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Are the days of petrochemical-based nonwovens numbered?
- Article from:
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Technical Textiles International : TTI
- Article date:
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May 1, 2008
- Author:
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Copyright informationCopyright International Newsletters May 2008. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Cellulosic capacity is up and raw materials from biomass are emerging fast. Current pressures in terms of environmentally benign processing routes could quickly change everything for an industry like nonwoven fabrics, writes Adrian Wilson.
Of the 1.725 Mt of nonwovens currently manufactured annually by spunmelt processing routes, around 75%, or 1.29 Mt, are employed in hygienic disposables-diapers, femcare and adult incontinence products. And 98% of such nonwovens are made of polypropylene (PP).
However, a number of industry observers believe this may be about to change.
Firstly, suppliers of polypropylene nonwovens have been battered by the cost of the raw materials for their products: ...