Medical non-woven fabrics: invisible guards of health

In the modern medical system, there is a type of material that seems ordinary but is everywhere, silently guarding the health and safety of patients and medical staff. It is medical non-woven fabrics. From daily medical masks and surgical gowns to high-end wound dressings and disinfection bag materials, medical non-woven fabrics have become an indispensable and important part of the medical field with their unique properties and wide applications.

1. Definition and core characteristics of medical non-woven fabrics

Medical non-woven fabrics are a kind of cloth-like material that is made by mechanical, hot-bonding or chemical methods to lay fibers in a disordered or directional manner without going through traditional textile processes. This special production process gives it many unique advantages.

Good filtration. Medical non-woven fabrics can efficiently filter particles, bacteria and viruses in the air. Taking medical masks as an example, their core filter layer usually uses melt-blown non-woven fabrics, which can effectively block droplets and pathogens, building a safety line for users. Secondly, it has excellent barrier properties, which can prevent liquid penetration and prevent the spread of pollutants such as blood and body fluids. Non-woven materials used in surgical gowns can protect medical staff from infection risks during surgery. Medical non-woven fabrics are also soft, skin-friendly, breathable and comfortable. They are suitable for medical supplies that come into direct contact with the skin, such as wound dressings. While promoting wound healing, they can reduce patient discomfort. ​

2. Diversified production processes and material selection for medical non-woven fabrics ​
The production processes of medical non-woven fabrics are rich and varied, and each process corresponds to different product characteristics and application scenarios. Common production processes include spunbond, meltblown, spunlace, and needle punching. ​
Non-woven fabrics produced by spunbond have the characteristics of high strength and good toughness, and are often used to make surgical drapes, medical sheets, etc. The meltblown method sprays molten polymer fine streams at high temperature and high speed to form ultra-fine fibers. The non-woven fabrics produced have small fiber diameters, large specific surface areas, and extremely high filtration efficiency. They are the core raw materials for medical masks and air filtration materials. The hydroentanglement method uses high-pressure water flow to entangle the fibers with each other. The non-woven fabric produced has a soft feel and a smooth appearance. It is suitable for wound care products and beauty masks. The acupuncture method is to reinforce the fluffy fiber mesh into cloth through the puncture of the needle. The non-woven fabric produced by this method has high strength and is often used in medical supplies with high strength requirements such as surgical drapes. ​
In terms of material selection, polypropylene (PP) is the most commonly used raw material for medical non-woven fabrics because it has the advantages of being non-toxic, odorless, and resistant to chemical corrosion, and meets medical safety standards. Materials such as polyester (PET) and polylactic acid (PLA) are also gradually being used in the production of medical non-woven fabrics. As a biodegradable material, polylactic acid has great potential in environmental protection and sustainable development. Medical non-woven fabrics made of polylactic acid can be naturally degraded after use, reducing the pollution of medical waste to the environment. ​

3. Wide application scenarios of medical non-woven fabrics ​
The application of medical non-woven fabrics covers all aspects of the medical industry. In the field of protection, medical masks, surgical gowns, isolation gowns and other products provide a basic protective barrier for medical staff and patients, effectively reducing the risk of cross infection. In terms of wound care, wound dressings made of non-woven fabrics have good water absorption and breathability, which can keep wounds moist and promote healing, while avoiding adhesion to wounds and reducing the pain of patients when changing dressings. In the field of medical devices, medical non-woven fabrics are also used to make disinfection bags, instrument covers, etc., to provide safe packaging and protection for medical devices to ensure their sterility before use. ​

With the continuous advancement of science and technology and the growing demand for medical care, medical non-woven fabrics are also developing in a more efficient, safer and more environmentally friendly direction. On the one hand, R&D personnel are committed to improving the performance of non-woven fabrics, such as developing new materials with antibacterial and antiviral functions to further enhance the medical protection effect; on the other hand, sustainable development has become an important goal of the industry. The application of more degradable materials and the optimization of production processes will promote the green transformation of the medical non-woven fabric industry. ​