Splitting of Islands-in-the-Sea Fibers (PA6/COPET) during Hydroentangling of Nonwovens

Abstract

This paper summarizes the investigations of hydroentangled islands-in-the-sea (PA6/COPET) fiber webs. An increase in water jet pressure improved the tensile strength and fiber splitting while elongation at break decreased. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) micrographs and ANOVA (MS Excel ™) were used for characterizing fiber splitting and data analyses respectively. It can be concluded that with a new innovation in spinnerette design and modification of co-polyester structure, PA6/COPET, fibers can be split in the hydroentanglement process without dissolution of the sea component.