NONWOVEN Meaning and
Definition
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Nonwoven is an adjective used to describe a type of fabric or material that is formed without the conventional weaving or knitting process. It refers to a textile structure made by orienting and bonding together fibers or filaments by mechanical, thermal, or chemical means. Nonwoven fabrics are typically manufactured by laying or compressing fibers together, bonding them through adhesive or heat, or by interlocking the fibers mechanically.
These fabrics lack the characteristic interlacing of yarns found in traditional woven fabrics, making them distinct from woven or knitted textiles. Nonwovens are versatile and can be made from a wide range of fibers such as natural fibers (e.g. cotton, silk, wool), synthetic fibers (e.g. polyester, nylon, acrylic), or a blend of both.
Nonwoven fabrics serve various purposes and are employed in numerous industries including automotive, healthcare, agriculture, construction, fashion, and filtration. They are utilized for applications such as disposable medical gowns, surgical masks, absorbent wipes, geotextiles, automotive upholstery, insulation, and air filters.
The properties of nonwoven fabrics can be tailored to suit specific requirements such as breathability, flexibility, strength, absorbency, or repellency. They can be produced in different thicknesses, densities, and textures to provide various levels of durability and tactile characteristics. Nonwovens are often praised for their economical manufacturing processes, ease of customization, disposability, and ability to be recycled.
Etymology of NONWOVEN
The word "nonwoven" is derived from the combination of two words: "non" and "woven".
The prefix "non-" is derived from the Latin word "non", meaning "not". It is commonly used in English to indicate negation or absence of the quality or action described by the base word. For example, in "nonfiction", the prefix indicates that the content is not fictional.
On the other hand, "woven" is the past participle of the verb "weave", which comes from the Old English word "wefan". "Weave" refers to the process of interlacing two or more threads or yarns at right angles to create a fabric.
Thus, when these two words are combined, "nonwoven" suggests a material or textile that is not created through the traditional weaving process but rather through other methods, such as bonding or felting fibers together.
