Polyethylene-based, soft nonwoven fabric
The present invention concerns a nonwoven fabric the fibers of which have polyethylene on at least part of their surface, where the fibers are thermally bonded and the non-woven fabric exhibits an abrasion of less than 0.5 mg/cm 2 , in particular of less than 0.4 mg/cm 2 , and an embossed area fraction of less than 35%, in particular of less than 28%. Furthermore a device is made available for the manufacture of a non-woven fabric, using a polyethylene-containing polymer, with a take-down system underneath a spinning plate that causes the take-down of the polyethylene, where the spinning plate has an L/D ratio of between 4 and 9.
1. A nonwoven fabric comprising fibers which consist essentially of polyethylene, wherein the nonwoven fabric is thermally bonded only once and the nonwoven fabric has (i) a consolidated surface having an abrasion resistance rate less than 0.2 mg/cm 2 and a consolidation fraction of less than 23%, and (ii) an opposite smooth surface; wherein the nonwoven fabric has a difference in abrasion resistance between the consolidated surface and the smooth surface being less than 70% and more than 30%, said nonwoven fabric also having a dynamic friction coefficient of between 0.19 and 0.5 and a basis weight of 13-30 gsm.
2. A nonwoven fabric according to claim 1 , where the nonwoven fabric has a bending stiffness in MD direction in the range of 0.03-0.23 mN/cm and in CD direction, in the range of 0.01-0.15 mN/cm.
3. A nonwoven fabric according to claim 1 , wherein the fibers of the nonwoven fabric has a titer of less than 3 dtex.
4. A nonwoven fabric according to claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven fabric has a tensile force in the CD direction of at least 3 N and in the MD direction, of at least 5 N.
5. A nonwoven fabric according to claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven fabric has a tensile force in the CD direction of at least 8 N and in the MD direction, of at least 12 N.
6. A nonwoven fabric according to claim 1 wherein the fibers form a thermally bonded spunbound nonwoven fabric.
7. A nonwoven fabric according to claim 1 wherein the fibers form a carded or an airlaid nonwoven fabric.
8. A nonwoven fabric according to claim 1 wherein the nonwoven fabric has a basis weight of 15 to 20 gsm.
9. A nonwoven fabric according to claim 1 wherein the fibers have a hollow core.
10. A nonwoven fabric according to claim 1 wherein the fibers have a curled structure.
11. A nonwoven fabric according to claim 1 wherein the nonwoven fabric has an abrasion resistance rate less than 0.2-mg/cm 2 and a consolidation fraction of less than 16%.
12. A nonwoven fabric according to claim 1 wherein the nonwoven fabric has an abrasion resistance rate less than 0.1-mg/cm 2 and a consolidation fraction of less than 16%.
13. A nonwoven fabric according to claim 1 , wherein the consolidated surface of the fabric comprises an outer layer of a product formed therefrom.
14. A nonwoven fabric comprising fibers which consist essentially of polyethylene, wherein the nonwoven fabric is thermally bonded only once and the nonwoven fabric has (i) a consolidated surface having an abrasion resistance rate less than 0.2 mg/cm 2 and a consolidation fraction of less than 23%, and (ii) an opposite smooth surface; wherein the nonwoven fabric has a difference in abrasion resistance between the consolidated surface and the smooth surface being less than 70% and more than 30%, said nonwoven fabric also having a dynamic friction coefficient of between 0.19 and 0.5 and a basis weight of 13-30 gsm, and wherein the nonwoven fabric has
a bending stiffness in MD direction in the range of 0.03-0.23 mN/cm and in CD direction, in the range of 0.01-0.15 mN/cm;
a basis weight of between 13 gsm and 30 gsm; and
the fibers of the nonwoven fabric has a titer of less than 3 dtex.