ESEM study of tensile behaviour of spunbonded bicomponent fibre nonwovens

The tensile behaviour of polyethylene/polypropylene (PE/PP) bicompomnent fibre spunbonded nonwovens has been studied using an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). A tensile stage, mounted in the ESEM, was used to examine the dynamic process of the PE/PP bicompomnent fibre spunbonded nonwovens at different stages of deformation. The visual information obtained through the ESEM provides clear evidence of relevant mechanism of nonwoven deformation. The study shows that the ESEM is a powerful tool for examining the dynamic tensile behaviour of different materials.