Development of Elastic Nonwovens Using PET Fibers for Ecofriendly Cushioning Materials
Vol. 57, No. 6, pp. 354-360,
Dec. 2020
10.12772/TSE.2020.57.354
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Abstract
Polyurethane (PU) foams are widely used in cushioning materials because of
their excellent cushioning properties and relatively low price. However, owing to the health
hazards and environmental pollution associated with PU foam, we attempted to fabricate
nonwoven fabrics as alternative cushion materials for car seats. It is desirable to manufacture
nonwovens from unimaterials for sustainable development. In this study, nonwovens
were prepared as cushioning materials using poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)-based
fibers, and their properties were analyzed with respect to the effects of the process conditions.
Hollow fibers that were mixed with elastomeric bicomponent and regular PET fibers
were carded, needle punched, and thermally bonded to manufacture the nonwoven fabrics.
As the density of the nonwoven fabric increases, its support factor increases, which is
one of the most important properties of a cushioning material, and the durability of the
material improves. Compared with the PU foam, the nonwoven fabric exhibited better
breathability, elasticity, and repeated compression recovery. Therefore, PET-based elastic
nonwoven fabrics could be applied as eco-friendly cushioning seat materials to replace PU
foams.
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