PREPARATION OF NONWOVEN FABRICS USING NATURAL FIBERS BY NEEDLE PUNCHING TECHNOLOGY

Keywords

Nonwoven, Natural Fibres-Jute, Coir, Banana, Needle Punching.

Abstract

Nonwoven products are taking the place of many woven and knit materials because of their lower cost and lighter weight. Nonwoven fabrics are also predominate in the geotextiles industry because of their higher permeability, better friction, better conformability and construction survivability compared to that of woven products point out Niir Board (2000). The natural fibers like Banana, Coir, Cotton, Sisal and Jute have attracted the attention of scientists and technologist for application in consumer goods, low cost housing and other civil structures. The fibres apart from low cost and renewable in nature, it is more attractive as reinforcing material for composite says Billie. J. Collien et al., (2001). The use of natural material gives the user or a designer more inspiration and indicates the flow and performance of a product. A study was conducted in three districts of Southern part of Tamil Nadu namely Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi to find out the preference of nonwoven made up of natural fibres such as Jute, Coir, Banana and blends which were low cost and locally available fibers. Seven nonwoven samples were prepared by needle punching process from the selected natural fibers such as Jute, Coir, Banana as 1st, 2nd & 3rd samples Coir and Jute, Coir and Banana, Banana Jute as 4th, 5th, 6th samples and Jute Coir Banana as 7th sample. The study revealed that the country fishermen and company owners were concerned with marine environment and they preferred to select nonwoven made of natural fibres at affordable cost.