Chemical Binder Application Technology, 1999 Nonwovens Conference Proceedings

John Parsons

National Starch and Chemical Company

Today's nonwovens are complex structures when considered either in physical, mechanical, or chemical terms. They are highly engineered fabrics and as such require an engineered binder along with an engineered application process to maximize all aspects of their performance. Emulsion polymer binders are versatile systems used in the construction of nonwovens fabrics. While "binder-free" nonwovens have become very common, many nonwovens products manufactured today utilize polymeric binder as the main bonding method for providing fabric integrity, or to impart special value and added characteristics. This paper will review the application technologies that are used to apply polymeric binders to nonwoven substrates. Methods such as saturation, print bonding, foam bonding, and spraying will be reviewed along with their pros and cons. The effects of application method on the final properties of the nonwoven will also be discussed.