Frictional properties of thermally bonded 3D nonwoven fabrics prepared from polypropylene/polyester bi-component staple fiber

• Published in: Polymer engineering and science Vol. 46; no. 7; pp. 853 - 863
• Main Authors: Wang, X. Y., Gong, R. H., Dong, Z., Porat, I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.07.2006; Wiley Subscription Services; Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical properties; Engineering research; Exact sciences and technology; Fibers; Fibers and threads; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Friction; Nonwoven fabrics; Polyesters; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polypropylene; Technology of polymers; Ethylene terephthalate polymer; Propylene polymer; Ester polymer; Synthetic fiber; Staple fiber; Experimental study; Property processing relationship; Stick slip; Experimental design; Friction coefficient; Olefin polymer; Non woven material; Manufacturing; Tribology
• ISSN: 0032-3888; 1548-2634
• DOI: 10.1002/pen.20525

The frictional properties of the three‐dimensional nonwoven samples produced using the recently developed air laying and through‐air thermal bonding system are evaluated. The samples were made from commercially available polypropylene (PP)/polyester (PET) (sheath/core) bi‐component staple fiber. In particular, the effects of the process parameters on the frictional properties were investigated by employing a statistical approach involving the uniform design of experiments and regression analysis. Stick‐slip frictional traces were obtained as a result of the presence of fiber loops, overlapping of fibers at bonding points, and deformation of fibers due to melting. The effect of normal load on both the static and dynamic friction forces can be described using the power‐law relationship. Both the static and dynamic friction factors increase with increase of the thermal bonding temperature and the dwell time. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 46:853–863, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers