Nonwoven for Sanitary Napkins

1. Introduction

Nonwoven fabric is a material made by physically, chemically or mechanically gathering fibers together without relying on weaving or knitting technology. In modern daily life, nonwoven fabric has become a widely used material, especially in sanitary napkin products. With the continuous improvement of consumers' requirements for comfort, hygiene and environmental protection, the application of nonwoven fabrics in sanitary napkins has gradually become the focus of attention.

As a necessity in women's daily life, sanitary napkins have higher and higher requirements in terms of comfort, absorbency and breathability, and nonwoven fabrics are the ideal materials to meet these requirements. Therefore, understanding the role of nonwoven fabrics in sanitary napkins can help us better understand the composition and technological progress of sanitary napkins.

2. Basic Concepts of Nonwoven Fabrics

Nonwoven fabrics refer to materials that are made by connecting fibers in a certain way into cloth-like shapes by mechanical or chemical methods without going through a textile process. According to different production processes, nonwoven fabrics are mainly divided into the following categories:

• Spunbond Nonwoven: The polymer is melted by melt spinning technology to form long fibers, and then the fibers are broken up and laid into cloth by high-pressure airflow. Its advantages are high strength and good durability, and it is often used as the outer material of sanitary napkins.

• Thermal Bonding Nonwoven: The fibers are bonded into cloth using hot melt adhesive. It has good water absorption and is commonly found in the water absorption layer of sanitary napkins.

• Wet Laid Nonwoven: The fibers are suspended in water and collected into cloth by water absorption and filter screen. It has good softness and is suitable for the surface layer and breathable layer of sanitary napkins.

The main characteristics of nonwoven fabrics include high hygroscopicity, softness, breathability, low cost and environmental protection. These advantages make nonwovens an ideal choice for sanitary napkin manufacturing.

3. The role of nonwovens in sanitary napkins

Nonwovens play several vital roles in sanitary napkins. Various types of nonwovens are precisely applied to different layers of sanitary napkins to meet different functional requirements.

1. Hygroscopic layer: The hygroscopic layer of sanitary napkins needs to absorb and lock liquid quickly to keep it dry. Nonwovens, especially spunbond nonwovens, are the first choice for the hygroscopic layer due to their high water absorption. Its fiber structure can effectively absorb urine and menstrual fluid, prevent back-seepage, and ensure the surface is dry.

2. Filter layer: The function of the filter layer is mainly to block bacteria and impurities while maintaining breathability. Thermal bonded nonwovens and wet nonwovens are often used in this layer because of their good filtering properties. The filter layer can effectively prevent the spread of odor and keep the sanitary napkin fresh.

3. Breathable layer: Breathability is particularly important for sanitary napkins, especially for users who wear them for a long time. Nonwovens have very good breathability, which can promote air circulation and prevent the skin from getting stuffy and eczema. Therefore, nonwoven fabrics are often used in the outer layer and breathable film layer of sanitary napkins to ensure a comfortable wearing experience.

4. Leakage-proof layer: The function of the leakage-proof layer is to prevent liquid from leaking from the sides or bottom of the sanitary napkin. Certain types of polypropylene spunbond nonwoven fabrics and composite film materials are used in this layer to enhance the leakage-proof function.

4. Application of different types of nonwoven fabrics in sanitary napkins

Nonwoven fabrics are suitable for various layers of sanitary napkins according to different materials, processes and performances. The following are several common types of nonwoven fabrics used in sanitary napkins:

• Top Sheet: The top sheet is in direct contact with the skin, and its main requirements are softness and moisture absorption. Generally, thermal bonding nonwoven fabrics and spunbond nonwoven fabrics are widely used in the top sheet because of their softness and comfort. Thermal bonding nonwoven fabrics are particularly suitable for this layer because their softness and delicate touch can provide an excellent comfort experience.

• Absorbent Core: The absorbent core requires strong moisture absorption to ensure that the liquid is absorbed and prevent back seepage. Thermal bonded nonwoven fabrics are often used in this layer because of their good water absorption, and work together with absorbent paper or gel materials to form an efficient water absorption structure. Considering the cost factor, spunbond nonwoven fabric is the first choice for the absorbent core.

• Back Sheet: The back sheet is the last layer of the sanitary napkin, and its main function is to prevent leakage and increase strength. This layer often uses nonwoven fabrics with waterproof properties, combined with film materials, to effectively prevent liquid leakage.

5. Advantages and Disadvantages of Nonwoven Fabrics

Nonwoven fabrics are widely used in sanitary napkins, but they also have some advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

• High hygroscopicity: Nonwoven fabrics can quickly absorb and lock liquids, effectively avoiding moisture irritation to the skin and keeping it dry.

• Comfort: Nonwoven fabrics are very soft, giving users a comfortable wearing experience, especially suitable for long-term wear.

• High cost-effectiveness: Compared with other materials, nonwoven fabrics have lower production costs and simple processing technology, which reduces the overall production cost.

• Environmental protection: Many nonwoven fabrics are made of degradable materials, which meets environmental protection needs.

Disadvantages

• Degradability issues: Although many nonwoven fabrics use degradable materials, most nonwoven fabrics are still not easy to completely degrade, which may cause certain pressure on the environment.

• Strength and durability: Some types of nonwoven fabrics have certain limitations in strength and durability, especially when subjected to greater pressure or long-term use, they may be damaged or deformed.

6. Environmental Trend: Sustainability of Nonwoven Fabrics

With the improvement of environmental awareness, the sustainability of nonwoven fabrics in production and use has gradually attracted attention. Traditional nonwoven fabrics are mostly made of plastic-based materials such as polypropylene and polyester, which have limitations in terms of degradability. In response to this problem, many companies are developing degradable nonwoven fabrics, using bio-based materials (such as PLA, PBAT, etc.) to replace traditional petroleum-based materials to reduce the environmental burden.

In addition, recycling technology is also constantly improving, and research on the recycling and reuse of nonwoven fabrics is receiving more and more attention. This not only helps to reduce the pressure of garbage disposal, but also promotes the recycling of resources.

7. Market Trends and Future Development

As consumers' requirements for health and environmental protection increase, the market demand for high-performance sanitary napkins continues to grow. Under this trend, the application of nonwoven fabrics in sanitary napkins is also developing. In the future, sanitary napkin manufacturers will pay more attention to the following aspects:

• Improved comfort: With the advancement of technology, the softness and breathability of nonwoven fabrics will be further improved, making sanitary napkins more comfortable to wear.

• Environmental technology innovation: The application of biodegradable materials will become a future development trend, driving the sanitary napkin industry towards a more environmentally friendly direction.

• Intelligence and functionalization: In addition to hygroscopicity and comfort, smart sanitary napkins, antibacterial functions, temperature control technology, etc. will become important features of future products.

8. Conclusion

As the core material of sanitary napkins, nonwoven fabrics have become an indispensable part of modern sanitary napkins due to their excellent moisture absorption, softness and breathability. With the advancement of technology and changes in consumer demand, the types and application methods of nonwoven fabrics are constantly innovating, and in the future, there will be greater improvements in comfort, environmental protection and functionality. With the acceleration of the global environmental protection trend, the sustainable development of nonwoven fabrics will become an important topic in the future of the sanitary napkin industry. If you are looking for a supplier of nonwoven for sanitary napkins, contact us. Lonsun is a best choice.