Also known as non-woven fabric, nonwoven fabrics are produced by bonding fibers of different lengths together through heat without knitting or weaving. Thanks to their natural, thin, and breathable structures, nonwoven fabrics are highly preferred in the textile industry. Additionally, these fabrics are resistant to tearing and heat, have water-repellent properties, are lint-free, and absorbent. Thanks to their antibacterial properties, they are considered natural products and prevent the formation of allergenic or microbial substances in the fabric. Nonwoven fabric is particularly used in the textile, medical, furniture, and footwear industries. These non-woven fabrics are mostly used as inner reinforcement or interface in textile products. Nonwoven fabrics have also carved out their own space in the cloth bag industry and have become very important.
The word nonwoven is derived from the English words "non" (not, without) and "woven" (woven). In its literal meaning, it translates to "non-woven surfaces." For many years, it has been used in various regions of the world as felt, quilts, clothing, and tents. These surfaces, obtained by felting wool fiber through various methods, are the first examples of nonwoven textiles in the world. In the 19th century, using a needling method developed to utilize yarn waste, these leftover fibers were interlocked with each other to produce various nonwoven surfaces.
