Fabrication and finishing of nonwoven blankets from recycled fibers

Waste fiber and fibers that require no chemical processing were used to pro duce a low-cost, semi-aurable, nonwoven thermal blanket. Materials used wer e 70% reprocessed polyester and 30% greige cotton. Fabrics were given a car boxylic acid finish to improve structural stability during use and launderi ng. These finished blankets were stable through at lead five laundry cycles . The finish greatly reduced surface matting of loose fibers. An antibacter ial finish was tested for specific use needs. Physical and thermal properti es of the blankets were compared with four commercially available nonwoven blankets. The blanket material produced was lightweight had a good hand, an d exhibited excellent thermal and comfort qualities. Overall these "environ mentally improved" fabrics can provide the textile industry with an economi cally viable product.