I. Introduction to Spunlace Non - Woven Fabric
Spunlace non - woven fabric is a non-woven fabric made by a hydroentanglement process. In this process, high-pressure water flow entangles the fibers together to form a fabric with a certain strength and structure. This fabric has many excellent properties, such as soft feel, good breathability, high strength, etc., so it is widely used in many fields, such as medical, sanitary products (such as baby wipes, adult incontinence products, etc.), household products, industrial protection and other fields
II. Biodegradability
(I) Biodegradable situation
- Some spunlace non - woven fabrics are biodegradable. This usually depends on the choice of its raw materials. If it uses natural fibers, such as cotton fibers, as the main raw materials, since cotton fibers themselves are a biodegradable material, then the spunlace non - woven fabric made is more likely to be biodegradable. For example, spunlace non-woven fabric based on cotton can be decomposed by microorganisms under suitable environmental conditions, such as in soil or composting environments where microorganisms exist, so that the fabric can be gradually degraded.
- There are also some new synthetic fibers that are artificially synthesized, but after special design and modification, they can also have the ability to biodegrade. When these fibers are used to make spunlace non-woven fabric, the fabric may also be biodegradable.
(II) Non-biodegradable situation
- When spunlace non-woven fabric is mainly made of traditional non-biodegradable synthetic fibers, such as polyester (PET), then this fabric is usually difficult to biodegrade. These synthetic fibers have strong chemical stability and it is difficult for microorganisms to decompose them. In the natural environment, this spunlace non-woven fabric made of non-biodegradable materials may exist for a long time, causing environmental pollution and other problems.
III. Factors affecting biodegradation
(I) Environmental factors
- The temperature and humidity of the environment have an important influence on the biodegradation of spunlace non-woven fabric. Suitable temperature and humidity can promote the growth and reproduction of microorganisms, thereby accelerating the degradation process of biodegradable spunlace non-woven fabric. For example, in a warm and humid composting environment, the activity of microorganisms is higher, and the degradation rate of biodegradable spunlace non-woven fabric will be much faster than in a cold and dry environment.
- The types and number of microorganisms in the soil or water are also critical. Different types of microorganisms have different decomposition abilities. Rich microbial species and a large number of microorganisms are conducive to the decomposition of biodegradable spunlace non-woven fabric.
(II) Fabric factors
- The fiber composition ratio of the fabric affects biodegradability. If the spunlace non-woven fabric is made of mixed fibers, the ratio of biodegradable fibers to non-biodegradable fibers will determine the biodegradability of the entire fabric. For example, when the proportion of biodegradable fibers is higher, the fabric is relatively easier to biodegrade; otherwise, it is more difficult.
- The structural density of the fabric is also related. Spunlace non-woven fabric with a loose structure may be more easily invaded by microorganisms than spunlace non-woven fabric with a tight structure, which is more conducive to biodegradation.
IV. Market demand and development trend
(I) Market demand
- With the increasing awareness of environmental protection, the market demand for biodegradable spunlace non-woven fabric is increasing. Especially in the field of disposable products, such as wet wipes and disposable medical supplies, consumers prefer biodegradable products with less impact on the environment. This also prompts manufacturers to continuously explore and develop biodegradable spunlace non-woven fabric.
(II) Development trend
- In the future, with the continuous advancement of technology, it is expected that more high-performance and biodegradable spunlace non-woven fabrics will be developed. On the one hand, the processing and treatment technology of natural fibers will be further improved to enhance the performance and biodegradability of spunlace non-woven fabrics made of natural fibers; on the other hand, the modification technology of synthetic fibers will continue to develop, so that synthetic fibers can maintain their original excellent performance while having biodegradability.