Spunlace vs Spunbond Non Woven Fabric: Process, Strength & Uses Compared (2026)

Looking to choose between spunlace and spunbond non woven fabric? This guide compares both fabrics across every key factor — manufacturing process, tensile strength, softness, absorbency, cost per kg and best applications — so you can make the right decision for wipes, medical, hygiene or industrial use.

Spunlace vs Spunbond: Quick Comparison Table

Factor	Spunlace	Spunbond	Winner
Manufacturing Process	Hydroentanglement (high-pressure water jets)	Thermal bonding (heated rollers + continuous filaments)	—
Raw Material	Viscose, polyester, PET-viscose blend	Polypropylene (PP), polyester	—
Softness	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very soft, skin-safe	⭐⭐ Stiffer feel	✅ Spunlace
Tensile Strength	⭐⭐⭐ Isotropic (equal in all directions)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very high tensile strength	✅ Spunbond
Absorbency	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent (up to 6× its weight)	⭐⭐ Low absorbency	✅ Spunlace
Breathability	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good with barrier properties	✅ Spunlace
Cost per kg	Higher (₹180–₹320/kg depending on GSM)	Lower (₹80–₹160/kg)	✅ Spunbond
GSM Range	20–120 GSM	10–200 GSM	—
Biodegradable Option	Yes (viscose, lyocell fibers)	Limited (PP is not biodegradable)	✅ Spunlace
Best For	Wipes, medical, hygiene, cosmetics	Bags, geotextiles, agriculture, packaging	Depends on use

What is Spunlace Fabric?

Spunlace fabric — also called hydroentangled nonwoven — is made by entangling fibers using high-pressure water jets. No chemical binders or heat are used. The result is a soft, flexible, and highly absorbent fabric that feels close to woven textile. It is the material of choice for wet wipes, baby wipes, medical gauze, cosmetic pads and hygiene products.

Spunlace Manufacturing Process

1. Fiber Preparation: Viscose, polyester or blended fibers are opened and formed into a web.
2. Hydroentanglement: High-pressure water jets (up to 200 bar) entangle the fibers mechanically — no adhesives or chemicals.
3. Drying and Finishing: The fabric is dried on a through-air drum and may be embossed, apertured or laminated for specific end uses.

Key Properties of Spunlace Fabric

• Softness: No binders means a genuinely soft, skin-friendly hand feel
• High Absorbency: Viscose spunlace absorbs up to 6× its own weight in liquid
• Isotropic Strength: Equal tensile strength in machine direction and cross direction
• Breathability: Open fiber structure allows excellent air and moisture passage
• Biodegradable Options: 100% viscose and lyocell spunlace are fully biodegradable

Best Applications for Spunlace

• Wet Wipes & Baby Wipes: 40–60 GSM viscose spunlace is the industry standard
• Medical Supplies: Wound dressings, surgical swabs, sterile gauze
• Feminine Hygiene: Top sheet for pads and panty liners
• Cosmetic Pads: Cotton-feel viscose spunlace for facial wipes
• Industrial Wipes: 60–80 GSM polyester spunlace for heavy-duty cleaning

What is Spunbond Fabric?

Spunbond fabric is a nonwoven made by extruding continuous thermoplastic filaments (usually polypropylene) and thermally bonding them with heated rollers. The result is a strong, lightweight and cost-effective fabric with excellent dimensional stability. Spunbond is the dominant material for non-woven bags, crop covers, geotextiles and disposable protective wear.

Spunbond Manufacturing Process

1. Polymer Extrusion: Polypropylene pellets are melted and extruded through spinnerets to form continuous filaments.
2. Web Formation: Filaments are laid randomly onto a moving belt to form a uniform web.
3. Thermal Bonding: The web passes through heated calender rollers that fuse the filament crossover points.
4. Cooling and Winding: The bonded fabric is cooled, slit to width and wound into rolls.

Key Properties of Spunbond Fabric

• High Tensile Strength: Continuous filaments + thermal bonding gives excellent tear resistance
• Dimensional Stability: Holds shape under mechanical stress and outdoor conditions
• Lightweight: Available from 10 GSM — very low weight for its strength
• Barrier Properties: Blocks liquids and fine particulates effectively
• Cost-Effective: PP spunbond is one of the cheapest nonwovens to produce

Best Applications for Spunbond

• Non-Woven Bags: 60–80 GSM PP spunbond is the standard for reusable bags
• Agriculture: Crop covers, mulch mats, root protection
• Geotextiles: Soil stabilization, road construction, drainage layers
• Medical PPE: Disposable gowns, shoe covers, caps
• Packaging: Furniture wrap, mattress covers, gift wrap fabric

Spunlace vs Spunbond: Which Should You Choose?

The right fabric depends entirely on your end application. Here is a simple decision guide:

If you need…	Choose	Reason
Fabric for wet wipes or baby wipes	✅ Spunlace	High absorbency + skin-safe softness
Fabric for non-woven bags	✅ Spunbond	High strength + low cost per kg
Medical wound dressings or gauze	✅ Spunlace	Soft on wounds + absorbent + sterile options
Disposable protective gowns	✅ Spunbond	Barrier properties + lightweight + low cost
Cosmetic pads or facial wipes	✅ Spunlace	Cotton-like feel + gentle on skin
Agriculture crop covers	✅ Spunbond	UV resistance + durability outdoors
Industrial cleaning wipes	✅ Spunlace	Absorbency + strength + lint-free
Geotextiles or construction	✅ Spunbond	Maximum tensile strength + dimensional stability

Advantages and Disadvantages

Spunlace Fabric — Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Softness and Comfort: Ideal for products in contact with skin
• High Absorbency: Up to 6× its weight — excellent for wipes and hygiene
• No Chemical Binders: Safer for sensitive skin and medical use
• Biodegradable Options: 100% viscose spunlace is fully biodegradable
• Customizable: Available in plain, embossed, apertured, and crosslap variants

Cons:

• Higher Cost: Hydroentanglement is more expensive than thermal bonding
• Water-Intensive: Production uses significant water volumes
• Lower Tensile Strength: Not suitable for load-bearing or structural applications

Spunbond Fabric — Pros and Cons

Pros:

• High Strength and Durability: Suitable for demanding industrial applications
• Cost-Effective: Lower production cost — good for high-volume applications
• Lightweight: High strength-to-weight ratio
• Barrier Properties: Blocks liquids and particulates effectively

Cons:

• Low Absorbency: Not suitable for wipes or medical absorbent products
• Less Soft: Stiffer feel — not ideal for skin-contact applications
• Not Biodegradable: Standard PP spunbond does not break down naturally

Conclusion

Spunlace and spunbond are both excellent nonwoven fabrics — but for very different applications. Choose spunlace when your product needs softness, absorbency and skin safety — wipes, medical, hygiene and cosmetics. Choose spunbond when you need strength, barrier properties and low cost — bags, agriculture, construction and PPE.

At Favourite Fab, we manufacture premium spunlace nonwoven fabric in viscose, polyester and PET-viscose blends from 20–120 GSM. We supply to wipes manufacturers, medical companies and hygiene brands across India and globally. Learn more about spunlace fabric or check the HS code and pricing for spunlace.

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us

Need help choosing between spunlace and spunbond for your specific application? Our team at Favourite Fab can recommend the right fabric type, GSM and fiber blend for your product.

Email: sale@favouritehub.com | WhatsApp: 9528811566

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• What is Spunlace Fabric? A Comprehensive Guide to Its Properties & Uses
• Spunlace Nonwoven Fabrics: Types, GSM & Applications
• Top 10 Spunlace Uses in Various Industries
• Spunlace Non Woven Fabric HS Code: Import Guide & GST Rate
• Spunlace Fabric Manufacturers in India: Leading Suppliers

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