What is a Composite Material?

A composite material is a combination of two materials with different physical and chemical properties. When they are combined they create a material which is specialized to do a certain job, for instance to become stronger, lighter or resistant to electricity. They can also improve strength and stiffness. SWM advanced materials can help you save material and improve product performance.

There are different methods to incorporate SWM advanced materials with other substrates, netting and nonwovens. Our netting can be used with film, foam, bubble wrap, paper, nonwoven and other fabrics. The following processes show how SWM netting can be used in various manufacturing processes.

How to Use SWM Materials in Product Processes:

1. Extrusion Coatings & Laminations - A polymer film can be extruded directly onto the substrate to provide a bonding layer (extrusion lamination) or an impervious coating (extrusion coating). SWM plastic netting can be trapped between the substrate layer and the extruded film layer to significantly increase the tensile strength of the final product.
2. Lamination - A laminate is a material that can be constructed by uniting two or more layers of material. The various layers that make the laminate can be similar or different materials: plastic netting, plastic films, nonwovens, paper, etc.
3. Adhesive Lamination - Unless one of the fabrics develops adhesive properties in certain conditions, an additional medium is necessary to secure the bonding between the layers. Two adhesive lamination techniques are illustrated below.
4. Nonwoven Processes - Nonwovens consist of millions of individual fibers. In a first manufacturing step, the nonwoven is produced via drylaid, wetlaid, spunbond or meltblown processes. SWM plastic netting can be incorporated in this first step called “web formation.”
5. Web Formations - It is the stage where individual fibers or molten polymers are laid to form a nonwoven web that will eventually be bonded for additional integrity, strength and stability.
6. Bonding - After the web formation step, the fibers and the plastic netting are bonded together to form the final nonwoven composite. SWM can customize the plastic netting design and configuration to meet the properties and performance required in the final nonwoven product. There are different processes available to bond various types of nonwovens.