Structure/Function Analysis of Nonwoven Cotton Topsheet Fabrics: Multi-Fiber Blending Effects on Fluid Handling and Fabric Handle Mechanics
Greige cotton (GC) has attracted interest in recent years as an eco-friendly, functional fiber for use in nonwoven topsheet materials. GC imparts favorable fluid management and sensorial properties associated with urinary liquid transport and indices related to comfort in wearable incontinence nonwo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-10-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/11/11/2077 |
| _version_ | 1811232270819786752 |
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| author | Michael Easson Judson Vincent Edwards Ningtao Mao Chris Carr David Marshall Jianguo Qu Elena Graves Michael Reynolds Andres Villalpando Brian Condon |
| author_facet | Michael Easson Judson Vincent Edwards Ningtao Mao Chris Carr David Marshall Jianguo Qu Elena Graves Michael Reynolds Andres Villalpando Brian Condon |
| author_sort | Michael Easson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Greige cotton (GC) has attracted interest in recent years as an eco-friendly, functional fiber for use in nonwoven topsheet materials. GC imparts favorable fluid management and sensorial properties associated with urinary liquid transport and indices related to comfort in wearable incontinence nonwovens. Nonwoven GC has material surface polarity, an ambient moisture content, and a lipid/polysaccharide matrix that imparts positive fluid mechanic properties applicable to incontinence management topsheet materials. However, a better understanding of the connection between functionality and compositional aspects of molecular, mechanical, and material property relations is still required to employ structure/function relations beyond a priori design. Thus, this study focuses on the relation of key indices of material fluid and sensorial functions to nonwoven topsheet composition. Greige cotton, polypropylene, bleached cotton, and polyester fiber blends were hydroentangled at 60, 80, and 100 bar. Greige cotton polypropylene and bleached cotton were blended at ratios to balance surface polarity, whereas low percentages of polyester were added to confer whiteness properties. Electrokinetic and contact angle measurements were obtained for the hydroentangled nonwovens to assess surface polarity in light of material composition. Notably, materials demonstrated a relation of hydrophobicity to swelling as determined electrokinetically by Δζ, ζ<sub>plateau</sub>, and contact angles greater than 90°. Subsequently, three blended nonwoven fabrics were selected to assess effects on fluid management properties including topsheet performance indices of rewet, strikethrough, and fluid handling (rate and efficiency of transport to the absorbent core). These materials aligned well with commercial topsheet fluid mechanics. Using the Leeds University Fabric Handle Evaluation System (LUFHES), the nonwovens were tested for total fabric hand. The results of the LUFHES measurements are discussed in light of fiber contributions. Fiber ratios were found to correlate well with improvement in softness, flexibility, and formability. This study provides insights that improves the understanding of the multifunctional properties accessible with greige cotton toward decisions valuable to selecting greige cotton as an environmentally friendly fiber for nonwoven topsheets. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:00:34Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:00:34Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-c3f705c381c1496bad1492933b45992c2022-12-22T03:35:58ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442018-10-011111207710.3390/ma11112077ma11112077Structure/Function Analysis of Nonwoven Cotton Topsheet Fabrics: Multi-Fiber Blending Effects on Fluid Handling and Fabric Handle MechanicsMichael Easson0Judson Vincent Edwards1Ningtao Mao2Chris Carr3David Marshall4Jianguo Qu5Elena Graves6Michael Reynolds7Andres Villalpando8Brian Condon9Southern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, LA 70124, USASouthern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, LA 70124, USAPerformance Textiles and Clothing Research Group, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UKPerformance Textiles and Clothing Research Group, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UKPerformance Textiles and Clothing Research Group, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UKPerformance Textiles and Clothing Research Group, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UKSouthern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, LA 70124, USASouthern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, LA 70124, USASouthern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, LA 70124, USASouthern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, LA 70124, USAGreige cotton (GC) has attracted interest in recent years as an eco-friendly, functional fiber for use in nonwoven topsheet materials. GC imparts favorable fluid management and sensorial properties associated with urinary liquid transport and indices related to comfort in wearable incontinence nonwovens. Nonwoven GC has material surface polarity, an ambient moisture content, and a lipid/polysaccharide matrix that imparts positive fluid mechanic properties applicable to incontinence management topsheet materials. However, a better understanding of the connection between functionality and compositional aspects of molecular, mechanical, and material property relations is still required to employ structure/function relations beyond a priori design. Thus, this study focuses on the relation of key indices of material fluid and sensorial functions to nonwoven topsheet composition. Greige cotton, polypropylene, bleached cotton, and polyester fiber blends were hydroentangled at 60, 80, and 100 bar. Greige cotton polypropylene and bleached cotton were blended at ratios to balance surface polarity, whereas low percentages of polyester were added to confer whiteness properties. Electrokinetic and contact angle measurements were obtained for the hydroentangled nonwovens to assess surface polarity in light of material composition. Notably, materials demonstrated a relation of hydrophobicity to swelling as determined electrokinetically by Δζ, ζ<sub>plateau</sub>, and contact angles greater than 90°. Subsequently, three blended nonwoven fabrics were selected to assess effects on fluid management properties including topsheet performance indices of rewet, strikethrough, and fluid handling (rate and efficiency of transport to the absorbent core). These materials aligned well with commercial topsheet fluid mechanics. Using the Leeds University Fabric Handle Evaluation System (LUFHES), the nonwovens were tested for total fabric hand. The results of the LUFHES measurements are discussed in light of fiber contributions. Fiber ratios were found to correlate well with improvement in softness, flexibility, and formability. This study provides insights that improves the understanding of the multifunctional properties accessible with greige cotton toward decisions valuable to selecting greige cotton as an environmentally friendly fiber for nonwoven topsheets.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/11/11/2077fluid handlingfabric handlegreige cottonnonwovenstopsheetrewetstrikethroughincontinence |
| spellingShingle | Michael Easson Judson Vincent Edwards Ningtao Mao Chris Carr David Marshall Jianguo Qu Elena Graves Michael Reynolds Andres Villalpando Brian Condon Structure/Function Analysis of Nonwoven Cotton Topsheet Fabrics: Multi-Fiber Blending Effects on Fluid Handling and Fabric Handle Mechanics Materials fluid handling fabric handle greige cotton nonwovens topsheet rewet strikethrough incontinence |
| title | Structure/Function Analysis of Nonwoven Cotton Topsheet Fabrics: Multi-Fiber Blending Effects on Fluid Handling and Fabric Handle Mechanics |
| title_full | Structure/Function Analysis of Nonwoven Cotton Topsheet Fabrics: Multi-Fiber Blending Effects on Fluid Handling and Fabric Handle Mechanics |
| title_fullStr | Structure/Function Analysis of Nonwoven Cotton Topsheet Fabrics: Multi-Fiber Blending Effects on Fluid Handling and Fabric Handle Mechanics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Structure/Function Analysis of Nonwoven Cotton Topsheet Fabrics: Multi-Fiber Blending Effects on Fluid Handling and Fabric Handle Mechanics |
| title_short | Structure/Function Analysis of Nonwoven Cotton Topsheet Fabrics: Multi-Fiber Blending Effects on Fluid Handling and Fabric Handle Mechanics |
| title_sort | structure function analysis of nonwoven cotton topsheet fabrics multi fiber blending effects on fluid handling and fabric handle mechanics |
| topic | fluid handling fabric handle greige cotton nonwovens topsheet rewet strikethrough incontinence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/11/11/2077 |
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