Abstract
A systematic study was undertaken to correlate qualitatively a multiplicity of responses of nonwoven fabrics to a selected set of controlled variables. The nonwovens were bonded under heat and pressure using a bilateral bonding fiber mixed with a base fiber. The variables were the chemical constitution of the base fiber, concentration of binder fibers, and three thermal bonding variables: bonding temperature, extent of annealing, and quench temperature. Of 40 responses originally recorded, 23 mechanical properties are analyzed by regression on the first 5 new responses generated by a principal component analysis. The results of this method, which eliminates redundancies in the responses, are compared to the results which would have been obtained using the 23 separate responses. Improvement in ability to quantify effects of the variables was achieved.
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