What is a non-woven?
As far as the embroidery world is concerned, non-woven stabilizers are manufactured by two different processes-saturate/chemical bonded non-wovens and wet laid non-wovens.
In the first process, saturate or chemically bonded non-woven, the contents are polyester, rayon and some kind of chemical binder (something that hold the fibers together.) It is a dry sludge (a mixture of solid material and water) as it comes off the machine and the fibers are dispersed in 2 methods.
Method 1-Carded or Directional saturate
The fibers are raked or aligned in the machine direction (MD) There is a giant card or rake that combs the fibers in one direction,so there is a definite direction to the fibers.
Carded Saturate Also called chemical bond - the fibers are raked or combed (carded) in one direction (m.d.) The fibers are then impregnated with a binder. It stretches in one direction & tears in one direction. You will need 2 pieces cross wise to achieve proper tension for embroidery.
Please note that these goods do stretch in one direction (CD) cross directionally. Therefore every time you use a carded or directional saturate you will need 2 layers laid crosswise in order to achieve a drum skin type tension. Most of these goods are made for interlinings and for other end uses besides embroidery. This type of non woven addresses the drapability factor but NOT the stability factor.
Method 2- Random Saturate
The second method of dispersal of this saturated sludge is by a random method therefore called a random saturate.
As an easy analogy to understand the method of fiber dispersal lets assume that the sludge is in a giant vat, similar in texture to cookie dough a giant spoon comes along and mixes the fibers and the fibers are dispersed randomly.
Random Saturate
Also Called Chemical Bond - The same solution as with Carded Saturates - Only dispersed randomly. Note the uneven quality, holes in saturate (thick and thin spots) Please note the thick and thin spots! What happens when you hit a thin spot while embroidering? The answer is that you lose tension and registration in this area
Random saturates are made for many industries, roofing, road building, house wrapping, etc. In most cases they are NOT made for embroidery. You will see many saturates in the market, Many of them are inexpensive nonwovens made in Mexico. Some of these are great products, for roofing or road building, but for embroidery there are better choices. The second process is Wet Laid Nonwovens. Wet laid refers to the method of fiber dispersal – using water.
In the first process, saturate or chemically bonded non-woven, the contents are polyester, rayon and some kind of chemical binder (something that hold the fibers together.) It is a dry sludge (a mixture of solid material and water) as it comes off the machine and the fibers are dispersed in 2 methods.
Method 1-Carded or Directional saturate
The fibers are raked or aligned in the machine direction (MD) There is a giant card or rake that combs the fibers in one direction,so there is a definite direction to the fibers.
Carded Saturate Also called chemical bond - the fibers are raked or combed (carded) in one direction (m.d.) The fibers are then impregnated with a binder. It stretches in one direction & tears in one direction. You will need 2 pieces cross wise to achieve proper tension for embroidery.
Please note that these goods do stretch in one direction (CD) cross directionally. Therefore every time you use a carded or directional saturate you will need 2 layers laid crosswise in order to achieve a drum skin type tension. Most of these goods are made for interlinings and for other end uses besides embroidery. This type of non woven addresses the drapability factor but NOT the stability factor.
Method 2- Random Saturate
The second method of dispersal of this saturated sludge is by a random method therefore called a random saturate.
As an easy analogy to understand the method of fiber dispersal lets assume that the sludge is in a giant vat, similar in texture to cookie dough a giant spoon comes along and mixes the fibers and the fibers are dispersed randomly.
Random Saturate
Also Called Chemical Bond - The same solution as with Carded Saturates - Only dispersed randomly. Note the uneven quality, holes in saturate (thick and thin spots) Please note the thick and thin spots! What happens when you hit a thin spot while embroidering? The answer is that you lose tension and registration in this area
Random saturates are made for many industries, roofing, road building, house wrapping, etc. In most cases they are NOT made for embroidery. You will see many saturates in the market, Many of them are inexpensive nonwovens made in Mexico. Some of these are great products, for roofing or road building, but for embroidery there are better choices. The second process is Wet Laid Nonwovens. Wet laid refers to the method of fiber dispersal – using water.
