BIODETERIORATION OF NONWOVEN FABRICS

The use of nonwoven fabrics in disposable, convenience products genera tes high quantities of wastes that are not biodegradable. Synthetic fi bers provide a major source of materials for these disposable products . Because synthetics are generally less biodegradable than natural fib ers, it appears that for maximum degradability, natural fibers are a l ikely choice of materials for disposable goods. To compare rates of bi odeterioration for natural and synthetic fibers, we examined changes i n the structure and strength of nonwoven fabrics containing cotton and polypropylene, a synthetic fiber widely used in nonwovens, after cont rolled exposure of fabrics to fungi normally found in soil. Fungi grew extensively only on cotton fibers. Fungal growth rates were highest o n 100% cotton and decreased to zero on 100% polypropylene. Significant losses in strength occurred only in samples with a high cotton conten t. Progression of cotton fiber deterioration was followed using the mi croscope until only polypropylene fibers remained in the fabrics.