Date: 1 Apr 2016
Nowadays demand for disposable hygiene products, especially diapers and sanitary napkins, has increased dramatically in line with demographic changes in the world’s population. People these days are more concerned about hygiene, which has created higher competition among the manufacturers of this group of products. Producers thus have to adapt themselves and offer products with unique characteristics which will stand out from their competitors’. One characteristic that sells is softness. This makes customers feel more comfortable while wearing the product, and also does not irritate the skin.
Adding softness to nonwoven fabric used in the top sheet of a product which comes into direct contact with the users’ skin can be done by replacing the traditional PP spunbond with bi-component fiber. Thus, to adapt to market trends and better serve the needs of consumers, SCG Chemicals has striven to develop High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic pellets for use as the raw material in the manufacturing of bi-component fiber. The fiber is used as the “nonwoven” fabric on the top sheet of diapers or sanitary napkins which requires added softness.
Bi-component fiber’s structure is composed two layers. The core usually has Polypropylene (PP) or Polyethylene Tarephthalate (PET) as its main raw material where- as the sheath or the outer layer is coated with High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) to give the fiber a softer feel while maintaining its other properties.
SCG Chemicals has developed EL-Lene H103S plastic pellets specifically for the production of bi-component fiber. In-depth research and development has resulted in a fiber that is softer and silkier than PP spunbond fiber. Apart from that, the bicomponent fiber also has other winning properties namely good elasticity, water absorbency and air permeability which re- duces the dampness of the nonwoven fabric top sheet of diapers and sanitary napkins. Also, it does not leave behind residues that may cause irritation to the skin.
Not only has EL-Lene H103S been created for use in bi-component fiber, it can also be used in staple fiber or other nonwoven fabrics that require added softness as well.
Bi-component fiber is an example of a product that results from SCG Chemicals’ ongoing commitment to developing products which best respond to customers’ needs.
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