Effects of Bond Roll Pattern and Temperature on the Microstructure and Properties of Polyethylene Nonwovens

Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of bond roll pattern and bonding temperature on the microstructure, tensile properties, flexural rigidity, and abrasion of polyethylene (PE) nonwovens. Bond roll variables include percent bond area, bond point concentration, and side-wall angle. Temperature greatly affects nonwoven mechanical properties. Of the various bond roll variables, bond point concentration significantly affects the elongation and flexural rigidity of PE nonwovens, whereas the side-wall angle affects tenacity. Microstructure analysis indicates that PE nonwovens fail by disintegration of the bond area rather than by fibers breaking at the bond perimeter. A one-dimensional, unsteady-state heat conduction model of the area under a bond point confirms that partial melting occurs in the center of thermally bonded areas.

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