Non-wovens

From DolceraWiki
Revision as of 04:17, 1 November 2006 by 59.93.76.140 (Talk) (Introduction)

Jump to: navigation, search

Introduction

Nonwoven textiles are those which are neither woven nor knit, for example felt. General use hyphenates the word, but industrial use spells it as one word. Non-wovens are typically not strong (unless reinforced by a backing or densified). In the recent years non-woven material has become an alternative to polyurethane foam.
Non-woven fabric is typically manufactured by putting small fibers together in the form of a sheet (web) and then binding them either mechanically (as in the case of felt, by interlocking them with serrated needles such that the inter-fiber friction results in a stronger fabric), with an adhesive, or thermally {by applying binder(in the form of powder, paste, or polymer melt) and melting the binder onto the web by increasing temperature}.

Raw material

Non-woven materials are nowadays mainly produced from man-made fibers. Two synthetic polymers dominate the market: polypropylene and polyesters (mainly PET). Nonwovens are often application-designated as either durable or disposable. Nonwoven used as a housewrap to prevent water infiltration is a durable nonwoven. Nonwoven used as a facing on a baby diaper is a disposable or single-use nonwoven.

Application

Non-woven materials are used in numerous applications, including:

Hygiene
  • Baby diapers
  • Feminine hygiene
  • Adult incontinence products
  • Wipes
  • Bandages and wound dressings
Medical
  • Isolation gowns
  • Surgical gowns
  • Surgical drapes and covers
  • Surgical scrub suits
  • Caps
Technical
  • Roll roofing and shingle reinforcement
  • Insulation backing
  • Battery electrode separators
  • Vinyl flooring reinforcement
  • Plastic surface reinforcement (veils)
  • Wall coverings
  • Honeycomb structural components
  • Ceiling tile facings
  • Circuit board reinforcement
  • Electrical insulation
Geotextiles
  • Soil stabilizers and roadway underlayment
  • Agriculture mulch
  • Pond and canal water barriers
  • Sand infiltration barrier for drainage tile
Other
  • Carpet backing (primary and secondary)
  • Composites
    • Marine sail laminates
    • Table cover laminates
  • Backing/Stabilizer for machine embroidery
  • Thermal insulation (fiberglass quilting/batting)
  • Pillows, cushions, and upholstery padding
  • Batting in quilts or comforters
  • Consumer and medical face masks
  • Tarps, tenting and transportation (lumber, steel) wrapping
  • Disposable clothing (foot coverings, coveralls)

Sample IP analysis

  • Area: Baby diapers and Feminine hygiene.
  • Search: Based on title, abstract and claims for some major companies in this field.

Year wise IP activity

  • Based on title, abstract and claims for some major companies in this field.The graph is based on the patents of Kimberly-Clark Corp, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, and Playtex from 1836 to 2006.
Year wise IP activity

Competitive analysis

Competitive analysis

Sample analysis of some patents

  • This information is according to analysis of 27 patents.
Sample analysis
Design patents
  • Classification of Design patents
Design Total records Kimberly Clark Procter & Gamble Johnson & Johnson Playtex
Absorbent pad 11 2 5 4 0
Attaching napkin to garment 1 1 0 0 0
Fastening means 1 0 0 1 0
Shoulder strap pad for bra 1 0 0 0 1
Tampon 2 0 0 0 2
Design patents

Pictorial view of analysis

Production patents
  • Classification of Production patents
Production Total records Kimberly Clark Procter & Gamble Johnson & Johnson Playtex
Absorbent pad 6 2 2 2 0
Odour removing composition 2 1 1 0 0
Wrapper 1 1 0 0 0
Elastic 1 1 0 0 0
Tampon 1 1 0 0 0
Production patents