Wetlaid process

Nanofibrillated fibres may also be used to make nonwovens using the wetlaid process. Fibrillation is the process of splitting fibres into fibrils or thin filaments, and is commonly conducted using wet mechanical beating to partially separate fibres into their component fibrils [16]. Nanofibrous cellulose has been produced from lyocell, cotton, and wood pulp, although the fibre diameter variation is high [17]. Fibril diameters between 0.05 and 0.5 pm have been observed, with an average of 0.3 pm, but a small number of microscale fibres (2—5 pm) are inevitable. 

The technology of tea bags is best explored by looking at the wetlaid non woven and bioplastic spunmelt processes. This is described in the following sections (industry sources [3]). 

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