outstanding strength characteristics, meeting and surpassing performance requirements.

This technology and resulting products are currently being used extensively in Europe with interest and demand in North America advancing rapidly.

Danforth Technologies has been actively involved in these developments and has provided technical support and the supply of fiber to the various manufacturers.