You want to transport powdered minerals from a remote site but you need packaging that can handle the dry, abrasive product without tearing. However, you’re faced with a dilemma. You’ve got two options: non-woven and woven bags.
If you don’t know the difference, you run the risk of selecting the wrong option and causing damage to the entire load. Which one should you use? Can you use both?
Let’s find out.
Woven Fabric
Woven fabrics are made by interlacing different yarns in a criss-cross pattern, much like traditional cloth. This gives them excellent tensile strength and durability. In the world of bulk bags, these yarns are typically made from polypropylene (PP).
This woven outer shell forms the structural body of the bulk bag, and it’s what gives the bag its load-bearing capacity. Sometimes, this woven shell is then coated with a thin layer of polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) to improve moisture resistance.
If you’re dealing with heavy-duty applications like storing and transporting sand, grain, or mining materials, then woven fabric is, no doubt, the go-to choice. It holds its shape well and resists punctures, which is particularly important when bags are stacked or forklifted in rugged environments.
Non-Woven Fabric
Non-woven fabrics are made by bonding fibres together using heat, pressure, or chemicals without weaving or knitting them. The result is a soft, flexible material that is used for moisture barriers or dust liners. Typically, these bags are made from PE.
Crucially, this type of fabric should not be load-bearing, as it does not have the necessary strength.
Although PE non-woven fabric is not as strong as woven fabric, it is lighter, more breathable, and can be made with electrostatic properties to control static. This makes it ideal for industries like food processing or chemicals, where contamination and static control are significant concerns.
Which Fabric for Which Job?
The choice between woven and non-woven fabric depends on your product and priorities, although, in practice, these two fabrics are often used together as they complement one another.
Woven fabrics offer strength, durability and reusability. They are ideal for rough handling and the carrying of bulkier materials. On the other hand, non-woven fabrics offer superior cleanliness, flexibility and static resistance.
When used together as a combination of a woven bulk bag and a non-woven liner, you can get the best of both worlds.
Looking for the best quality non-woven and woven bags in South Africa? Tufbag is your go-to supplier for all your bulk bag needs. Contact us today!