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Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-06-24 Origin: Site
Spunbond vs Meltblown Nonwovens: Key Differences Explained
Comprehensive comparison of production processes, properties and applications - Essential guide for materials engineers
In the field of nonwoven fabrics, Spunbond and Meltblown are two core technologies widely used in medical, hygiene, filtration, and industrial applications. Although both primarily use polypropylene as raw material, they have significant differences in production processes, physical properties, and end uses. This in-depth comparison will help you make informed material selections for your specific needs.
Thermoplastic polymers (mainly polypropylene) are melted and extruded through spinnerets to form continuous filaments. The filaments are cooled, stretched, and laid randomly or semi-randomly on a conveyor belt to form a web, which is then thermally bonded to create the fabric.
Molten polymer is extruded through fine nozzles while high-velocity hot air blows the polymer streams, stretching them into ultrafine fibers (1-5 microns). These fine fibers are collected on a conveyor to form a web with a dense, fine fiber structure.
Property | Spunbond | Meltblown |
---|---|---|
Fiber Type | Continuous filaments | Ultrafine short fibers |
Fiber Diameter | 15-35 microns | 1-5 microns |
Tensile Strength | High strength | Lower strength |
Web Structure | Open, less dense | Extremely dense |
Filtration Efficiency | Moderate | Excellent |
Production Cost | Lower | Higher |
In many high-performance applications, Spunbond and Meltblown layers are combined to form SMS (Spunbond-Meltblown-Spunbond) composites. This layered structure utilizes the strength of Spunbond as outer layers while leveraging the filtration capability of Meltblown as the functional middle layer.
Enhanced barrier protection performance
Improved comfort and drape
Optimized filtration-strength balance
Cost-effective high performance
While both Spunbond and Meltblown are polypropylene-based nonwovens, they serve fundamentally different purposes:
Structural strength and durability
Long-term use and physical resilience
Cost-effective solutions
High breathability applications
Superior filtration efficiency
High barrier performance
Ultrafine fiber structure
Sound absorption or sorption properties
For demanding applications requiring both strength and filtration performance, SMS composites provide the ideal solution. Understanding these core differences enables engineers to optimize material selection, whether choosing a single technology or combining both to meet specific performance requirements.