Nonwoven Fabric FAQ — 25 Buyer Questions Answered

Nonwoven fabric is a flat sheet material made directly from fibres or filaments bonded together through heat, pressure, or chemical processes — without weaving or knitting. The most common type is polypropylene (PP) spunbond nonwoven, produced by extruding polymer filaments and thermally bonding them into a continuous fabric. Nonwovens are widely used in hygiene products, medical applications, safety garments, agricultural covers, and packaging. Learn more in our sourcing nonwoven fabric guide.

Spunbond nonwoven fabric is manufactured by extruding continuous polymer filaments (most commonly polypropylene), drawing them into fine fibres, depositing them onto a conveyor to form a web, and thermally bonding them with heated calendar rollers. The result is a lightweight, strong, and breathable fabric used extensively in baby diapers, bags, agricultural covers, and disposable garments. Read our complete guide for spunbond buyers to learn more.

Woven fabric is produced by interlacing yarn on a loom — a time-intensive process producing a dimensionally stable, durable material suitable for apparel and heavy-duty applications. Nonwoven fabric bypasses yarn spinning and weaving entirely, bonding fibres directly into a sheet structure. Nonwovens are faster to produce, lower in cost, and better suited for disposable and technical applications like hygiene products and medical garments. Check our comparison guide on nonwoven vs woven fabric key differences.

Meltblown nonwoven fabric is produced by extruding polymer through very fine die holes with high-velocity hot air, creating ultra-fine fibres of 0.5–5 microns diameter — approximately 10× finer than spunbond fibres. This produces a dense, highly efficient filtration layer. Meltblown is not strong on its own, but when sandwiched between spunbond layers (creating SMS or SMMS), it provides excellent liquid and particle barrier performance for face masks and surgical gowns.

GSM stands for grams per square meter — it is the weight of one square meter of fabric in grams. A 20 GSM fabric weighs 20g per square meter and is very lightweight and thin. A 100 GSM fabric weighs 100g per square meter and is heavier and stronger. GSM is the most important specification when selecting nonwoven fabric because it directly affects strength, softness, barrier performance, and cost. Read our GSM nonwoven fabric guide for details.

SMS (Spunbond-Meltblown-Spunbond) is a 3-layer composite nonwoven. SMMS (Spunbond-Meltblown-Meltblown-Spunbond) adds a second meltblown layer, improving barrier performance by 30–50% at the same total GSM. SMS is suitable for Level 1–2 medical gowns and hygiene backsheets. SMMS is specified for Level 2–3 surgical gowns and applications requiring higher hydrostatic head resistance. Explore our detailed article on SMS vs SMMS nonwoven fabric.

Baby diaper topsheet uses hydrophilic spunbond PP in 10–15 GSM for premium grades, 15–18 GSM for standard grades. Backsheet uses hydrophobic spunbond PP laminate in 15–22 GSM. Leg cuffs use spunbond or SMS in 15–25 GSM. Olefins supplies all raw materials — check our nonwoven fabric for baby diapers guide or contact us for a complete diaper layer specification.

Surgical gown fabric GSM depends on the AAMI performance level required: Level 1 gowns use SMS fabric in 25–35 GSM. Level 2 gowns use SMS in 35–45 GSM. Level 3 gowns use SMMS fabric in 45–60 GSM. Level 4 gowns require SMMS or laminated fabric in 60–80 GSM. Olefins supplies materials for all levels — see our surgical gowns and medical drapes guide.

Hydrophilic nonwoven fabric is treated to absorb and transmit liquid rapidly — used for sanitary napkin topsheets and wipes where liquid must pass through to the absorbent core. Hydrophobic nonwoven fabric repels liquid — used for backsheets, PPE coverall fabric, and crop cover nonwoven fabric where a moisture barrier is required.

Use a circular fabric cutter (standard: 100 cm² cut area) and an analytical scale accurate to 0.01g. Cut 5 samples at different points across the roll width, weigh each, and multiply the average weight by 100 to get GSM. Compare to the declared GSM — acceptable commercial tolerance is ±5%. Review our complete buyer's guide to learn more about quality parameters.

Nonwoven fabric price from Pakistan ranges from approximately USD 1.40–1.80/kg for standard spunbond PP, USD 1.80–2.40/kg for SMS, and USD 2.00–2.70/kg for SMMS — all FOB Karachi. Prices vary based on GSM, color, treatment, and order quantity. Contact Olefins for a precise quote or check our nonwoven fabric price per kg guide.

The minimum order quantity at Olefins is 500 kg for standard white spunbond PP in stock GSM grades. Custom colors require a minimum of 1,000 kg. SMS and SMMS fabric have a 1,000 kg minimum. For first-time buyers, we can accommodate smaller trial orders. Check our wholesale PP nonwoven fabric rolls page.

Production lead time at Olefins is 10–15 days for standard spunbond orders and 15–25 days for custom color or SMS/SMMS orders. Sea freight from Karachi to UAE takes 5–8 days, Saudi Arabia 7–10 days, and Europe 18–25 days. Read our UAE & GCC buyers shipping guide for complete logistics details.

For new buyers, Olefins requires 50% advance payment and 50% balance before shipment (T/T bank transfer in USD). For established buyers with a track record, payment terms can be 30% advance and 70% against shipping documents. Letter of Credit (L/C) is accepted for orders above USD 10,000. Contact us to discuss your preferred terms.

Yes. Olefins produces spunbond nonwoven fabric in any Pantone color using masterbatch pigment blending. Color is throughout the fabric — not just printed on the surface — so edges and reverse show the same color. Learn about our manufacturing capability on our manufacturing process page.

Olefins offers several surface treatments: hydrophilic fabric for wet wipes nonwoven substrate, hydrophobic for barrier layers, UV-stabilized for crop cover nonwoven fabric, anti-static, and flame-retardant options.

PP spunbond fabric in 80 GSM is the most widely used specification for standard reusable shopping bags. For heavy-duty carry bags, 100–120 GSM is recommended. The fabric should have good tensile strength and be printable by screen or flexo. Check our dedicated page for nonwoven fabric for bags manufacturer.

At Olefins, every production batch undergoes: GSM weight measurement at 5 points across the roll width, tensile strength testing per ASTM D5034, elongation testing, visual uniformity inspection, and hydrostatic head pressure testing. Visit our quality & innovation page to learn more about our standards.

Yes. Polypropylene (PP) spunbond nonwoven fabric is 100% recyclable (Resin Code #5). It can be collected, melted, and re-pelletized for reuse in other PP products. Read our detailed analysis on sustainable nonwoven fabric: is PP spunbond eco-friendly?

Olefins produces fabric using virgin-grade PP polymer complying with REACH regulations. For medical and hygiene applications requiring specific certifications, see our comprehensive guide on medical nonwoven fabric certifications or contact our sales team.

Yes. Olefins regularly exports nonwoven fabric to buyers in the UAE, with sea freight from Karachi to Jebel Ali (Dubai) taking 5–8 days. We supply spunbond, SMS, and SMMS fabric to manufacturers, traders, and distributors in the UAE. Check our guide for UAE & GCC buyers for shipping, specs, and port logistics.

Yes. Olefins supplies nonwoven fabric to global markets including garment and hygiene hubs in South Asia and the Middle East. Check our overview of nonwoven fabric industry overview & export capabilities for export options and logistics details.

Geotextile nonwoven fabric is used in civil engineering to separate, filter, drain, and reinforce soil. Applications include road construction, retaining walls, slope stabilization, and French drains. Read our complete geotextile nonwoven fabric guide.

Yes. Olefins provides fabric samples before any bulk order commitment. Small samples up to 5 linear meters are provided free of charge. Courier dispatch to GCC and international regions takes 3–7 business days. You can easily request a sample online.

Starting with Olefins is simple: Send your fabric specification to info@olefins.net, receive a quote, request samples, and place a trial order. You can learn more about Olefins, explore our full product portfolio, or follow our guide on how to source nonwoven fabric from Pakistan.