Non Woven Polypropylene | Sustainable custom branded NWPP products

Sustainable
non woven pp

Non-woven polypropylene, more commonly known as NWPP, is considered a miracle non-woven fabric due to its eco-friendly characteristics.

It is a widely used man-made plastic resin that is bonded together by fusing the fibres using heat and pressure. As a result, the fibres do not need to go through the process of being spun into yarn as there is no weaving or knitting required.

The finished fabric is designed to have the look, feel and quality of cloth in that it is lightweight, soft and strong. It’s an innovative and technologically advanced material that has amazing properties for performance textiles making it a popular choice for bags, face masks and home accessories.

Types of non woven pp

Types
of non woven pp

This is the standard type of non-woven PP and the only one we use to make our products.
It is formed when randomly oriented fibres are compressed and melted together in a pattern of small, closely spaced welds, called point bonds. Spun-bond fabrics have excellent moisture resistance which makes them washable, and they can either be medical-grade for face masks or industry-grade for upholstery.

The melt blown process is unique among non-woven systems. It involves just one step in which high velocity air blows molten thermoplastic resin from an extruder tip onto a conveyor or take-up screen to form a fine fibrous and self-bonding web. These are laid together by a combination of entanglement and cohesive sticking. This is a popular choice for face masks due to the density of the fabric.

This is when the spun filaments are deposited onto a collection belt uniformly and then bonded into fibres which receive an electrostatic charge that separates them during the web laying process.
This produces a non-woven PP fabric that tends to be naturally springy and, in contrast to spun-bond and melt-blown, absorbs liquids so cannot be washed. This type of non-woven PP is not something we currently offer.

This is a dry non-woven fabric that is manufactured by using a warp knitted loop structure that reinforces the fibre web or a yarn layer to form a non-woven fabric. This results in a soft material that is often used in mattresses and bedding. This type of non-woven PP is not something we currently offer as it’s more of a specialist fabric.

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Not an
ordinary plastic

Polypropylene is the most commonly used material in the world, second-only to polythene, and one of the cleanest plastics.
Non-woven PP was discovered in 1951 and is made using a process called extraction.

Propylene (a colourless gas) is extracted from crude oil using a chemical reaction and is then polymerized to form a synthetic substance with very large molecules known as a polymer. This polymer is then spun into threads which can be put together in the form of a sheet or web and then bound thermally to form a soft and versatile material, known as non-woven PP.

The final steps in the production process and the applications of the material will vary depending on what type of non-woven PP is being manufactured.

Some of the more common uses of non-woven PP include bags, face masks and surgical gowns.

Why we use non woven pp

It is highly durable, impermeable and 100% recyclable

One process is used in its production which reduces the risk of contamination

Once melted down, it can be recycled and used to make new products

It’s one of the most cost-effective materials on the market

Our
non woven pp products

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Learn
a little more

Woven PP can be easily wiped clean with a damp cloth, cold or hot water and mild soap. It should then be left to air dry.
Just like any other plastic, it should be kept away from heat which means no ironing.

The weight per unit area of woven fabric is expressed by gram weight per square meter (gsm), which is an important technical index of woven fabric. Gram weight per square meter mainly depends on the density of warp and weft and the thickness of flat yarn so the higher the gsm the denser the fabric.

All weights include lamination which typically adds approximately 20gsm to woven PP fabric.

90gsm

Typically tends to be muslin fabric which is very light weight and hence has also got very little strength.

110gsm

Light weight cotton which is typically used as lining or for cheaper price focussed products.

150gsm

The most popular weight of cotton used as it provides the flexibility as well as as the strength needed to make many products. This weight of cotton is widely produced making it the most cost-effective option.

180gsm

This is heavier cotton where the product needs to look more premium than a regular one.

The dyeing process for woven PP takes place in the early stages of the production of the fabric. PP colour granules are added to the raw material prior to it being melted to form the flat sheet of plastic.

Woven PP can be dyed to hundreds of colours although Pantone matching is not available.

The final step in the production of woven PP fabric is applying any finishes that will enhance the material by adding special characteristics or changing the look or feel of the material.

There are various finishes that we often add to woven PP depending on the product that it is being used to make. Here are a couple of the most common:

Laminated

Available in gloss or matt and can be applied to canvas to make it even stronger, sturdier and more durable. This is a great finish when creating a bag or product that is required to hold its shape. The three types of lamination we use are PP, which uses less plastic, LDPE, which is more recyclable, and HDPE.

Fused

When another material is stuck to the canvas using a glue such as an inner lining for a bag or jacket.

Stiffened

The fibres are treated with starch to help stiffen the fabric allowing it to hold its shape.

Waxed

A wax coating is applied to the surface of the fabric to make products that are more suited for outdoors such as bags and jackets.

Woven PP can easily be branded with your artwork using a variety of techniques. Learn more about each one here

• Screen Printing
• Sublimination
• Transfer Printing

The weaving methods used to make woven PP fabric can vary depending on the type of pattern that you want to create and the finished look or feel that you are trying to achieve.

Plain Weave

The standard weave pattern for canvas fabric created by passing each weft yarn under and over each warp yarn as you alternate each row. It provides a nice smooth, flat surface perfect for printing and branding.

Twill

Twill is most notably characterized and regarded by its diagonal weave. This pattern is created by weaving the weft thread over one and under two (or even more) warp threads to give an appearance of diagonal lines. It creates a very lightweight fabric and makes for a great printing surface.