Studies on the Fiber Orientation Distribution Function and Mechanical Anisotropy of Thermally Point-Bonded

Current efforts to establish links between geometrical features and mechanical performance of nonwoven fabrics in general, and of point-bonded (spot-bonded) nonwovens in particular, would be served significantly by the measurements of Fiber Orientation Distribution Function (ODF) and tensile modulus which occurs during controlled-deformation experiments. Image analysis technique (using the Fast Furier Transform) is used to quantify the fiber orientation distribution. The results suggest that, within a typical window of processing conditions, ODF has a significant influence on the mechanical anisotropy. The data also suggest that mechanical anisotropy of thermally point-bonded nonwovens is likely to be governed by different stress mode according to the applied macroscopic tensile direction.