PREDICTION OF LIQUID ABSORPTION IN HOMOGENEOUS THREE-DIMENSIONAL NONWOVEN STRUCTURES

摘要

The anisotropic liquid absorption in three-dimensional nonwoven structures is influenced by the structural anisotropy of the structure. Engineering the structural features of nonwoven fabrics to predict and control the rate of liquid transport and distribution in different directions in three-dimensions is desirable in the design of nonwoven absorbent products used in hygiene, wound care and tissue engineering applications. In this paper, a model is presented for predicting the liquid absorption in three-dimensional nonwoven fabrics based on key structural parameters, such as fibre orientation distribution, fibre diameter and fabric porosity. The prediction of the liquid absorption in a nonwoven fabric is demonstrated based on its anisotropic structure.