PP meltblown nonwoven fabric for filtration
Meltblown uses hot air to draw polymer into very fine fibres. That is what gives it filtration efficiency at a low weight, and why it is usually a layer inside a composite rather than a fabric on its own.
At a glance
Specification at a glance
| Parameter | Range offered for quotation | Confirm at enquiry |
|---|---|---|
| Polymer | PP | Grade and additive package |
| Basis weight | Light filtration weights to heavier barrier weights | Target weight and tolerance |
| Fibre diameter | Fine fibre, grade dependent | Efficiency target at the weight |
| Width | Slit to order | Slit plan |
| Performance | Efficiency and pressure drop | Test method and pass level |
| Format | Roll or composite layer | Lamination or supply as roll |
Efficiency is meaningless without a test method
Every meltblown conversation starts with filtration efficiency, and every honest one ends with the test method. Efficiency measured on a sodium chloride aerosol at a given face velocity is not comparable with a bacterial filtration test on a finished mask.
Send the method and the pass level. Without them we can describe the grade, but we cannot promise it meets your requirement.
Pressure drop is the other half
A fabric can reach high efficiency by being dense, and dense fabric is hard to breathe through. For filter media and for masks, the pair of numbers matters: efficiency at an acceptable pressure drop.
Ask for both on the data sheet. A supplier who quotes only one is either simplifying or hiding something.
Composite construction
Meltblown is usually combined with spunbond to protect the fine fibre layer during converting. If you need a finished composite, describe the structure you want and the property each layer has to deliver.
Lamination and composite supply are quoted after a technical check on the layers and the bonding method.
Grades in this range
The weights below are the ones quoted most often. Each has its own test values and its own failure modes, so the grade is chosen against the converting line and the end use, not against the price per tonne.
- 20 gsm meltblown - 20 gsm meltblown is the light filtration layer: enough fibre density to catch particles, l.
- 25 gsm meltblown - The middle layer of a three-ply medical mask is meltblown, usually 25 gsm, and it carries .
- 30 gsm meltblown - 30 gsm meltblown trades airflow for capture. It is used as a pre-filter ahead of a HEPA st.
Send the test method with the target
Application, gsm, efficiency target, pressure drop limit and test method are enough for a technical answer.
Questions
Common questions
Do you supply BFE or PFE rated material?
BFE and PFE values are published only where a current report for that grade and that test method exists. Ask for the report, not the headline number.
Can I buy meltblown as a standalone roll?
Yes, subject to the grade and weight. Most buyers take it as a layer in a composite.
What is the difference between meltblown and spunbond?
Meltblown fibres are much finer, which gives filtration and barrier performance at low weight but lower strength. Spunbond gives strength. Composites use both.