Nonwoven in daily life ----- medical and healthcare

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, medical applications of nonwovens have seen a spike in their usage. The medical nonwovens market has been instrumental in controlling the pandemic, from the necessary facemasks to protective apparel required by increasing hospital utilization rates.
According to the forecast of “ Smithers”, Covid-19 will have a long-term effect on medical nonwoven production and sales.
Nonwovens are extensively used in the medical field and in protection against biological agents in other sectors. They deliver critical safety properties, such as prevention against infections and diseases. With today’s multi-drug resistant strains of bacteria and virus, nonwovens can help in the fight against cross-contamination and the spread of infection in a medical or surgical environment. Because they are used only once and incinerated after use, the need for handling is avoided and the spread of contaminants is minimized.

The different uses of Nonwovens in medical and healthcare are:

Surgical: single-use caps, gowns, face masks, scrub suits shoe covers, head covers

Drapes, wraps, and packs

Sponges, dressings, and wipes

Bed linen

Contamination control gowns

Examination gowns

Lab coats

Tissue scaffolding

Isolation gowns

Trans-dermal drug delivery

Shrouds

Underpads

Procedure packs

Ostomy bag liners

Fixation tapes

Incubator mattress

Sterilization wraps (CSR wrap)

Wound care

Cold/heat packs

Drug delivery (patches etc.)

The advantages of using nonwovens in medical and healthcare:

Protection against

dry or wet contact

air-borne particles

Fully compliant with EU standard EN 13795

Single-use = 100% certainty

Custom-made for the operating theatre

procedure-specific design

optimum wearer comfort

strong yet light in weight

optimal fluid absorbency

exchange of air, body heat, and moisture

Excellent barrier properties

Excellent uniformity

Breathability

Abrasion resistance and lint-free

Repellent

Self-adherent edges

Aseptic folding

Engineered stability for ETO, plasma, radiation, or steam sterilization


Nowadays nonwovens innovations including new technology and new material is developing. It makes nonwovens more and more important in medic and healthcare.