Microstructural Analysis of Fiber Segments in Nonwoven Fabrics Using SEM and Image Processing

Abstract

In this paper image analyzing methods are established and presented to study the microstructural changes of the nonwovens made by hydroentanglement process. Fast Fourier transform is used to obtain the orientation distribution of the fibers. The distribution of the length of the straight segments of the fibers is evaluated by application of Hough Transform. The microstructural changes are correlated with the tested mechanical properties of the nonwoven fabrics.