Viscose short cut fibres from Kelheim Fibres have proven to be the perfect raw material for the manufacture of wet wipes which meet the new flushability guidelines issued by INDA / EDANA and can be conveniently flushed down the toilet - without clogging the toilet or downstream waste water treatment plants.

 

During the last few years the wipes producers have been developing a manufacturing process – known as the “wetlace” process - which masters the balancing act between the stability of a wet wipe in use and its disintegration during the flushing process in the toilet. The perfect blend of the raw materials pulp and short cut fibres is essential for the success of this process - in which short cut fibres are responsible for the stability of the wipe.

 

In practice, VILOFTnonwoven short cut fibres with their flat cross section have proven particularly successful and have delivered the best performance. As a result, Kelheim Fibres has now been delivering commercial quantities of this speciality fibre for some time.

 

Kelheim Fibres is the only European manufacturer of viscose short cut fibres, but the Bavarians offer more than just fibres with the ideal properties: Kelheim's viscose specialities consist of 100% cellulose and can therefore be perfectly integrated in the wetlace process. After use, the fibres are completely biodegradable. Finally, you have a product which is conveniently disposable via the toilet without the danger of clogging it and which is not harmful to the environment.

 

But Kelheim Fibres will also showcase speciality fibres for completely different applications at this year's INDEX, which once again proves the versatility and flexibility of the Bavarian fibre specialists: With the inherent flame resistant viscose fibre Danufil CS, Kelheim offers an environmentally sound raw material for flame retardant nonwovens which can - as a barrier layer - guarantee fire protection in a wide range of end products.

 

As the flame retardant properties are built into the fibre matrix by the incorporation of silicate particles, further treatment with protective agents is not necessary. There is therefore no danger of toxic fumes being released during a fire: only the cellulosic part of the fibre burns, while the silicate matrix is left and protects the materials behind it from heat and flames.

 

Danufil CS fibres are already used as barrier layers in mattresses and meet the strict demands of the US Federal Mattress Flammability Standard 16 CFR Part 1633. Kelheim sees more possible fields of use for the Danufil CS fibre in automotive or lightweight composite construction applications.

 

Kelheim Fibres GmbH is the world’s leading producer of viscose speciality fibres and the most important supplier of viscose fibres forthe tampon industry.