What Is Meltblown Cloth Made Of?
Melt blown fabric is made of thermoplastic polymers, most commonly polypropylene, which is melted and extruded through small nozzles to form a very fine fiber network. Other thermoplastic polymers such as polyester, nylon, and polystyrene can also be used to manufacture melt blown fabrics.
Polypropylene has become a popular choice for manufacturing melt blown fabrics due to its low density, high surface area to volume ratio, and chemical resistance. The polymer is melted and extruded through a spinneret to form continuous filaments, which are then cooled and stretched to form a fine fiber network. The diameter of these fibers is usually between 0.5 and 10 microns, with the majority being between 2 and 5 microns. After the fibers are formed, they are collected on moving conveyor belts or drums and pressed together using heat, pressure, and/or chemical treatment to form adhesive sheets for melt blown fabrics.
Types of meltblown non-woven fabrics:
Melt blown non-woven fabrics come in different types, with different characteristics and applications. Some of the most common types include:
1. Standard melt blown fabric: This type of fabric has a wide range of uses, including air and liquid filtration, medical masks and protective clothing, and industrial wiping cloths. It has a high filtration efficiency, typically within the range of 70-95% for particles with a size of 0.3 microns.
2. Oil absorbing melt blown fabric: This type of fabric is designed to absorb oil and other hydrocarbons, helping to clean up oil spills and other environmental disasters.
3. Electret melt blown fabric: This type of fabric undergoes electrostatic treatment to improve filtration efficiency. It is commonly used in air filtration systems, such as HVAC systems, to capture small particles and pollutants.
4. Composite meltblown fabric: This type of fabric is composed of two or more layers of meltblown fabric combined with other materials, such as spunbond non-woven fabric or other types of fibers, to enhance its strength and durability. It is commonly used in the production of medical and surgical gowns, surgical sheets, and other protective clothing.
5. Nanofiber meltblown fabric: This fabric is made of nanofibers, which are ultrafine fibers with a diameter of less than 100 nanometers. Nanofiber meltblown cloth has higher filtration efficiency than standard meltblown cloth and is suitable for high-performance air and liquid filtration systems.
