ABSTRACT

Friction is an important property of both conventional and unconventional textile materials that governs the quality and the performance of products. Nonwovens are flat fibrous structures or webs or sheets that are made by bonding and entangling fibers by mechanical, thermal or chemical means. Nonwovens, due to their unique properties have replaced several conventional fabrics and are also finding high-tech and novel applications. Theses products have diversified use from household items to industrial and military products [1]. In particular, in the case of nonwoven materials, friction plays an important role due to the nature of applications nonwovens are put to use. Although friction is important, in the case of textile materials it is one among the least understood of all mechanical properties.

In this paper the sliding friction method has been used to evaluate the frictional characteristics of cotton based nonwoven fabrics. The method uses the well-established sliding friction apparatus and a newly derived simple friction parameter "R," to compare and characterize the frictional characteristics of different cotton based nonwoven fabrics.