Interrelationships between cotton fiber quality traits and tensile properties of hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics

Cotton fibers can be used to produce nonwovens suitable for numerous single use applications including hygiene, wipes, and medical products among others. Cotton comprises a relatively small amount of total raw materials used in nonwovens production compared to the synthetic fibers of polyester and polypropylene, but the use of cotton fibers in nonwovens continues to increase due to demand for disposable products containing natural, sustainable, and biodegradable materials. However, the relationship between cotton fiber classification measurements and nonwoven fabric physical and functional properties are not well characterized. A better understanding of the effects of cotton fiber properties on nonwovens fabric properties will facilitate fiber selection for specific end-use applications. In this study, cotton fibers with broad distributions of fiber quality measurements from 10 recombinant inbred lines of a multi parent advanced generation intercross multiparent advanced generation intercross population were harvested and processed in their greige state into hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics of two distinct basis weights. Tensile testing of lightweight nonwovens indicated fiber length and tensile strength at break were positively correlated with fabric strength, whereas micronaire (air permeability of a fiber bundle) was negatively correlated indicating finer fibers contributed to increased fabric strength. Increased strength of heavyweight fabrics was mainly correlated with higher fiber uniformity index. These results suggest that cotton fibers could be selectively sourced based on fiber quality for specific nonwoven applications and establishes alternative market opportunities for cotton fibers classified as inferior and subject to discount pricing in the woven textile market.