Light grades
15 gsm spunbond: the lightest web that still runs on a converting line
15 gsm spunbond covers the most area per kilogram of any grade we quote. It is chosen when coverage and cost matter and mechanical load is low.
At a glance
Specification at a glance
| Property | 15 gsm typical range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Weight tolerance | ±1 g/m² | Batch average |
| Tensile MD | 18 to 24 N/5 cm | Strip test |
| Tensile CD | 10 to 14 N/5 cm | Weak direction |
| Elongation MD | 40 to 70 % | Filament, high stretch |
| Air permeability | High, above 300 l/m²/s | Open structure |
| Hydrostatic head | Under 30 mm | Not a barrier grade |
What 15 gsm can and cannot hold
At 15 gsm the web is a cover, not a structure. It will hold a diaper backsheet laminate, a light agricultural fleece and an interlayer in packaging, but it will not hold a seam under tension or carry a load without a carrier film.
The elongation is the useful property here: the web stretches 40 to 70 percent in machine direction, which lets it conform to a shaped product without splitting.
Coverage economics
One tonne of 15 gsm covers about 67,000 square metres. The same tonne at 30 gsm covers half that. Freight is charged per tonne, so the light grade moves coverage at roughly half the landed cost per square metre, which is why agricultural fleece and light packaging liners use it.
Where it fails in the field
UV exposure without stabiliser, and any application with wind load. Agricultural buyers should move to a stabilised 17 to 20 gsm grade rather than adding thickness only, because the failure is chemical before it is mechanical.
Other weights in this range
This grade sits in the PP spunbond range. Buyers comparing across weights usually ask for two or three of these at sample stage, because the decision is made on the converting line rather than on the data sheet.
- 20 gsm spunbond - 20 gsm is the grade most hygiene laminates are built on: light enough for cove.
- 25 gsm spunbond - 25 gsm is the standard outer layer of a three-ply medical mask and the body of.
- 30 gsm spunbond - 30 gsm is the grade where spunbond becomes a structural fabric: mattress pocke.
- 40 gsm spunbond - 40 gsm is the heavy end of standard spunbond: bags that carry weight, separato.
Get the grade and the test values
Send the application, the width you run and the monthly volume. We reply with the tolerance, the batch test values and a ship date.
Questions
Common questions
Is 15 gsm waterproof?
No. Hydrostatic head is typically under 30 mm, so it is not a barrier grade. Water resistance needs a laminate or an SMS structure.
What is the difference between 15 and 20 gsm?
About 30 percent more tensile strength and better opacity. The price difference is small; the choice is usually made on strength, not cost.
Can it be UV stabilised?
Yes, at this weight the stabiliser is normally added to the masterbatch. Specify the target months of exposure rather than the percentage.