Optimization of Jute Needle-Punched Nonwoven Fabric Properties: Part II—Some Mechanical and Functional Properties

Abstract

Different needle-punched nonwoven fabric properties, such as bursting strength, compressibility, bending modulus, and air permeability, which are of great importance in different fields of application, were studied in this part of work. It is noted that bursting strength of fabric increases with the increase in fabric weight, punch density, and depth of needle penetration, but beyond some optimum punch density and depth of needle penetration bursting strength of fabric shows a declining trend. The changes in fabric thickness loss and energy loss follow similar trend during thickness compression and recovery. The compressibility of fabric in terms of thickness loss or energy loss is initially reduced with the increase in fabric weight, punch density, and depth of penetration, and after attaining a minimum value it starts increasing if the increase in these variables is continued further. Bending modulus of fabric increases with the increase in fabric weight, whereas fabric-bending modulus after attaining a maximum value starts declining with the increase in punch density and depth of needle penetration. With the increase in fabric weight, punch density, and depth of penetration, air permeability of the fabric is first reduced due to better consolidation of fibers in the fabric and then shows an upward trend due to channel or near-hole formation in the fabric. From the manufacturers' point of view, the most important conclusion is that, from the response surface equation, a particular value of the response (bursting strength, air permeability, etc.) can be achieved easily from different sets of values of the same variables such as fabric weight, punch density, etc. The manufacturer can select any of these sets of values of the variables as per their choice.