Thermal Conductivity & Tensile Properties of Stitch Bonded Nonwoven Fabric Developed Using Reclaimed Cotton and Virgin Acrylic Blend

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ABSTRACT

In this research work, nonwoven developed for thermal insulator fabric using reclaimed cotton and virgin acrylic blend in stitch bonding machine by cross laying fibers during web preparation using Arachne stitch bonding machine. Here, fiber cotton and acrylic were selected for the production of nonwoven thermal insulation because of their comparatively lower cost, availability, better thermal stability, for its attractive physical and mechanical properties. Different blending ratios, weight, and stitch density were taken into consideration as the main factors have focussed during nonwoven fabric development. The developed nonwoven fabrics were investigated for its air permeability, thermal, and tensile properties. The tensile strength of the developed fabric increases in the machine direction (555.3 N) than cross direction (412.33 N) whereas elongation percentage increases in the cross direction (91.1%) than machine direction (41.36%). In addition, the thermal conductivity of the developed fabrics was reduced by 33.33% by decreasing the fabric thickness and increasing bulk density. Major applications of the developed nonwoven are thermal insulators in the form of stitch-bonded nonwoven fabrics are blanket and sleeping rugs, automobiles, shoe covers, carpets, building insulators, and industrial process equipment.