**4.4 Filtration**

Owing to their fine, compact structure, microfiber textiles offer excellent filtration effects for both air and fluid filtration. Ultra-fine microfiber products such as 0.05 dtex PP microfiber nonwovens, in combination with a high electrical voltage, which will provide permanent

of comfort in wearing when used as surgical gowns and for application as surgical face

The biocompatibility of microfibers offers great potential and manifold possibilities of use in the medical field. Microfiber filter produced from melt blown polyester are sold to hospitals for use in blood transfusion and blood donation. Polyester microfibers are very compatible with human organs and have proved themselves in use of vascular prothesis (Rupp &

Polypropylene and bi-component microfibers can be very important components of fiberreinforced composites, as they function not only as a reinforcing element, but also as a binder fiber between the individual layers. Polypropylene and bi-component microfibers are used in many different composite products: Microfiber reinforced concrete (to reinforce and prevent cracks), insulation material (to avoid the use of chemical binders), multifunctional liquid transport media (acquisition and distribution layers), woven fabrics (as a dimensional stability network), and laminated products (lamination between textiles and boards)

Microfilaments demand extraordinarily high quality weaving warps (Rupp & Yonenaga, 2000). In the case of warping microfiber yarns versus warping conventional fiber yarns, it must be considered that the smaller amount of force is needed to break a microfiber filament during warping. In addition, the eyelets used in the tension device in the creel of warping machine must be made of a low friction material. The surfaces must be free of cuts and

Due to their fineness the total surface area of microfiber yarn is far greater than ordinary fibers (Anonymous, 2000). The surface of microfiber yarns is 10-15% larger than conventional fiber yarns. Due to the higher surface area of microfiber smoothed yarn absorbs approximately 10% more sizing agent and textured yarns approximately 15% more sizing agent than conventional yarn. By reducing the viscosity of the sizing agent distribution of the sizing agent may be improved. The squeezing pressure must be adapted to the speed to achieve regular sizing. As a result of the larger surface and the small mass of the individual filaments the microfiber can be heated faster as drying also occurs faster. So cooling must be effected in a few seconds. The drying temperature can be lowered by 10% in the case of microfilaments (Basu, 2001). Since microfibers have very small interstices, desizing become quite difficult and costly. Desizing must always be clean to prevent problems in dyeing. Knowledge of the type of size used is very important to optimize the desizing process. Pretreatment must be done either on tensionless open width washers or in the overflow or jet dyeing machine. Control of PH is important for optimum size removal

Many machine manufacturers recommend the use of air jet and rapier looms for microfilament woven fabric production. They also recommend the use of prewinding units and yarn brakes, which are suitable for processing filament yarns for weft insertion.

snags. Also, the reed blades must be absolutely free of any snags or bars (Basu, 2001).

masks (Mukhopadhyay & Ramakrishnan, 2008).

Yonenaga, 2000).

**4.7 Construction applications** 

(Purane & Panigrahi, 2007).

**5. Weaving of microfibers** 

(Anonymous, 2000; Rupp & Yonenaga, 2000).

polarization to the nonwoven, attract and absorb charged dust particles. Microfiber textiles can produce excellent filtration effects in the process of filtering solid or liquid materials. Microfiber liquid filters offer; high water passage speed, high extraction performance and ease of cleaning micro-particles from the filter (Rupp & Yonenaga, 2000). The extremely fine diameter of splittable synthetic microfibers makes them suitable for filter applications by increasing the filtration performance. The splittable microfibers are more suited as flexresistant materials. In pulsing applications where the filter medium is continuously flexed but also requires stiffness, splittable synthetic fibers add a high degree of reinforcement to the filter medium. Because there are at least 16 times the numbers of fibers available for reinforcement when they are split for segmented fibers (Mukhopadhyay & Ramakrishnan, 2008).

### **4.5 Microfibers for cleaning**

The microfiber fabric can be used for producing cleaning cloths. Most of the stick dirt is caused by dust accumulating on thin layers of fat which merely spreads and barely touched by conventional wiping cloths. This is because the fiber of these wiping cloths is normally 10 mm thick and is unable to capture 1 µm thick oil layers (Basu, 2001). Unlike ordinary cleaning fabrics that move or push dirt and dust from one place to another, the microfilaments can penetrate into the thin fatty layer of dirt and trap it within the micropockets among the filaments and then store the dirt particles in the fabric until it is washed. They are perfect for asthma and allergy sufferers, as they remove dust and dust mites without chemicals. They are also excellent at removing fingerprints from any surface. Grease, tar, splattered bugs come off with the cleaning cloth (Purane & Panigrahi, 2007). The cleaning properties of the microfibers are further enhanced because they have a cationic (positive) charge due to the presence of the polyamide in the microfibers. Most dirt and dust particles, bacteria, pollen, oxidation on metals, etc., have an anionic (negative) charge. Thus, the microfibers naturally attract negatively charged particles, bacteria, etc. (Mukhopadhyay & Ramakrishnan, 2008). The dirt trapped in the micropockets can be removed by washing. These wiping cloths are used for cleaning car mirrors, computers, jewels and noble metals, fingerprints from photos and films (Basu, 2001). Microfiber cleaning towels are used for cleaning floors, windows, furnishings and interior and exterior of cars.

#### **4.6 Medical applications**

When compared to commonly textiles to microfiber nonwovens, they are lower in cost, easier to use, more versatile, safer, and features of better disposability. With this in mind, it is no wonder that microfiber nonwovens are found in hospital surgical drapes and gowns, protective face masks, gloves, surgical packs, and bedding (Purane & Panigrahi, 2007). Fabrics from microfibers have excellent breathability and have been used for wound care. Polypropylene microfiber spunbonds have application in wound-care, where they are used as hydrophobic backings. At the same time, the air permeability and breathability of these nonwovens promote healing and their softness and flexibility allow excellent adaptation to the skin. In addition, polypropylene microfiber spunbonds have potential application in disposable surgical gowns and masks where spunlaced fabrics are widely used. The barrier properties of these spunbonds are more than 25% better than the spunlaced fabrics at about half their weight. Their softness, high permeability and breathability guarantee a high level

polarization to the nonwoven, attract and absorb charged dust particles. Microfiber textiles can produce excellent filtration effects in the process of filtering solid or liquid materials. Microfiber liquid filters offer; high water passage speed, high extraction performance and ease of cleaning micro-particles from the filter (Rupp & Yonenaga, 2000). The extremely fine diameter of splittable synthetic microfibers makes them suitable for filter applications by increasing the filtration performance. The splittable microfibers are more suited as flexresistant materials. In pulsing applications where the filter medium is continuously flexed but also requires stiffness, splittable synthetic fibers add a high degree of reinforcement to the filter medium. Because there are at least 16 times the numbers of fibers available for reinforcement when they are split for segmented fibers (Mukhopadhyay & Ramakrishnan,

The microfiber fabric can be used for producing cleaning cloths. Most of the stick dirt is caused by dust accumulating on thin layers of fat which merely spreads and barely touched by conventional wiping cloths. This is because the fiber of these wiping cloths is normally 10 mm thick and is unable to capture 1 µm thick oil layers (Basu, 2001). Unlike ordinary cleaning fabrics that move or push dirt and dust from one place to another, the microfilaments can penetrate into the thin fatty layer of dirt and trap it within the micropockets among the filaments and then store the dirt particles in the fabric until it is washed. They are perfect for asthma and allergy sufferers, as they remove dust and dust mites without chemicals. They are also excellent at removing fingerprints from any surface. Grease, tar, splattered bugs come off with the cleaning cloth (Purane & Panigrahi, 2007). The cleaning properties of the microfibers are further enhanced because they have a cationic (positive) charge due to the presence of the polyamide in the microfibers. Most dirt and dust particles, bacteria, pollen, oxidation on metals, etc., have an anionic (negative) charge. Thus, the microfibers naturally attract negatively charged particles, bacteria, etc. (Mukhopadhyay & Ramakrishnan, 2008). The dirt trapped in the micropockets can be removed by washing. These wiping cloths are used for cleaning car mirrors, computers, jewels and noble metals, fingerprints from photos and films (Basu, 2001). Microfiber cleaning towels are used for

When compared to commonly textiles to microfiber nonwovens, they are lower in cost, easier to use, more versatile, safer, and features of better disposability. With this in mind, it is no wonder that microfiber nonwovens are found in hospital surgical drapes and gowns, protective face masks, gloves, surgical packs, and bedding (Purane & Panigrahi, 2007). Fabrics from microfibers have excellent breathability and have been used for wound care. Polypropylene microfiber spunbonds have application in wound-care, where they are used as hydrophobic backings. At the same time, the air permeability and breathability of these nonwovens promote healing and their softness and flexibility allow excellent adaptation to the skin. In addition, polypropylene microfiber spunbonds have potential application in disposable surgical gowns and masks where spunlaced fabrics are widely used. The barrier properties of these spunbonds are more than 25% better than the spunlaced fabrics at about half their weight. Their softness, high permeability and breathability guarantee a high level

cleaning floors, windows, furnishings and interior and exterior of cars.

2008).

**4.5 Microfibers for cleaning** 

**4.6 Medical applications** 

of comfort in wearing when used as surgical gowns and for application as surgical face masks (Mukhopadhyay & Ramakrishnan, 2008).

The biocompatibility of microfibers offers great potential and manifold possibilities of use in the medical field. Microfiber filter produced from melt blown polyester are sold to hospitals for use in blood transfusion and blood donation. Polyester microfibers are very compatible with human organs and have proved themselves in use of vascular prothesis (Rupp & Yonenaga, 2000).
