Nonwovens for diapers, feminine and adult hygiene products

Where each nonwoven sits in the product

The layers differ in what they must do with liquid. Some must let it through at once and still feel dry; others must hold it back. That is why one product usually combines hydrophilic and hydrophobic nonwovens.

• Topsheet: the layer against the skin. It must be soft and let liquid pass straight through to the core. Hydrophilic PP spunbond or hot air-through nonwoven.
• Acquisition-distribution layer (ADL): under the topsheet, it takes in a sudden flow of liquid and spreads it over the core. Hot air-through nonwoven, whose open, bulky structure is made for fast fluid acquisition.
• Leg cuffs: the barriers at the legs that stop leaks. Hydrophobic SMS, or SSMMS where more barrier is wanted.
• Backsheet and outer cover: SMS, or spunbond for a textile-like outer layer.
• Other spunbond components: tell us where the fabric goes in your product and we will suggest a starting point.

Hydrophilic or hydrophobic

Polypropylene is naturally hydrophobic: it repels water. That suits barrier layers as it is. For layers that liquid must pass through, the fabric is given a hydrophilic treatment.

Our PP spunbond can be made hydrophilic on order, and hot air-through nonwoven is available hydrophilic or hydrophobic. SMS and SSMMS are used for their natural hydrophobic barrier. Tell us which layer each fabric is for, and the treatment will be matched to it.

Spunbond or hot air-through for the topsheet?

Both are used. Spunbond is made from continuous filaments and thermally point bonded, so it is thin, strong and even at low weights: our 3-beam SSS starts at 8 gsm and 2-beam SS at 10 gsm.

Hot air-through nonwoven, also called hot air cotton, is bonded by passing heated air through the web, so it keeps its loft. It is softer and bulkier against the skin and takes in liquid quickly.

Choose air-through where softness, loft and fast acquisition matter most; choose spunbond where a thin, strong, even layer at low weight is the priority. We make both, so you can test samples of each on your line.

SMS or SSMMS for barrier layers?

SMS puts one meltblown barrier between two spunbond layers. It is hydrophobic, soft and strong, with a meltblown core that resists fluids and spunbond faces for comfort and tear resistance.

SSMMS adds a second spunbond and a second meltblown layer. That gives extra softness, better fluid resistance and higher barrier protection than SMS, at a uniform weight. Start with SMS for leg cuffs and backsheets, and consider SSMMS where you want more barrier or a softer feel.

Made for converting lines

Our PP spunbond, SMS and SSMMS are made on fully automated Reicofil lines with robotic packing, and the spunbond lines add in-line camera inspection. Hot air-through nonwoven is made for a consistent web, roll after roll. Everything is supplied as rolls slit to the widths your machines run, labelled and packed to your specification.

Because all four fabrics come from our own lines, topsheet, ADL, cuff and backsheet materials can be ordered from one supplier and shipped together: 5–6 different products can be combined in one 40'HQ container.