Abstract
Recently, as the percentage of women employment has been growing, the demand for various facilities and services regarding household duties and infant rearing is increasing and so do the amount of the disposable diaper used. Among the components of disposable diaper, the top sheet contacting with infant skin directly is usually made with nonwoven textiles. Therefore, the mechanical and surface characteristics of the nonwovens used in disposable diaper are important for the skin health of infants. In this study, we have explored the mechanical and surface properties, such as friction coefficient, fluid permeability and strength, of the nonwovens used for disposable diaper top sheet and observed the variation of their properties with abrasion cycles. Nonwoven materials examined in this study are 100% cotton spunlace, 100% tencel spunlace, 100% polypropylene (PP) thermal bonding and 100% PP air through (Thru-air bonded carded web). From the result of KES-F analysis, we've found that 100% PP air through type nonwoven had a low friction coefficient and showed a little change in surface properties as increasing abrasion cycles. Moreover, it revealed superior fluid permeability and quick-drying character. On the other hand, though showing an excellent absorption force, the spun lace type nonwoven made of 100% cotton and 100% tencel displayed relatively low abrasion strength especially in wetting condition.
