NONWOVENS
Nonwoven fabric is a fabric-like material produced by bonding or interlocking of fibers accomplished by chemical, mechanical, thermal and/or solvent means.  Nonwovens are utilized in a variety of applications including hygiene and medical products, filters, geotextiles, carpet backings, insulation, batting and more. Wet-laid nonwovens are produced in a modified papermaking process and possess textile-fabric characteristics such as flexibility and strength.  Needled nonwovens are produced by the mechanical intertwining of fibers by needles. The resulting product has excellent insulation efficiency for extended exposure at high temperatures and is also good for sound insulation and filtration applications. Stitchbond nonwovens have been produced using a technique in which fibers in a web are bonded together by stitches sewn or knitted through the web to form a fabric. They are often used in composites for civil engineering, construction, automotive and aerospace and ship building industries. Spunbond nonwovens are produced by depositing extruded, spun filaments onto a collecting belt in a uniform random manner followed by bonding the fibers. Bonding imparts strength and integrity to the web by applying heat to partially melt the polymer and fuse the fibers together. Spunbond products are employed in carpet backing, geotextiles, and disposable medical/hygiene products.