Impact of fibre orientation on thickness and tensile strength of needle-punched nonwoven: Optimization of carding parameters

In this research work, the authors have investigated the influence of fibre orientation on thickness and tenacity of needle-punched nonwoven fabrics by using three-factor three-level Box–Behnken Design. Three carding parameters such as feeder speed, cylinder speed and doffer speed, which are primarily responsible for fibre orientation, were considered as three factors with three different levels. Fibre orientation was evaluated in terms of anisotropy by using tracer fibre technique. Anisotropy was measured in both un-punched and punched fibrous structure. Tenacity was measured in both machine and cross directions. It was found that the tenacity in the cross direction and thickness decreases but the tenacity in the machine direction increases with the increase of anisotropy as well as fibre orientation.