In this post we discuss how we think about selecting spunbond nonwoven polypropylene (NWPP) fabrics for washable masks, where we have found spunbond NWPP, and why we’ve chosen Smart-Fab® Double-Thick for our next round of testing.
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Unfortunately, the ideal spunbond NWPP mask materials have been hard to come by during this global crisis. Because data on commercially available materials is scarce and inconsistent, we have not been able to recommend a specific spunbond NWPP to sewists and makers.
However, sewists can evaluate the basic quality of NWPP sources by looking at how the material was originally intended to be used and existing industry and/or regulatory standards for those uses.
In general, industry standards suggest a hierarchy in the quality and manufacture of NWPP. For example, materials used for medical, food-contact, and textiles applications are typically required to meet minimum standards, whereas industry standards for disposable crafting and utility materials are less clear.
Most medical-grade NWPP is currently reserved for medical use and not available to sewists for community masks, and the materials that are available are not usually washable. NWPP from reusable grocery bags, which is designed to be in contact with food, has been our top choice since early and was the focus of earlier testing efforts. However, the NWPP used in grocery bags isn’t commonly available by the yard/meter, and taking the bags apart to turn them into masks can be labor intensive.
Since medical and food-contact safe NWPP options are not readily available to sewists by the yard, we have focused on investigating the spunbond NWPP used in clothing, textiles, crafting, and upholstery applications for our next round of testing.
Based on feedback from sewists, conversations with manufacturers and distributors, ease of online purchase, a review of the literature, and informal testing/evaluation of spunbond NWPP materials, we have selected Smart-Fab® Opaque (Double-Thick) for further investigation and formal laboratory testing and have prioritized getting this material to the lab as early as we can in . (Thank you to all who have donated to make this possible!)
The Smart-Fab® Opaque Double-Thick is a midweight (67 gsm; 2.0 oz/yd2) crafting NWPP frequently used as a background material for bulletin boards. According to the manufacturer, Smart-Fab® Opaque (Double-Thick) is made from 100% virgin polypropylene and has been manufactured with quality and cleanliness controls consistent with clothing & textiles industry standards. For example, Smart-Fab was tested and approved to be compatible with the Fire Flammability Act Standard (16 CFR, part ) per the Consumer Product Safety Commission directive (report on file). According to Smart-Fab’s FAQ “In practical terms, it means that Smart-Fab is safe for usage in all the applications mentioned on our website, including in close proximity to children (e.g. in classrooms, for Halloween costumes, etc).”
Cambric NWPP is typically a lightweight (50 gsm; 1.5 oz/yd2) utility/upholstery NWPP that is frequently black in color. It is commonly used as a dust cover, especially for use under mattresses and other furniture items. If using a 50 gsm cambric, consider including at least one extra NWPP layer. This material is significantly lighter weight than the Smart-Fab Double-Thick and has a lighter/softer hand.
Sailrite Pillow Protector NWPP material is a lightweight (40 gsm;1.2 oz/yd2) textile/upholstery NWPP that is marketed for use as a reusable pillow covering material. If using Sailrite spunbond NWPP, consider using one or two extra layers of the NWPP. If using this, or other lightweight NWPP materials, consider using 2 or 3 layers wherever 1 layer of a heavier NWPP is recommended.
Oly-Fun is a midweight ( 65 gsm;1.9 oz/yd2) crafting NWPP. Oly-Fun feels more plastic-y than Smart-Fab and is stiffer and harder to work with/sew.
Sew-In NWPP interfacing is a textiles/clothing NWPP that may be available in lightweight, midweight, and heavyweight options. We are still looking for consistent, reliable, and available sources of materials and feedback from sewists. Availability by the yard varies significantly by region, and within the US, most of the sew-in interfacing available is made from polyester and not polypropylene. If using lightweight NWPP interfacing considering adding one or two extra NWPP layers. For information about Pellon 915, see the section on black cambric utility/upholstery NWPP.
Although rarely available to sewists by the yard, some types of 100% NWPP sterilization wrap may be suitable for use in masks. If considering sourcing medical NWPP, avoid heavy duty sterilization wrap that is not sufficiently breathable and take care with materials that are not washable (SMS wrap). Avoid materials with surface treatments that improve water resistance, but reduce breathability and may introduce inhalation risks. It is important to note that most sterilization wrap is a combination of spunbond-meltblown-spunbond (SMS) NWPP, which may not be washable.
Do you know about polypropylene fabric?
Polypropylene fabric is one of the most used fabrics in the fashion industry. Today we will let you know about polypropylene fabric and its properties in detail.
Polypropylene fabric is a generic word for any textile product made from thermoplastic polymer polypropylene. This form of plastic is non-polar and somewhat crystalline, and it belongs to the polyolefin family. Polypropylene is the world’s second-most-produced plastic, behind polyethylene, and it’s more typically employed in packaging, straws, and other consumer and industrial goods than in textile production.
Phillips Petroleum, an American business, was the first to produce this form of plastic in . When chemists Robert Banks and J. Paul Hogan tried to make gasoline from propylene, they created polypropylene by mistake. While the experiment was a failure, it realized that this novel compound has the potential to replace polyethylene in a variety of applications.
However, it wasn’t until that the development of polypropylene into a mass-production-ready material. Giulio Natta, an Italian chemist, and a German colleague succeeded in synthesizing this material into an isotactic polymer in , and the Italian company Montecatini rapidly began producing it for commercial and consumer use.
Polypropylene was first marketed under the brand name “Moplen,” which is still a registered trademark of LyondellBasell today. However, polypropylene, or “polypro” for short, is a much more common name for this material.
Want more information on polypropylene liner fabric? Feel free to contact us.
As polypropylene became increasingly widely used in a variety of consumer and industrial uses, it eventually realized that it could also use as a textile. Polypropylene fabric is a nonwoven textile, created without the need for spinning or weaving. The fundamental advantage of polypropylene as a fabric is its ability to transport moisture; this textile cannot absorb moisture and instead allows moisture to pass completely through it.
Polypropylene fabric is one of the lightest synthetic fibers in existence. It is incredibly resistant to most acids and alkalis, and it melts at relatively low temperatures. Molten polypro fabric can cause serious burns, and this issue also makes it impossible to wash this fabric at high temperatures.
Polypro, like other polymers, we normally manufactured from chemicals generated from hydrocarbon fuels such as petroleum oil. To make the polymer polypropylene, the monomer propylene we extracted as gas from crude oil and then subjected to a process called chain-growth polymerization.
We can use Polypropylene plastic in thousands of different applications. This nonwoven fabric’s moisture-transferring properties have made it a popular textile for cold weather. Sportswear uses Polypropylene fabric, but issues with this type of plastic have made newer versions more popular.
Polypropylene is a versatile material that can utilize in a wide range of applications. The moisture-wicking characteristics of this nonwoven fabric have made it a popular choice for cold-weather clothing. However, difficulties with this type of plastic have made newer versions more popular.
China is the world’s largest exporter of polypropylene products at the moment. This country’s companies have generated $5.9 billion worth of polypro plastics in , expected that this trend will continue for the foreseeable future.
Beautiful Connection group is one of the best clothing manufacturers in the USA who produce the best women’s clothes. They work with every type of fabric, for example, Rayon, Silk, velvet, Polypropylene, etc.
Germany produces a substantial amount of this material; in , Germany produced around $2.5 billion in polypropylene, and Italy, France, Mexico, and Belgium are other big producers of this material. Polypro goods were worth $1.1 billion in the United States in .
Sinopec Group, situated in Beijing, and PetroChina Group, also based in Beijing, come in second and third, respectively, in this business. The top ten producers of this chemical account for 55% of total polypropylene production worldwide.
We and others use Polypropylene in the manufacture of garments all around the world. China is the world’s largest producer of completed polypro textiles, and this type of fabric they used in garments and other materials in India, Pakistan, Indonesia, and other nations.
Polypro is one of the most extensively produced types of plastic, hence it is relatively inexpensive in large quantities. To dominate the global plastics market, a big number of distinct major firms compete with one another, driving prices down.
Polypropylene fabric, on the other hand, is quite costly. The main reason for the price increase is a lack of demand. This type of fabric is more expensive for textile manufacturers than similar synthetic textiles, such as polyester, and these costs are high on to the end-user.
However, it’s important to note that this price rise only applies to polypropylene fabric which we used in clothing. Various forms of polypropylene fabric that aren’t suitable for garments for selling at a low cost. These textiles are available in a wide range of colors and textures.
To change the properties of polypro while it is still liquid, a variety of additives we can apply. Furthermore, there are two primary forms of this plastic:
The production and use of polypropylene have a decidedly negative impact on the environment. Polypro plastic derives from hydrocarbon fuels, which have limited resources. It takes hundreds of years for this substance to decompose, so it is not biodegradable.
Polypro fabric is suitable for ISO certification, offered by the International Organization for Standardization, depending on the creation of. This company may also provide ISO certification for polypropylene goods used in medical applications.
Furthermore, the ISO has a separate certification method for polypropylene. This standard, ISO -1:, examines the tensility, impact resistance, and melt mass-flow rate of polypropylene to ensure that it meets basic requirements. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or NSF International might be able to certify this sort of plastic.
So by now, we expect that you have known pretty much everything about polypropylene fabric from this article. Hopefully, it was a helpful article for you.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Polyester Liner Fabric. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.