If you're sourcing nonwoven fabric, you've probably encountered a confusing array of options:
Each has its strengths and weaknesses. Each is suited to different applications. And each comes with a different price tag.
In this article, we focus on the most common question buyers ask: "How does PP spunbond compare to the other nonwoven technologies — and which one should I choose?"
These are the two most common nonwoven technologies — and they are often confused with each other.
PropertySpunbondMeltblown
| Fiber diameter | 15–35 microns | 1–10 microns (much finer) |
| Filtration efficiency | Low to moderate | Excellent |
| Tensile strength | High | Low (brittle, easy to tear) |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Typical applications | Bags, gowns, covers, furniture | Mask filter layers, oil absorbents, filtration media |
✓ Spunbond wins on strength, cost, and versatility.
✓ Meltblown wins on filtration, but is weaker and more expensive.
Bottom line: If you need strong, durable, cost-effective fabric — choose spunbond. If you need filtration (e.g., mask middle layer) — choose meltblown.
SMS combines the strength of spunbond with the filtration of meltblown. It's often used in medical and hygiene products where both barrier and strength are needed.
Property Single-Layer Spunbond SMS
| Fluid barrier | Moderate | High |
| Bacterial filtration | Low-moderate | High |
| Breathability | Excellent | Good |
| Cost | Low | Higher (3 layers, more material) |
| Typical applications | Bags, dust covers, furniture, basic medical | Surgical gowns, drapes, high-barrier masks |
✓ Spunbond wins on cost, breathability, and simplicity.
✓ SMS wins on barrier performance, but at a higher cost.
Bottom line: If your application needs high fluid resistance (e.g., surgical gowns), choose SMS. If you need a good balance of performance and cost for lower-risk applications, single-layer spunbond is the smarter choice.
Spunlace uses high-pressure water jets to entangle fibers rather than thermal bonding. This creates a fabric that is soft, drapable, and cloth-like.
Property Spunbond Spunlace
| Softness | Good | Excellent (cloth-like) |
| Strength | High | Moderate |
| Material options | Mostly PP | PP, polyester, rayon, cotton blends |
| Cost | Low | Higher |
| Typical applications | Industrial, packaging, furniture, medical | Wipes, beauty masks, face wipes, premium hygiene |
✓ Spunbond wins on strength, cost, and durability.
✓ Spunlace wins on softness and cloth-like feel.
Bottom line: If you're making industrial bags, furniture covers, or medical gowns, spunbond is the better choice. If you're making premium facial wipes or skincare products that need a soft, cloth-like feel, spunlace is better — but expect to pay more.
Needle punch nonwoven is made by mechanically barbed needles that push fibers through the web, entangling them. This produces a heavy, thick, highly durable fabric.
PropertySpunbondNeedle Punch
| Thickness | Thin | Thick |
| Strength | High (thin) | Very high (thick) |
| Weight (GSM) | 10–150gsm | 100–1000+ gsm (much heavier) |
| Breathability | Excellent | Moderate |
| Cost | Low | Higher (more material, slower production) |
| Typical applications | Packaging, medical, furniture, agriculture | Carpet backing, geotextiles, insulation, automotive felt |
✓ Spunbond wins on breathability, cost, and versatility in lighter applications.
✓ Needle punch wins on thickness, weight, and heavy-duty durability.
Bottom line: If you need thin, lightweight, breathable fabric — spunbond. If you need thick, heavy, felt-like fabric — needle punch.
Thermal bond (sometimes confused with spunbond) uses staple fibers (short cut fibers) that are carded into a web and then thermally bonded — no continuous filaments.
PropertySpunbondThermal Bond (Carded)
| Fiber type | Continuous filament | Staple fiber (short cut) |
| Linting/fraying | None | Can have surface lint |
| Strength | High | Moderate |
| Softness options | Good | Can be very soft |
| Typical applications | Medical, packaging, furniture, agriculture | Wipes, filters, insulation, lightweight covers |
✓ Spunbond wins on strength, lint-free performance, and production speed.
⚠ Thermal bond can be softer but sacrifices strength and may lint.
Use this quick reference to match your application to the right nonwoven technology:
If You Need...Choose...Why
| Low cost, high strength, durability | Spunbond | Continuous filaments = strong and affordable |
| High filtration efficiency | Meltblown | Microfibers capture fine particles |
| Fluid barrier + strength (surgical use) | SMS | Spunbond + meltblown combo |
| Soft, cloth-like feel | Spunlace | Water-entangled for drape and softness |
| Heavy, thick, felt-like material | Needle punch | Barbed needles create thick, dense fabric |
| Lint-free, medical-grade cleanliness | Spunbond | No loose fibers, no fraying |
Among all nonwoven technologies, spunbond stands out for several reasons:
At Heng Hua Nonwoven, we specialize in single-layer PP spunbond.
Why? Because for the majority of applications, spunbond offers the best balance of performance, cost, and sustainability. We believe in keeping things simple, reliable, and effective.
There is no single "best" nonwoven technology — there is only the right one for your application.
But if you need a fabric that is:
Then single-layer PP spunbond is likely your answer — and it's what we do best.
Need help choosing the right nonwoven for your product? Contact us with your requirements — we'll recommend the best technology and specification for your application.
Contact us for samples or a quote – Let's find the right nonwoven for your product.
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E-mail : marketing@henghuanonwoven.com
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