Abstract
Cotton-surfaced nonwovens have been developed with cotton on one side or both sides of a core structure in which the cotton content varies from 41–75% of the fabric weight. The thermally bonded two or three layered laminates are soft but strong and have a hand similar to cotton knits or hydroentangled fabrics. The fabrics have also demonstrated excellent wetting, wicking rates, water adsorption and water retention properties. Although these novel fabrics have notable flexibility and extensibility as produced, a post-treatment process provides the fabrics with instantaneous elastic recoveries ranging from 83–93% from an extension of 50%. The fabrics exhibit minimal linting characteristics and would be suitable as medical isolation gowns, head covers and shoe covers, bed sheets, pillow cases and for consumer applications such as disposable underwear, towels, wipers and personal hygiene products.