Spunlace nonwoven fabric has 10 measurable properties that make it the standard material for wipes, hygiene and medical applications: softness, absorbency, tensile strength, wet strength, lint level, GSM range, biodegradability, temperature resistance, breathability and customisability. In addition, each of these properties changes depending on the fibre blend selected. Therefore, this guide covers all 10 properties with specific data, compares them across fibre types, and explains which property matters most for each application.
Spunlace Nonwoven Properties — Full Data Table
| # | Property | Measured Value | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Softness (Handle) | Comparable to 100% cotton — no binders or chemicals used | Skin-safe for baby wipes, cosmetic pads, medical use |
| 2 | Absorbency | 100% viscose: absorbs up to 6× its own weight 50/50 blend: 3–4× its weight | Rapid liquid pickup for wipes and hygiene products |
| 3 | Tensile Strength (dry) | 40 GSM: ~18–22 N/5cm (MD) / ~8–12 N/5cm (CD) 60 GSM: ~28–34 N/5cm (MD) | Withstands pulling and wiping without tearing |
| 4 | Tensile Strength (wet) | Retains 65–80% of dry tensile strength when saturated | Critical for wet wipes — must not disintegrate in use |
| 5 | Lint Level | Very low — below 0.1 mg/cm² (EDANA standard) | Essential for medical, cleanroom and optical wipes |
| 6 | GSM Range | 20 GSM (ultra-light) to 120 GSM (heavy industrial) | One fabric type covers all weight requirements |
| 7 | Biodegradability | 100% viscose: fully biodegrades in 6–8 weeks in soil 50/50 blend: partially biodegradable | Eco compliance, OEKO-TEX and GRS certification eligible |
| 8 | Temperature Resistance | Viscose: stable up to 120°C Polyester: stable up to 150°C | Survives sterilisation, autoclave and hot-press processes |
| 9 | Breathability / Air Permeability | 150–400 mm/s at 200 Pa (ASTM D737) — highly breathable | Comfort in medical gowns, hygiene and skin-contact use |
| 10 | Chemical Resistance | Polyester spunlace: resistant to most solvents and oils Viscose: absorbs but does not degrade in mild solutions | Suitable for alcohol wipes, disinfectant wipes, industrial use |
What is Spunlace Nonwoven Fabric?
Spunlace nonwoven fabric — also called hydroentangled nonwoven — is made by bonding loose fibres together using high-pressure water jets instead of heat, adhesives or chemical binders. As a result, the water jets force fibres to mechanically entangle with each other, creating a strong, soft fabric with no foreign substances added. This is why spunlace is safe for skin contact, biodegradable (in viscose form) and lint-free.
How the Hydroentanglement Process Works
The manufacturing process begins with loose fibres — typically viscose, polyester, cotton or wood pulp — laid into a web. Next, high-pressure water jets at 30–150 bar strike the web from multiple angles, forcing fibres to entangle mechanically. Finally, the wet fabric passes through a drying drum to remove moisture. Because no binders are added at any stage, the finished fabric retains the natural surface properties of the fibres. The main fibre types used are viscose (rayon), polyester, cotton and wood pulp — each giving the fabric a different property profile. For a full explanation of types and blends, see our guide on spunlace nonwoven fabric types.
Property 1 — Softness
Spunlace fabric is the softest nonwoven fabric type. Because no chemical binders, heat bonding or adhesives are used, the fibre surface remains uncoated and natural. As a result, 100% viscose spunlace has a hand feel rated equivalent to cotton muslin — gentle enough for newborn skin and post-surgical wound dressings.
However, softness decreases as polyester content increases. 50/50 viscose-polyester is slightly firmer but still significantly softer than spunbond or meltblown nonwovens. Cotton spunlace is the softest of all types but costs more per kg. Therefore, for most baby wipe and cosmetic applications, 100% viscose or 70/30 viscose-polyester provides optimal softness at practical cost.
Property 2 — Absorbency
Absorbency is the most commercially important property of spunlace fabric. Specifically, the hydroentanglement process creates a three-dimensional fibre network with large void spaces that draw liquid in rapidly through capillary action. As a result, viscose-based spunlace outperforms most other nonwoven types in both absorption speed and total capacity.
| Fibre Type | Absorbency (× own weight) | Absorption Speed | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% Viscose | Up to 6× | Fast — <2 seconds to saturation | Baby wipes, medical gauze, cosmetic pads |
| 70/30 Viscose-PET | 4–5× | Fast | Wet wipes, hygiene products |
| 50/50 Viscose-PET | 3–4× | Medium | General wipes, salon towels |
| Wood Pulp-Viscose | Up to 7× | Fast — high bulk capacity | Medical, high-absorbency hygiene |
| 100% Polyester | 1–1.5× | Slow | Chemical / oil wipes (absorption not priority) |
Property 3 — Tensile Strength
Despite its soft feel, spunlace fabric is mechanically strong. In particular, the hydroentanglement process creates a dense mechanical fibre bond that resists tearing in both the machine direction (MD) and cross direction (CD). Furthermore, tensile strength scales directly with GSM — therefore, heavier fabric is proportionally stronger.
| GSM | Tensile Strength MD (dry) | Tensile Strength CD (dry) | Wet Strength Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 GSM | 10–14 N/5cm | 5–8 N/5cm | 65–70% |
| 40 GSM Standard wipes | 18–22 N/5cm | 8–12 N/5cm | 70–75% |
| 50 GSM | 22–28 N/5cm | 11–16 N/5cm | 72–78% |
| 60 GSM Salon / industrial | 28–34 N/5cm | 14–19 N/5cm | 75–80% |
| 80 GSM | 38–46 N/5cm | 18–24 N/5cm | 75–82% |
Property 4 — Low Lint
Spunlace fabric produces very low lint — below 0.1 mg/cm² when tested to EDANA standard ERT 50.3. In contrast, cotton gauze measures 0.5–1.2 mg/cm², making spunlace 5–10× lower in lint generation. As a result, spunlace is comparable to medical-grade cleanroom wipes. Low lint is therefore critical for:
- Medical wipes — lint particles in wounds or on instruments are a contamination risk
- Optical and electronics cleaning — lint leaves residue on lenses and screens
- Cleanroom and laboratory use — particle counts must meet ISO class standards
- Cosmetic pads — fibres on facial skin cause irritation
Lint by Fibre Type
100% polyester spunlace has the lowest lint of all types due to the synthetic fibre’s smooth, uniform surface. However, 100% viscose has slightly higher lint because of the natural fibre structure. Even so, viscose spunlace remains well within acceptable limits for medical and personal care use.
Property 5 — Biodegradability
Biodegradability is increasingly a purchasing decision factor for wipes buyers in the EU, USA and premium India segments. However, not all spunlace types biodegrade equally — in fact, biodegradability depends entirely on the fibre composition:
| Fibre Type | Biodegradable? | Degradation Time (soil) | Certification Eligible |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% Viscose | ✅ Yes — fully | 6–8 weeks | OEKO-TEX, GRS, OK Biobased |
| Wood Pulp-Viscose | ✅ Yes — fully | 4–8 weeks | OEKO-TEX, GRS |
| 100% Cotton | ✅ Yes — fully | 5–12 weeks | OEKO-TEX, GOTS |
| 50/50 Viscose-PET | ⚠️ Partial | Viscose fraction only | Partial — viscose content eligible |
| 100% Polyester | ❌ No | Does not biodegrade | Not eligible |
Property 6 — Temperature Resistance
Spunlace fabric maintains dimensional stability across a wide temperature range. As a result, it is compatible with sterilisation, hot-press lamination and packaging processes used in medical and industrial manufacturing.
Temperature Limits by Fibre Type
- Viscose spunlace: Stable up to 120°C. However, above 130°C, fibres begin to yellow and weaken. Therefore, it is not suitable for autoclave sterilisation unless blended with polyester.
- Polyester spunlace: Stable up to 150°C. Consequently, it is suitable for hot lamination and some gamma sterilisation processes.
- 50/50 blend: Stable up to 130–140°C — the polyester content improves heat tolerance over pure viscose.
Key Benefits of Spunlace Nonwoven Fabric
In addition to its technical properties, spunlace offers several practical commercial benefits over alternative materials like cotton gauze and spunbond. The table below compares the most important benefits directly:
| Benefit | Specific Advantage | vs. Cotton Gauze | vs. Spunbond |
|---|---|---|---|
| No chemical binders | Safe for skin contact — no irritation risk from adhesive residue | Similar — cotton also binder-free | Spunbond uses heat bonding — stiffer |
| High absorbency | Absorbs 3–6× own weight — faster than cotton gauze | Spunlace absorbs 2× faster | Spunbond is not absorbent |
| Consistent GSM | ±3 GSM tolerance across full roll width — uniform performance | Cotton gauze varies ±8–12 GSM | Similar consistency |
| Low cost per unit | From ₹150/kg — cheaper than cotton gauze at equivalent GSM | Spunlace 30–40% cheaper per kg | Spunbond cheaper but not absorbent |
| Customisable blends | 10/90 to 100/0 viscose-PET ratio available to order | Cotton is fixed composition | PP only — no blend options |
| Recyclable and biodegradable | Viscose types fully biodegrade in 6–8 weeks | Cotton biodegrades in 5–12 weeks | PP spunbond does not biodegrade |
Spunlace Properties by Application
Since different applications prioritise different properties, the table below helps you select the right spunlace type and GSM for your specific product:
| Application | Most Important Property | Recommended Type | Recommended GSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby wipes | Softness + absorbency + low lint | 100% viscose or 70/30 viscose-PET | 40–50 GSM |
| Cosmetic / makeup remover pads | Softness + low lint | 100% viscose | 40–60 GSM |
| Medical gauze / wound dressing | Absorbency + sterility + low lint | 100% viscose | 40–60 GSM |
| Wet wipes (general) | Wet strength + absorbency + cost | 50/50 viscose-PET | 40–60 GSM |
| Feminine hygiene top sheet | Softness + breathability | 70/30 viscose-PET (apertured) | 25–40 GSM |
| Salon towels | Absorbency + durability + wash resistance | 50/50 viscose-PET | 60–80 GSM |
| Industrial / chemical wipes | Chemical resistance + strength | 100% polyester | 60–80 GSM |
| Alcohol / disinfectant wipes | Chemical resistance + absorbency | 100% polyester or 30/70 blend | 40–60 GSM |
| Eco / biodegradable wipes | Biodegradability + softness | 100% viscose or wood pulp-viscose | 40–60 GSM |
About Favourite Fab
Favourite Fab manufactures spunlace nonwoven fabric in Agra, India — supplying 13,000+ customers across India in all blend types from 30 to 120 GSM. Furthermore, all fabric is manufactured in a sanitised environment with zero stock-lot material. Samples are therefore available on request at no charge.
Explore related guides: Spunlace nonwoven fabric types · Spunlace vs spunbond comparison · Spunlace HS code and GST rate · Wet wipes raw material guide
Email: sale@favouritehub.com | WhatsApp / Call: +91 8800775462
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key properties of spunlace nonwoven fabric?
The 10 key properties of spunlace nonwoven fabric are: softness (cotton-like feel, no binders), absorbency (3–6× own weight depending on fibre type), dry tensile strength (18–34 N/5cm at 40–60 GSM), wet strength retention (65–80% of dry strength), very low lint (below 0.1 mg/cm²), GSM range (20–120 GSM), biodegradability (100% viscose type fully biodegrades in 6–8 weeks), temperature resistance (up to 120–150°C depending on fibre), high breathability (150–400 mm/s air permeability) and customisable chemical resistance through fibre selection.
How absorbent is spunlace nonwoven fabric compared to cotton?
100% viscose spunlace absorbs up to 6× its own weight in liquid — similar to cotton gauze in total capacity but approximately 2× faster due to the open fibre network structure. 50/50 viscose-polyester spunlace absorbs 3–4× its weight, which is sufficient for most wet wipe applications. 100% polyester spunlace absorbs only 1–1.5× its weight and is not suitable for absorbency-critical applications.
Is spunlace nonwoven fabric soft enough for baby wipes?
Yes. 100% viscose spunlace and 70/30 viscose-polyester spunlace at 40–50 GSM are the standard materials for baby wipe manufacture globally. Because no chemical binders are used in the hydroentanglement process, the fabric surface is free of adhesive residue — reducing irritation risk for sensitive newborn skin. The soft feel is rated equivalent to 100% cotton muslin in independent handle tests.
What is the tensile strength of spunlace fabric when wet?
Spunlace fabric retains 65–80% of its dry tensile strength when fully saturated with water or wipe solution. At 40 GSM, dry tensile strength in the machine direction is 18–22 N/5cm — giving a wet tensile of approximately 12–17 N/5cm. This is sufficient to withstand normal wiping force without tearing. Higher GSM fabrics (60–80 GSM) have proportionally higher wet strength and are used for industrial and salon applications.
What is the difference between spunlace and spunbond nonwoven properties?
Spunlace is softer, more absorbent and more suitable for skin contact — but generally lower in tensile strength than spunbond at the same GSM. Spunbond (typically polypropylene) uses heat and pressure bonding, giving it higher stiffness and tensile strength — making it better for bags, geotextiles and packaging. Spunlace uses water jet entanglement — no binders — giving softness and absorbency ideal for wipes, medical and hygiene products. Spunbond is not biodegradable (PP); viscose spunlace fully biodegrades in 6–8 weeks.
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