Selection and Testing of Nonwoven Materials and
Application-Appropriate Adhesives
Nonwovens are used in medical applications for surgical gowns and masks, wound care dressings, and surgical drapes and consist of natural cotton or artificial materials such as polyester, polypropylene, polyimide, rayon, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Nonwovens can be sterilized, treated with antimicrobial agents, soft and stretchable, and repel or absorb liquids, including wound exudate.
Most nonwovens are used outside the body as disposable, single-use products. They are typically manufactured, sterilized, packaged, opened, used once, and then disposed of for less contamination risk. Most nonwovens used in medical applications are spunlaced, spunlaced and meltblown, or spunbond. They are suitable for many protective applications and prevent water, blood, or bacteria from seeping through the fabric. Chemical performance enhancement can improve properties for moisture transport, flame retardancy, and abrasion resistance.
EIS works with engineers designing nonwoven applications to select and test the nonwoven material, select and test an appropriate adhesive, and ensure that the design meets manufacturability requirements. We can also ultrasonically weld nonwovens.
EIS offers slitting, laminating, precision die-cutting, and packaging of the finished product. With two FDA-registered Class 10,000 (ISO 7) clean rooms and ISO 13485 certification, EIS meets industry and regulatory standards.
We can produce:
- Antimicrobial dressings
- Hydrocolloid dressings
- Hydrogel sheet dressings
- IV conformable film dressings
- Multi-layer island dressings
- MVTR dressings
- Suture and wound closure strips
- Post-surgery orthopedic wound care dressings