Elementary Flax Fibers for Disposable Nonwovens, 1999 Pulping Conference Proceedings

Gerrit J. van Roekel, jr. & Ed de Jong

Department of Agrofibers and Cellulose

ATO Agrotechnological Research Institute

This paper discusses the use of bleached elementary flax fiber in modern disposable nonwoven products. Most industrial, hygiene and clinical nonwovens contain synthetic fibers such as polyester, polypropylene and viscose for wet strength. Such nonwoven products are often used as disposables and therefore biodegradability is of concern. Flax bast fibers are an excellent substitution for synthetic fibers in disposable nonwovens because of the long elementary fiber length and high cellulose content. The key issues in using flax fibers is a pulping process with fiber length control and high elementary fiber separation. ATO-DLO developed and patented a pulping process with these properties, tailored for nonwoven staple fiber production. The process uses scutched flax, which is cleaned and cut prior to a mild semi-chemical pulping step. After fluff drying the fibers are mechanically processed for use in nonwovens. Observations by Scanning Electron Microscopy revealed excellent fiber separation from fiber bundles to elementary fibers, and fiber fineness and length in the desired ranges. Wetlaid nonwoven sheets were formed and spunlaced on a pilot unit, and drylaid nonwovens were formed on a

carding/spunlacing line. The fiber was shown to be suitable for use in both types of nonwovens.