Study of stiffness and abrasion resistance of needle‐punched nonwoven blankets

The properties of needled fabrics depend on the nature of component fibers and the manner in which fibers are arranged in the structure. Fiber properties along with the various machine and web parameters contribute to the structure that emerges from the needling operation. In this paper, the effect of machine parameters such as depth of needle penetration and punch density on fabric stiffness and abrasion resistance of needled blankets has been studied. The effect of calendering and sandwiching hollow polyester fibers between two layers of fine polyester fibers on the abrasion resistance and fabric stiffness has also been studied. It was observed that fabric stiffness first increases and then decreases as the depth of needle penetration increases. Increase in punch density leads to a decrease in fabric stiffness only at higher levels of depth of penetration due to fiber rupture. Calendering improves the fabric abrasion resistance properties but fabric stiffness also increases. Sandwiching of hollow polyester fibers between the two layers of fine denier polyester fibers improves the abrasion resistance without increasing the fabric stiffness.