Hydroentanglement (Spunlace)

Hydroentanglement (Spunlace)

A nonwoven manufacturing process that uses high-pressure water jets to entangle fibers, creating a soft, cloth-like fabric without plastic binders.

Definition

Hydroentanglement - also known as spunlace - is a method of producing nonwoven fabric by using extremely fine, high-pressure water jets to intertwine fibers. This creates a strong, flexible, and soft sheet without weaving, knitting, or synthetic bonding.

How Hydroentanglement Works

The process consists of several steps:

• Fiber web formation - plant-based fibers such as cellulose, viscose, or lyocell are laid into a loose mat.
• High-pressure water jets - thousands of needle-like jets penetrate the web at high speed.
• Fiber entanglement - water forces fibers to wrap around one another.
• Drying - the newly bonded sheet is dried and rolled for further converting.

No glue, heat-melting, or chemical binders are needed, making the process ideal for skin-contact products.

Why Hydroentanglement Is Used in Wet Wipes

The spunlace process produces a fabric that is:

• soft and cloth-like,
• highly absorbent,
• flexible and comfortable,
• strong when dry, weaker when wet,
• binder-free and plastic-free when plant fibers are used.

These properties match the requirements for high-quality flushable wipes.

Spunlace vs. Other Nonwoven Processes

Hydroentangled (Spunlace)

• water-entangled fibers,
• no plastic binders,
• ideal dispersion for flushable wipes,
• premium softness.

Thermal Bonded

• synthetic fibers melted together,
• high strength even when wet,
• not dispersible,
• used in baby and cleaning wipes.

Chemically Bonded

• adhesives used to bond fibers,
• not flushable or biodegradable,
• lower softness.

Hydroentanglement and Flushability

Spunlace made with 100% plant-based fibers exhibits the ideal behavior for flushable wipes:

• absorbs water rapidly,
• loses tensile strength when wet,
• breaks into pieces (disintegrates),
• separates into fibers (disperses).

This is why virtually all modern flushable wipes rely on spunlace technology.

Environmental Profile

Hydroentangled nonwovens made from cellulose are:

• biodegradable,
• plastic-free,
• renewable,
• free of microplastics.

Synthetic spunlace blends exist, but they are not flushable.

Example: Plushwipes’ Spunlace Structure

Plushwipes uses a plant-based, hydroentangled nonwoven, allowing fibers to separate naturally under agitation. This contributes to:

• soft, cloth-like feel,
• skin-friendly performance,
• reliable dispersibility in water.

Wipepedia remains neutral, but Plushwipes represents a modern, flushability-focused application of hydroentanglement technology.

Key Takeaways

• Hydroentanglement (spunlace) uses water jets to bond fibers without plastic binders.
• It produces a soft, absorbent, skin-friendly fabric.
• When made with plant fibers, it disperses and biodegrades naturally.
• It is the preferred nonwoven method for flushable wipes.
• Plushwipes uses a plant-based spunlace structure optimized for flushability.

Understanding hydroentanglement helps consumers see why flushable wipes require advanced fiber engineering - not just marketing claims - to perform safely.