Since the earliest days of history, man has been using different types of dressings and bandages. What the ancient and early modern civilizations referred to as plasters are the historical equivalent of wound dressings. Early medical practitioners applied plasters to wounds to provide protection and absorb fluids. Oils were commonly used in plasters to provide protection from infection and to prevent the bandage from sticking to the wound.
While today’s medical bandages and dressings look nothing like ancient plasters, today’s healthcare professionals look for similar qualities in the materials they use for wound care. Many of these qualities can be achieved with nonwovens.
Nonwovens are ideal for items such as bandages, wound dressings, surgical scrubs, medical masks, and other healthcare products. Here are five reasons why nonwovens the preferred choice for disposable medical items:
1. Nonwovens Provide Manufacturers Flexibility
A variety of materials can be used to develop nonwoven fabrics for wound dressings. Commonly used fibers for medical items include polypropylene, polyester, viscose, and bicomponent fiber. A wide range of colors, textures, and thicknesses can be specified to create customized wound dressing products.
2. Nonwovens Can Be Customized By Blending Materials
Fibers can be combined to create customized nonwovens with specific bandage attributes.
Nonwovens are developed for strength, light weight, absorbency, fabric resilience, softness, and the ability to stretch. Nonwoven fabrics can also be combined with materials such as adhesives to create a barrier product that is easily applied and removed.
3. Antimicrobial Treatments Can Be Used With Nonwovens
Nonwovens can be made with special treatments to make them antimicrobial for medical applications. Options vary and are typically based on how the end-product will be used, whether it is a hospital garment or a type of wound dressing.
4. Nonwovens Provide Cost-Savings Over Time
Healthcare providers typically have to work within limited budgets. Medical suppliers need to deliver cost-effective options to be competitive. Nonwoven fabric has been demonstrated to facilitate healing, lower the risk of cross-contamination, and eliminate the costs associated with laundering./p>
5. Nonwovens From The Right Supplier Can Improve Your Productivity
WPT Nonwovens offers manufacturing capabilities to develop a wide range of nonwoven materials with the benefit of converting services such as inline slitting and winding capabilities, eliminating the need for third party conversion services for medical product manufacturers. Our team welcomes any size order, from wound dressing manufacturers of all volumes.
Contact us today to discuss how we can meet your medical product manufacturing needs with affordable, high quality nonwovens.