Development of improved PolyOlefin MELt ADhesion fibres and yarns and their implementation in textile applications

The control of the melting and weakening trajectory and the adhesion of polyolefin fibres is becoming more and more important for many textile applications. Examples can be found in composites, where the polyolefin fibres are compressed to a composite structure. In new type of composites, the matrix and the strengthening fibres are made from the same family of materials. The combinations of many polyolefin materials lead to various possibilities for different types of composites. Next to that, the partial melting and bonding of materials has many other applications in textiles. More and more textile materials are bonded under a light pressure and heat treatment to adhere the different components in a solid structure. This is used for example in the production of fleeces, carpets (primary & secondary backings), stabilizing of carpet tiles, production of gauze structures, etc… In all these applications, not only the melting trajectory, but also the adhesion of materials and the flow of the polymer melt is an important issue. All these qualities are directly linked to the polymer composition and selection. Currently, mainly the pure polyolefines are used (PP, HDPE, LLDPE) or melt adhesive layers. It is obvious that there is a large potential en the use of special copolymer polyolefines or functionalised polyolefines both for the melting and adhesive behaviour of materials. These special polyolefins can be used in monocomponent fibres, in bicomponent fibres and in blend fibres.
Project funding:
CORNET