Q1: Non Wovens

Question 1

Felt:

Answer 1

A nonwoven fabric, originally from wool, in which fibres develop a tight bond and will not ravel

Question 2

Nonwoven fabric:

Answer 2

Sheet or web structures made by bonding or entangling fibres via mechanical, thermal or chemical means

Some of the oldest as well as some of the most modern fabrics fall under the category of nonwoven fabrics. These fabrics are made by bonding or entangling fibres by chemical, thermal or mechanical means.

Question 3

Tapa:

Answer 3

A nonwoven cloth that is produced by extensive pounding and flattening of the inner bark of the mulberry tree

Question 4

Traditional nonwoven fabrics

Answer 4

Felt
Felt like fabrics
Tapa

Question 5

Traditional nonwoven fabrics

Felt

Answer 5

Felt was one of the first fabrics made by humans. It is usually made from wool, although other fibres can be added for interest. The manufacturing process of felt depends on the physical and chemical properties of wool.

Felt is defined as a textile composed of fibres physically interlocked by the inherent felting properties of wool and produced by a suit- able combination of mechanical work, chemical action, moisture and heat, but without weaving, knitting, stitching, thermal bonding or adhesives.

Felting makes use of the overlapping scales of wool. By applying moisture, heat, pressure, friction and agitation, the fibres become entangled and the scales interlock to form a thick layer of matted fibres. Felt has no warp, filling or selvage, and therefore no grain line. It will not fray or ravel and is therefore frequently used for hats, appliqué work or small soft toys. Felt has little tensile strength and practically no elasticity or draping quality.

Question 6

Traditional nonwoven fabrics

Felt like fabrics

Answer 6

There are a number of fabrics that are similar in appearance to felt, such as boiled wool, loden cloth and melton, but they cannot be classified as felt because they are first woven or knitted and then shrunk or finished to look like felt.

Question 7

Traditional nonwoven fabrics

Tapa

Answer 7

Tapa, or bark cloth, is made by placing layers of bark from certain trees, usually the paper mulberry tree, on top of one another and then beating these to produce a web. Bark cloth is not only made in the Pacific Islands, as often stated, but also in Central Africa. Souve- nirs such as place mats, small bags and wall hangings are sold in countries like Uganda.

Question 8

Speciality nonwoven fabrics

Answer 8

A number of nonwoven fabrics can be considered speciality fabrics.
(1) The fusible nonwo- vens are well known to us as iron-on vilene.

(2) The film fabrics are used as shower curtains, cooking bags, grocery bags and rainwear.
(3) Coated film fabrics are used for curtain backing (black out), shoe linings and luggage.
(4) The artificial suede fabric, Ultrasuede, is not really well known in South Africa, possibly because it is so expensive. It is available as the paw-pad fabrics used by bear makers when making artists’ teddy bears. It then costs about R40 for a piece of 20 X 25 cm. The artificial suede fabrics available in South Africa are usually based on a knitted and not a nonwoven fabric.