Mid grades
45 gsm spunlace: the grade most wet wipe lines are set for
45 gsm is the middle of the wet wipe range: heavy enough to hold a 300 percent lotion load, light enough to keep the pack price where retail wants it.
At a glance
Specification at a glance
| Property | 45 gsm typical range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Weight tolerance | ±1.5 g/m² | Batch average, not single point |
| Tensile MD | 26 to 32 N/5 cm | Strip test |
| Tensile CD | 10 to 14 N/5 cm | Decides perforation tears |
| Lotion load | up to 300 % | Above that, move to 50 gsm |
| Absorbency | 450 to 550 % | 50/50 viscose polyester |
| Surface | One side flat, one side textured | Texture improves pickup |
| Typical roll | 1,600 to 2,000 mm | Slit to converter width |
Why this weight became the default
A 45 gsm web at 300 percent lotion load gives a pack that feels full without dripping, and the wipe separates cleanly at a perforation cut to about 60 percent of the cross direction strength. That balance is why most baby wipe lines are set for 45 gsm and why changing to 40 or 50 later means re-setting the perforation and the pack film tension.
The grade also tolerates a wider fibre blend range than 35 gsm: 50/50 and 60/40 viscose polyester both run, with the higher viscose version absorbing faster and feeling softer.
The two variables buyers argue about
Texture and blend. A textured side lifts residue better on a baby wipe and costs nothing to specify, but it changes the pack feel and needs an approved sample. On blend, 60/40 viscose polyester is the softest option that still survives the line; 50/50 is cheaper and slightly stronger when wet.
Ask for the wet tensile, not the dry tensile. A 45 gsm web loses between 30 and 45 percent of its dry strength when saturated, and that wet number is what the consumer actually pulls on.
Moving up or down from here
Down to 35 gsm you save fibre cost and lose opacity and wet strength margin, which shows up first in 100 count packs. Up to 50 gsm you gain lotion capacity and a heavier hand feel, and you lose roughly 10 percent more fabric cost per pack, which is usually acceptable for adult and surface wipes.
Other weights in this range
This grade sits in the Spunlace 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.
- 35 gsm spunlace - At 35 gsm a spunlace web is thin enough to see light through and still strong .
- 50 gsm spunlace - 50 gsm is where a wipe stops being a baby product and starts being a tool: adu.
- 60 gsm spunlace - 60 gsm is where spunlace stops being a consumer wipe and becomes a working clo.
- 70 gsm spunlace - 70 gsm is the top of the standard wipe range. At this weight the web behaves m.
- 80 gsm spunlace - 80 gsm is the top of the spunlace range we quote. The buyers are filtration, p.
Check this grade against your line
Send the application, the width you run and the monthly volume. We reply with the grade tolerance, the test values for that batch and a ship date.
Questions
Common questions
What lotion load does 45 gsm hold?
Typically up to 300 percent by weight. Above that the pack drips and the bottom wipes compress, so most converters move to 50 or 60 gsm.
Is 45 gsm suitable for adult wipes?
It runs, but adult and surface wipes usually go to 50 or 60 gsm because the wipe is used flat and carries more liquid.
Which blend is standard?
50/50 viscose polyester is the usual starting point; 60/40 gives a softer hand at a slightly higher fibre cost.