Spunlace nonwoven fabric is produced by entangling individual fibers together using high-pressure water jets — a process known as hydroentanglement — rather than by weaving, knitting, or chemical bonding. The result is a fabric-like sheet where mechanical interlocking alone holds the structure together, leaving no binders, adhesives, or resins in the finished product.
This binder-free architecture is the defining technical advantage of spunlace: the fabric remains fully breathable, maintains exceptional softness against sensitive skin, and releases no chemical residues into applied formulations — a critical requirement for depilatory creams, facial wipes, and wound dressings where ingredient compatibility is paramount.
Globally, spunlace nonwovens account for a significant and growing share of the total nonwoven market, driven by expanding demand in personal care, medical hygiene, and sustainable wipes. The technology allows weight ranges from approximately 30 g/m² (ultra-light facial mask substrates) to 120 g/m² and beyond (heavy-duty industrial wipes), covering the full spectrum from delicate cosmetic applications to rigorous cleaning tasks.
Understanding the manufacturing process is essential for specifying the right spunlace fabric and troubleshooting quality issues. The process moves through five key stages from raw fiber to finished roll.
In Step 4, water is pressurized to between 50 and 400 bar and forced through rows of precision orifices (diameter 80–120 µm) positioned above the moving fiber web. Each jet column penetrates the web, deflects off the supporting drum or conveyor, and re-enters the web from below — creating a complex three-dimensional turbulent flow that reorients and entangles fibers in all directions. The number of jet passes (manifolds) and their pressure profile determine the final fabric density, strength, and hand feel.
A higher jet pressure increases entanglement density and tensile strength but can also compact the web, reducing softness and absorbency. Optimizing the pressure profile across multiple manifolds — typically starting low, peaking in the middle manifolds, and finishing lower for surface treatment — is the core production know-how that differentiates manufacturers.
Aojia Nonwoven operates two fully integrated production lines with a working width of 3.5 meters, capable of producing 14,000 metric tons per year across the full range of spunlace fabric specifications. The wide working width allows economic production of roll widths up to 3,400 mm, eliminating the need for slitting-induced edge waste on wide-format industrial applications.
The choice of fiber or fiber blend is the single most influential design decision in spunlace fabric development. Each fiber contributes distinct properties, and blends allow tailored combinations.
| Fiber Type | Key Properties | Typical Blend % | Best Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viscose (Rayon) | High absorbency, soft hand, biodegradable, hydrophilic | 30–100% | Facial wipes, depilatory cloth, wet wipes substrate |
| Polyester (PET) | High tensile strength, dimensional stability, hydrophobic, recyclable | 20–70% | Industrial wipes, base cloth, medical drapes |
| Viscose / PET Blend | Balanced absorbency and strength, excellent wet integrity | 50/50 or 70/30 | Depilatory cloth, cosmetic pads, wipes |
| Cotton | Natural, hypoallergenic, good absorbency, softer than viscose | 20–100% | Premium facial masks, baby wipes, medical gauze replacement |
| Lyocell (Tencel) | Biodegradable, closed-loop production, very soft, moisture-managing | 20–50% | Eco-label wipes, premium cosmetic substrates |
| Polypropylene (PP) | Low cost, chemical resistance, hydrophobic unless treated | 20–50% | Industrial cleaning, oil-absorbent wipes |
Aojia's depilatory cloth Internal is manufactured from 100% purified fiber — viscose, polyester, or viscose/polyester blends. This combination is technically optimal for hair removal applications because viscose provides the absorbency needed to hold and uniformly release depilatory cream or gel across the skin surface, while the polyester component delivers the wet tear resistance that prevents the cloth from disintegrating when saturated with alkaline thioglycolate-based formulations.
The surface texture of spunlace nonwoven is determined primarily by the pattern drum or conveyor surface used during hydroentanglement. The pattern is not printed or embossed afterward — it is formed in-situ as the high-pressure water jets push fibers into the cavities and ridges of the patterned support surface, creating an inherent three-dimensional texture.
For depilatory cloth, the Pearl Pattern and EF (Enhanced Friction) Pattern are particularly valuable. The raised dome geometry of the pearl pattern creates micro-friction against the skin surface that aids in physically disrupting and lifting softened hair alongside the chemical action of the depilatory formulation. The EF wave pattern provides directional grip and a micro-massaging effect during the wiping or removal stroke, enhancing the overall hair removal efficacy without increasing skin irritation.
The Mesh pattern excels in wipe applications where rapid liquid drainage and re-impregnation are needed — for example in roll-on dispensing systems where the cloth must take up cream from a roller and release it evenly onto skin. The Plain surface remains the choice for applications requiring the smoothest possible skin contact and maximum surface area for liquid absorption, such as facial toners or gentle cleansing wipes. Aojia's full cosmetology product range Internal covers all four surface patterns in various fiber compositions.
Specifying spunlace fabric for a technical application requires quantified performance data, not just qualitative descriptions. The following properties are the standard test battery for personal care and medical spunlace fabrics.
| Property | Standard Test Method | Typical Range (Aojia depilatory cloth) | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basis Weight (gsm) | ISO 536 / GB/T 24218.1 | 40–110 g/m² | Controls thickness, drape, and cost-per-unit |
| Tensile Strength (dry) | ISO 9073-3 / ASTM D5034 | ≥ 35 N/5 cm (MD), ≥ 15 N/5 cm (CD) | Prevents tearing during handling and dispensing |
| Wet Tensile Strength | ISO 9073-3 (conditioned wet) | ≥ 60% of dry value | Critical for depilatory: cloth is saturated in use |
| Absorbency (Water Uptake) | ISO 9073-6 | 5–12× own weight | Determines cream/gel holding and release capacity |
| Lint / Fiber Shedding | WSP 80.9 / Martindale rub test | ≤ 0.5 mg per cycle | Lint-free = no fiber residue on skin or in formulations |
| Peel Strength (MD) | Internal method / 180° peel | Application-specific | Relevant for laminated or coated depilatory strip products |
| pH of Aqueous Extract | ISO 3071 / EN 1413 | 6.0–8.0 | Skin safety: off-pH fabric can interact with active formulas |
| Formaldehyde Content | EN ISO 14184-1 | ≤ 16 ppm (Class I) | Safety for skin contact; Oeko-Tex Standard 100 requirement |
MD = Machine Direction; CD = Cross Direction. Test conditions: 23°C ± 2°C, 50% ± 5% RH per ISO 139 unless otherwise stated.
Depilatory nonwoven cloth is one of the most technically demanding personal care substrates. It must simultaneously satisfy requirements that pull in opposing directions: it must be absorbent enough to hold cream, strong enough not to tear when wet, soft enough to avoid skin irritation, and dimensionally stable enough to be dispensed from a roll or folded in a sachet without deformation.
Aojia's depilatory cloth is available in highly customizable configurations. Basis weight ranges from 40 to 110 g/m², with fabric width from 200 to 3,400 mm — enabling supply in everything from narrow strip rolls for salon dispensers to full industrial rolls for converter slitting. The four available surface patterns (Plain, Mesh, Pearl, EF) can be combined with custom fiber ratios, OEM printing, and bespoke packaging configurations.
For professional salon applications, the heavier weight grades (70–110 gsm) provide enhanced durability for repeated application strokes. For home-use single-application formats in sachets, lighter grades (40–55 gsm) offer the softness and cost-efficiency appropriate for disposable use. All grades meet the lint-free and non-abrasive requirements that prevent fiber contamination of the depilatory formula or residue on treated skin.
Beyond depilatory cloth, spunlace nonwoven is the foundational substrate for the cosmetics industry. Facial mask carriers, toner pads, make-up remover wipes, micellar cleansing cloths, and eye pads all rely on spunlace for its softness and liquid management performance. Aojia's Cosmetology product line Internal covers this full spectrum, offering viscose, cotton, and lyocell-based substrates optimized for different cosmetic formulations.
The global wet wipes market is one of the largest single end-uses for spunlace nonwoven. Baby wipes require ultra-soft, hypoallergenic substrates in the 60–80 gsm range; personal hygiene wipes require rapid absorption and pH compatibility with mild surfactant formulations; industrial cleaning wipes demand high tensile strength and solvent resistance — often achieved with polyester-dominant or polypropylene blends. Aojia's Wipes Series Internal addresses all three market segments with appropriate fiber compositions and surface patterns.
Medical-grade spunlace nonwoven is used in surgical drapes, wound contact layers, sterilization wrap, wound wipes, and patient hygiene products. In these applications, low linting, freedom from chemical contaminants, and dimensional stability under sterilization conditions (EO gas, gamma irradiation) are critical requirements. Aojia's Medical Series Internal is manufactured under ISO 9001 quality management and meets the relevant biocompatibility screening requirements for skin-contact medical devices.
Spunlace fabrics serve as the substrate for pre-moistened floor cleaning pads, furniture polishing cloths, and surface disinfection wipes. The combination of durability, absorbency, and compatibility with household cleaning chemicals (surfactants, bleach solutions) makes spunlace preferred over paper-based alternatives. Aojia's Home Improvement Series Internal features polyester-rich blends designed for repeated scrubbing action.
In the industrial and construction sectors, spunlace serves as a base cloth for coatings, laminates, and technical films. The controlled porosity, uniform thickness, and dimensional stability of hydroentangled fabric make it an ideal carrier. Aojia's Base Cloth Series Internal and Wiping Cloth Series Internal supply converting companies and brand owners requiring consistent raw material for further processing.
