Natural Fibers in Nonwoven Manufacture

Excerpts from the report Introduction: The textile industry is continually changing. Shifts in geographic location and modification of the industry's structure have been in process for more than three decades. Technological innovations in fibers, processes, machinery, and products have become a major force in the competitive struggle among firms within the industry. Improved materials handling, faster processing, and automated control have been introduced at a rapid pace. Characteristics of new synthetic fibers permit higher speed in spinning and weaving than is possible with natural fibers. Searching for increased efficiency to offset increasing costs of labor and equipment, the industry has directed much effort toward eliminating some or all of the expensive conventional steps of parallelizing and spinning fibers then weaving them into fabric. Plastic film or sheets, while displacing large quantities of woven and coated fabrics, lack the characteristics desired in many uses. Numerous methods of fabric forming have been explored. Few of these developments have received more attention or created more expectations than have nonwovens. The advent and growth of manmade fibers have made serious inroads on natural fibers in conventional textile production. Consequently, the development of nonwoven fabrication raises questions about its effect on the future use of natural fibers. This study evaluates the use of natural fibers in nonwoven manufacture to (1) provide cotton producers and fiber processing industries with a current assessment of the situation and (2) assist the utilization laboratories of the Department in orienting their research programs so that agricultural materials can compete more successfully in this expanding market.