Investigation of the wet strength and handle properties of wood pulp-based wetlaid/spunlace materials with different moisture contents

Wood pulp-based wetlaid/spunlace (wetlace) materials have become increasingly popular in the field of disposable personal hygiene moist wipes. To achieve excellent products, materials with different short-cut fibers and proportions were fabricated, and the effects of moisture contents on the wet strength and handle properties of the materials were firstly investigated. The results suggest that the wet strength of material composed of regenerated cellulose fibers decreases to about 20% of dry strength, while that made of hydrophilic polyester is only about 8–9% with moisture content of 800%. The softness and smoothness of material consisting of 20% short-cut regenerated cellulose fibers decrease to stable figures at 300% moisture content. The softness parameter was 4.5–5.2, and the smoothness value was 14.5–19, but the stiffness parameter increases to a stable level at 2.6–2.9 mm N⁻¹. Overall, with moisture content of 300%, materials with 20% short-cut fibers achieve the limit of wet strength during use, material made of lyocell has the best wet strength and smoothness, and material made of Viloft possesses the greatest softness and the lowest stiffness.