Can nonwoven fabric be degraded?

Whether nonwoven fabric can degrade depends on whether the raw materials used to produce nonwoven fabric are degradable.

According to the type of raw material, common nonwoven fabrics include PP (polypropylene), PET (polyester), and a blend of cotton and polyester. These are all non-biodegradable materials and are not resistant to aging. The aging mentioned here is actually a phenomenon of degradation. In normal nature, wind, sun, and rain will cause degradation. For example, I have tried PP nonwoven fabrics in the central region, and they are basically ruined after one year and broken down after half a year. However, if they are placed indoors, they can last for many years, especially when buried in soil. Scientists estimate that it will take about 300 years for them to completely degrade.

Is there biodegradable nonwoven fabric? The answer is yes. Nonwoven fabrics made of biodegradable materials can naturally degrade, such as PLA (polylactic acid), PBAT (polybutylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate), PHA (polyhydroxy fatty acid ester), etc. Whether they are bio-based biodegradable materials or petrochemical-based biodegradable material, if they are produced into nonwoven fabrics, biodegradable or compostable degradation can be achieved.

If the product produced is biodegradable and compostable, it must meet the evaluation of biodegradability in EN 13432, which means that in anaerobic biodegradation test, after the test material and the reference material have reached a stable state, the biodegradation rate of the test material should be at least 90%, or at least 90% of the biodegradation rate in the reference material. This cycle should not exceed 6 months. In addition, the final compost quality should also meet the soil standard. China's national standard GB/T 16716.7 and GB/T 28206 also have similar requirements.

The remaining problem is the technical difficulty of producing nonwoven fabrics from these materials. In fact, because these materials have a relatively large difference in mechanical properties compared to the original PP-based production of nonwoven fabrics, a single raw material cannot meet the performance requirements, so it is necessary to modify the pure raw material and add appropriate components. These components can also continue to be biodegradable components. At present, some achievements have been made, such as the production of PLA nonwoven fabrics, which can be used in masks, protective clothing, and diapers.

With the implementation of the policy, it is not realistic to completely ban the use of plastic, which embodies the country's and even the world's concern for the environment. There are two ways to achieve this, one is to reduce the use of plastic and increase recycling and reuse, which can be achieved in many long-term used plastic products, such as car bumpers, household plastic products, which are currently being done, but may not be done well enough, or even expand the scope of recycling, or learn more advanced recycling experience. The other is to increase the use of degradable materials for disposable products, that is, products that are not convenient for recycling, such as plastic bags, disposable straws, disposable masks, diapers, etc.

The promotion of new products and new technologies is not an overnight success, and it requires the joint efforts of industry professionals to achieve the final success.