Adhesive Point-Bonded Spunbond Fabrics

Adhesive technology has improved enormously in the few past decades, so adhesive point-bonding of spunbond fabrics has been given a fresh look to ascertain whether thermal point-bonding may have a new challenge. Finite element analysis is implemented to develop a simple truss-based model capable of predicting the tensile behavior of adhesive point-bonded spunbond fabrics on the basis of the fibers, a judiciously chosen adhesive, and the web properties. Pattern-bonded polypropylene spunbonded fabrics are fabricated using a screen printing technique and tested. Stress-strain curves generated by finite element analysis agree with the experimental results. Tensile properties of the adhesive-bonded fabrics are significantly better than those of the same thermal point-bonded fabrics, even without optimizing the adhesive. Roll screen-applied UV rapid-cure adhesives may be used to develop a practical method of production.