Why ES Hot-Rolled Nonwoven Fabric Is So Popular & Its Critical Role in the Medical Industry

ES hot-rolled nonwoven fabric has emerged as a star material in the nonwoven industry, thanks to its unique manufacturing process, superior performance, and versatile applications. It is especially irreplaceable in the medical field, where safety, comfort, and functionality are paramount. This article explains the core reasons for its popularity and details its key roles in medical applications.

I. Core Reasons for the Popularity of ES Hot-Rolled Nonwoven Fabric

1. Breakthrough Production Process: Efficient, Cost-Effective & Eco-Friendly

• Short process flow & high efficiency: It skips complex textile procedures, enabling fast production speed and large output, which reduces manufacturing costs significantly.

• Abundant raw materials: ES fibers (ethylene-propylene side-by-side bicomponent fibers) are derived from petroleum-based polymers, with stable supply and customizable formulas.

• Better environmental performance: Compared to plastic products, ES hot-rolled nonwoven fabric has a lower carbon footprint during production. While its natural degradation rate is slower than that of fully biodegradable materials, it is more eco-friendly than single-use plastic bags and can be recycled for secondary processing.

2. Superior Performance: Softness, Breathability & Versatility

• Ultra-soft & skin-friendly: The bicomponent structure of ES fibers creates a naturally crimped texture after hot rolling, giving the fabric a cotton-like softness that avoids irritation even with long-term skin contact.

• Excellent breathability: The hot-rolled bonding process forms a porous, interconnected structure that allows air circulation while blocking dust and particles—balancing comfort and basic barrier properties.

• Lightweight & flat: It has a uniform thickness and smooth surface, with no loose threads or wrinkles, making it suitable for high-precision composite processing (e.g., combining with meltblown fabric for masks).

• Cost-effective: Compared to high-end nonwovens like spunlace fabric, ES hot-rolled nonwoven fabric offers comparable softness at a lower price, making it a cost-efficient choice for mass production.

3. Wide Application Range: From Daily Life to Industrial Fields

• Daily necessities: Shopping bags, wet wipe substrates, tablecloths, and disposable clothing linings.

• Hygiene products: Baby diaper top sheets, sanitary napkin surface layers, and adult incontinence product linings.

• Industrial applications: Filter material substrates, shock absorption padding, and sound insulation materials.

• Medical field: The most critical application scenario, where it is used to make high-performance medical supplies such as masks, surgical gowns, and sterile packaging.

II. Critical Role of ES Hot-Rolled Nonwoven Fabric in the Medical Industry

1. Core Component of High-Comfort Medical Masks

Key Functions in Mask Structure

Performance Complementarity with Other Mask Materials

• vs. Meltblown Fabric: Meltblown fabric is the "heart" of the mask, responsible for electrostatic adsorption of bacteria and particles. ES hot-rolled fabric lacks strong electrostatic properties but improves comfort—resolving the problem of ordinary meltblown-spunbond composite masks being stiff and stuffy.

• vs. Spunbond Fabric: Spunbond fabric has high strength and good barrier properties but is relatively stiff. ES hot-rolled fabric is softer and more breathable, making it the preferred choice for the mask’s inner skin-contacting layer.

2. Applications in Other Medical Supplies

• Surgical Gowns & Isolation Gowns: Used as the inner lining to improve wearing comfort for medical staff, while the outer layer uses high-strength spunbond fabric for liquid resistance.

• Sterile Packaging Materials: Medical-grade ES hot-rolled fabric can be processed into sterile packaging for surgical instruments and dressings, as it is lint-free and does not shed fibers that could contaminate sterile environments.

• Medical Dressings & Bandages: As a wound contact layer for minor dressings, it provides a soft, breathable surface that promotes wound healing without sticking to the skin.

• Disposable Medical Bed Linens: Used for hospital bed sheets, pillowcases, and mattress covers—offering single-use hygiene, softness, and water repellency (after hydrophobic treatment).

3. Compliance with Medical-Grade Standards

• Antibacterial & lint-free properties: It can be added with antibacterial masterbatches during production to inhibit the growth of bacteria, and its hot-rolled bonding process prevents fiber shedding—critical for sterile medical environments.

• Low VOC emission: It complies with medical device regulations (e.g., FDA standards in the U.S.) and does not release harmful substances that could affect patients or medical staff.

• Biocompatibility: It passes skin irritation tests, ensuring no allergic reactions even for users with sensitive skin.

III. Conclusion