Spunlaced and chemically bonded nonwovens for filtration applications: Performance evaluation and comparison

Abstract

The main function of textile filter media in air filtration is to control air pollution. Air filtration plays an important role in improving air quality and hygiene. The demands for air quality and hygiene at work places have increased greatly due to new regulations and a change in health consciousness. Spunlaced nonwovens offer various performance advantages compared to more traditional technologies used in air filtration. Chemical bonding process with the light weight foam will result in the binder bonding of the fabric surface. Very little energy is required for evaporation of the water contained in the binder. Nonwoven fabrics for filtration application were produced from polypropylene (PP) and polyester (PET) fibres using the hydroentanglement and chemical bonding techniques. Three different pressures of AquaJet, 60, 120 and 200 bar were selected as variable parameters for the trial. The chemical binder applied by the weight of material was 25% and 40%, with 30% of solid in the resin. The physical, mechanical and performance properties were measured and compared. It was concluded that chemical bonding had a higher effect on the fabric structural changes, such as pore size and its distribution. The results showed an improvement in dust holding capacity and pressure drop for the chemically bonded material as a result of consolidation of the material's structure. The fibres became more tightly packed, making it more difficult for particles to pass through the body of the fabric. The developed filtration materials were compared with industrial filtration material acquired from filter manufactured company Filtermac in Eastern Cape, Port Elizabeth