Spunlace Nonwoven Fabric Raw Materials: Viscose, Polyester, Cotton and Blends

The raw material is one of the most important decisions when manufacturing spunlace nonwoven fabric.

Unlike spunbond nonwoven, which is commonly produced by extruding polymer resin into continuous filaments, spunlace starts with staple fibers. These fibers are opened, formed into a web and mechanically entangled with high-pressure water jets.

The choice of fiber affects almost every important characteristic of the finished fabric, including:

• Softness

• Absorbency

• Wet strength

• Dry strength

• Elongation

• Linting

• Surface feel

• Durability

• Cost

• End-use suitability

The most common spunlace nonwoven fabric raw materials include viscose, polyester, cotton and various fiber blends.

However, there is no universally "best" fiber.

A wipe manufacturer looking for high absorbency may choose a different construction from an industrial-wipe manufacturer that prioritizes durability. Similarly, a cosmetic product may require a softer surface than a heavy-duty cleaning wipe.

For buyers, the important question is therefore not simply which fiber is best, but:

Which fiber composition gives the required performance at an acceptable total cost?

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What Raw Materials Are Used in Spunlace Nonwoven Fabric?

Spunlace can be manufactured from several types of staple fibers.

The most common include:

Fiber	Main characteristics	Typical applications
Viscose	Softness, absorbency	Wet wipes, facial wipes, personal care
Polyester	Strength, durability	Industrial and cleaning wipes
Cotton	Natural-fiber characteristics	Personal care and specialty products
Lyocell	Cellulosic, soft hand feel	Premium wipes and personal care
Viscose/polyester	Balance of properties	Wipes and general applications
Other blends	Application-specific balance	Specialty nonwovens

The actual performance of a spunlace fabric depends not only on fiber type but also on:

• Fiber length

• Fiber fineness

• Fiber strength

• Blend ratio

• GSM

• Web formation

• Fiber orientation

• Hydroentanglement conditions

• Finishing treatment

Therefore, the phrase "viscose spunlace fabric" describes the basic material but does not completely define the finished product.

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Why Raw Material Choice Matters

Imagine three suppliers offering the same:

50 GSM spunlace nonwoven fabric

Supplier A uses:

100% viscose

Supplier B uses:

70% viscose / 30% polyester

Supplier C uses:

100% polyester

All three products may have the same nominal GSM.

But their performance can be substantially different.

Property	100% Viscose	Viscose/Polyester Blend	100% Polyester
Softness	Generally high	Adjustable	Application-dependent
Absorbency	Generally high	Medium to high	Generally lower
Wet durability	Application-dependent	Often improved	Generally strong
Dry strength	Moderate to high depending on construction	Adjustable	Generally high
Natural/cellulosic content	High	Partial	None
Typical cost position	Varies	Varies	Varies
Typical applications	Wipes, personal care	Wipes, cleaning	Industrial/cleaning

These are general tendencies, not universal performance guarantees.

The actual result depends on the fiber specification and manufacturing process.

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1. Viscose: A Major Spunlace Raw Material

Viscose is one of the most widely used fibers for spunlace applications.

It is a regenerated cellulose fiber and is particularly attractive when the finished product requires softness and liquid absorption.

Why Is Viscose Used in Spunlace?

The main reasons include:

• Soft hand feel

• Good absorbency

• Suitable fiber characteristics for hydroentanglement

• Cellulose-based composition

• Good suitability for many personal-care applications

This makes viscose particularly relevant to:

• Wet wipes

• Baby wipes

• Facial wipes

• Makeup-removal wipes

• Personal-care wipes

• Disposable towels

• Certain cleaning products

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Viscose Spunlace Fabric

Viscose spunlace fabric is produced using viscose staple fibers as the primary or only fiber component.

A common example is:

100% viscose spunlace

This type of material is often selected when softness and absorbency are major priorities.

However, 100% viscose is not automatically the best choice for every wipe.

If a product requires higher durability or stronger wet performance, a blended construction may be more appropriate.

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Viscose Fiber Properties That Matter

Not all viscose fibers are identical.

Important characteristics include:

Fiber length

Fiber length influences the ability of fibers to form a stable network.

Fiber fineness

Finer fibers can contribute to:

• Softer surface

• Different pore structure

• Different absorbency behavior

Fiber strength

Fiber strength affects the mechanical behavior of the final fabric.

Fiber uniformity

Consistent fiber dimensions help support consistent web formation and finished-fabric quality.

Therefore, simply specifying "viscose" may still leave important technical variables undefined.

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Advantages of Viscose Spunlace

For suitable applications, viscose can provide:

High softness

Useful for products that contact skin.

Good absorbency

Useful for wipes and other liquid-handling materials.

Cellulose-based composition

Relevant to buyers looking for regenerated-cellulose fiber content.

Flexible fabric structure

Suitable for folding, wiping and other flexible applications.

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Limitations of Viscose

Viscose also has trade-offs.

Depending on the construction, buyers may need to consider:

• Wet strength

• Dimensional stability

• Cost

• Fiber shedding

• Performance after prolonged liquid exposure

This is why a 100% viscose construction should be tested against the actual finished-product requirements.

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2. Polyester: A Durable Spunlace Raw Material

Polyester is another major raw material used in spunlace.

Compared with many cellulosic fibers, polyester is generally associated with stronger synthetic-fiber characteristics and good durability.

Why Is Polyester Used in Spunlace?

Typical reasons include:

• Good dry strength

• Durability

• Resistance to repeated handling

• Synthetic-fiber consistency

• Compatibility with blended constructions

This makes polyester particularly relevant to:

• Industrial wipes

• Household cleaning wipes

• Automotive cleaning materials

• Durable wiping products

• Specialty nonwoven applications

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Polyester Spunlace Fabric

Polyester spunlace fabric uses polyester staple fibers as the primary or sole fiber component.

A typical construction might be:

100% polyester spunlace

The exact performance depends on the polyester fiber specification and production conditions.

Polyester can also be blended with viscose to balance different performance requirements.

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Polyester Fiber Properties That Matter

When purchasing polyester spunlace, buyers should consider more than the word "polyester."

Important variables include:

• Fiber length

• Fiber fineness

• Fiber strength

• Fiber crimp

• Fiber surface characteristics

• Fiber uniformity

These characteristics influence web formation, entanglement and final fabric performance.

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Advantages of Polyester Spunlace

Polyester can provide:

Good durability

Useful when the fabric needs to withstand repeated mechanical handling.

Strong synthetic-fiber characteristics

This can make polyester useful for industrial and cleaning applications.

Consistent raw material behavior

Controlled polyester staple fibers can support stable production.

Blending flexibility

Polyester can be combined with viscose or other fibers to create different performance profiles.

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Limitations of Polyester

Polyester is not automatically the best option for absorbent products.

Compared with hydrophilic cellulosic fibers, conventional polyester is generally less naturally absorbent.

Therefore, if the primary objective is:

rapid liquid uptake + soft skin feel

a cellulosic fiber may be more attractive.

If the priority is:

durability + mechanical strength

polyester may become more attractive.

The final decision should depend on the finished product.

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3. Cotton as a Spunlace Raw Material

Cotton is a natural cellulosic fiber that can also be used in spunlace production.

Cotton can provide:

• Natural-fiber characteristics

• Soft hand feel

• Absorbency

• Familiar consumer perception

It can be relevant to certain:

• Personal-care products

• Cosmetic materials

• Specialty wipes

• Natural-fiber-focused products

However, cotton can have different cost, processing and consistency considerations compared with industrially produced viscose or polyester staple fibers.

For commercial production, buyers should clarify:

• Cotton grade

• Fiber length

• Fiber quality

• Blend percentage

• Required performance

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4. Lyocell and Other Cellulosic Fibers

Lyocell is another regenerated cellulose fiber that may be used in specialty spunlace applications.

It can be attractive for products where buyers are seeking:

• Softness

• Cellulose-based fiber content

• Premium material positioning

• Absorbency

The commercial availability and cost can differ from more common viscose grades.

For a high-volume product, the buyer should compare not only fabric performance but also:

• Raw-material availability

• Supplier stability

• Price

• Production capacity

• Long-term consistency

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5. Fiber Blends: Why Do Manufacturers Mix Fibers?

Blending allows manufacturers to combine different characteristics.

This is one of the most important concepts in spunlace nonwoven fabric raw materials.

Instead of asking one fiber to provide everything, manufacturers can use different fibers for different functions.

For example:

Viscose → softness and absorbency

Polyester → strength and durability

The blend attempts to create a balance between the two.

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Common Viscose/Polyester Blends

Common commercial constructions may include ratios such as:

• 90/10

• 80/20

• 70/30

• 60/40

• 50/50

The appropriate ratio depends on the application.

For example:

Blend	General direction
90% viscose / 10% polyester	Absorbency and softness focused
80% viscose / 20% polyester	More balanced
70% viscose / 30% polyester	Stronger balance between absorbency and durability
50% viscose / 50% polyester	More synthetic-fiber contribution

These ratios are examples rather than universal recommendations.

Actual performance should be verified through testing.

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How Fiber Ratio Changes Fabric Performance

Changing the blend ratio can influence:

Absorbency

Increasing the proportion of absorbent cellulosic fiber can generally increase the fabric's affinity for water.

Wet strength

Increasing synthetic-fiber content can change the mechanical behavior of the wet fabric.

Softness

The fiber type and fineness influence the surface hand feel.

Durability

Synthetic-fiber content can contribute to mechanical durability.

Cost

Different fibers have different raw-material costs.

This is why blend optimization is both a technical decision and a commercial decision.

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Fiber Length: An Often-Overlooked Variable

Buyers often specify fiber type but overlook fiber length.

Fiber length influences how fibers interact within the web.

Longer fibers can create different entanglement characteristics from shorter fibers.

Fiber length can affect:

• Web stability

• Fiber entanglement

• Tensile performance

• Surface characteristics

• Fiber shedding

The appropriate fiber length depends on the production system and application.

Therefore, manufacturers should select a fiber specification compatible with their hydroentanglement equipment rather than simply choosing a fiber based on price.

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Fiber Fineness and Denier

Fiber fineness is another important raw-material characteristic.

A finer fiber has a smaller diameter and can create a different surface and pore structure from a coarser fiber.

Fiber fineness can influence:

• Softness

• Surface area

• Absorbency behavior

• Fabric density

• Hand feel

This helps explain why two viscose spunlace products can feel different even when both use "100% viscose."

The fiber grade matters.

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Fiber Strength and Finished Fabric Strength

The strength of the finished spunlace fabric is not determined only by fiber strength.

It also depends on:

• Fiber orientation

• Fiber length

• GSM

• Degree of entanglement

• Fabric structure

• Finishing

A strong fiber in a poorly structured web does not automatically produce a high-strength fabric.

The final mechanical properties are a result of the entire fiber network.

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How Raw Materials Affect Absorbency

Absorbency is particularly important for wipes.

A simplified relationship is:

Fiber chemistry → Surface interaction with liquid → Liquid uptake → Liquid retention

Cellulosic fibers such as viscose generally have stronger affinity for water than conventional polyester.

However, the final fabric's absorbency also depends on:

• Pore structure

• Fiber arrangement

• GSM

• Thickness

• Finishing

• Liquid viscosity

Therefore, fiber composition should not be used as a substitute for actual absorbency testing.

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How Raw Materials Affect Wet Strength

Wet strength is particularly important because many spunlace products are used with liquids.

Consider two fabrics:

Fabric A: 100% viscose

Fabric B: 70% viscose / 30% polyester

Fabric B may offer a different balance of wet mechanical performance.

But the result depends on the complete construction.

A buyer should therefore request actual:

• Wet tensile strength

• MD/CD data

• Wet tear resistance where relevant

rather than assuming that a certain blend will automatically meet the requirement.

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How Raw Materials Affect Softness

Softness depends on both fiber and structure.

Factors include:

• Fiber chemistry

• Fiber fineness

• Fiber length

• Fabric density

• Hydroentanglement intensity

• Finishing treatment

A very soft fiber does not guarantee a soft finished fabric.

The hydroentanglement process can significantly influence the final hand feel.

This is why sample evaluation remains important even when the fiber composition is identical.

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How Raw Materials Affect Linting

Linting is the release of loose fibers from the finished fabric.

Potential causes include:

• Fiber length

• Fiber strength

• Fiber entanglement

• Surface structure

• Processing conditions

• Finishing

Applications such as electronics cleaning or certain medical environments may have stricter linting requirements than general household wipes.

If low linting is important, it should be treated as a measurable performance requirement rather than simply asking for "high-quality spunlace."

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How Raw Materials Affect Cost

Raw material is one of the major components of spunlace production cost.

However, comparing fibers only by price per kilogram can be misleading.

A lower-priced raw material may require:

• Higher GSM

• Different blend ratio

• Additional finishing

• Different production settings

• More material per finished product

The better commercial metric is often:

Cost per usable finished product

For example, if two wipe substrates have different GSM and absorption capacity, the cheaper fabric per kilogram may not produce the lower-cost wipe.

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Raw Material Selection by Application

A practical starting point is to work backward from the finished product.

Application	Common material direction	Key properties
Baby wipes	Viscose or viscose-rich blend	Softness, absorbency
Facial wipes	Viscose/cellulosic-rich	Softness, absorbency
Makeup-removal wipes	Viscose or blends	Softness, liquid uptake
Household wipes	Viscose/polyester blends	Wet strength, absorbency
Industrial wipes	Polyester or blends	Strength, durability
Automotive wipes	Polyester/blends	Durability, strength
Disposable towels	Viscose/polyester/cellulosic blends	Absorbency, strength
Specialty products	Application-specific	Defined performance requirements

These are starting points, not fixed formulas.

The finished-product design should determine the final fiber construction.

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Viscose vs Polyester Spunlace: Basic Comparison

For buyers researching viscose spunlace fabric and polyester spunlace fabric, the following comparison is useful.

Characteristic	Viscose Spunlace	Polyester Spunlace
Fiber category	Regenerated cellulose	Synthetic polymer
Softness	Generally high	Application-dependent
Water affinity	Generally high	Generally lower
Absorbency	Generally high	Generally lower
Dry durability	Moderate to high depending on construction	Generally high
Wet behavior	Application-dependent	Often favorable for durability
Typical use	Wipes, personal care	Industrial and cleaning
Sustainability discussion	Depends on fiber source/process	Depends on polymer source and recycled content
Cost	Market-dependent	Market-dependent

This comparison should not be interpreted as "viscose is better" or "polyester is better."

They solve different material problems.

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Viscose vs Viscose/Polyester Blend

A buyer choosing between:

100% viscose

and

70% viscose / 30% polyester

should consider what the final product actually needs.

100% viscose may be attractive when:

• Softness is critical

• Absorbency is important

• Cellulosic content is desired

A blend may be attractive when:

• Additional durability is required

• Wet performance needs improvement

• The buyer wants to balance cost and performance

• The finished product needs a different mechanical profile

The correct answer should come from product testing rather than the material name alone.

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Virgin vs Recycled Fiber Considerations

Some buyers also need to evaluate whether the raw material contains recycled content.

This can introduce additional questions:

• What percentage is recycled?

• What is the source of the recycled fiber?

• Is the composition consistent?

• What documentation is available?

• Does the recycled content affect color or odor?

• Does it meet the finished-product performance requirements?

For products where recycled content is a commercial requirement, buyers should request appropriate supporting documentation rather than relying only on a supplier's verbal claim.

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How Should Buyers Specify Spunlace Raw Materials?

A good RFQ should specify more than:

"Viscose spunlace."

A stronger specification could look like:

50 GSM, 100% viscose spunlace nonwoven fabric, white, 1.6 m width, for facial wipes, with defined absorbency, tensile and wet-strength requirements.

Or:

60 GSM, 70% viscose / 30% polyester spunlace, white, for household cleaning wipes, with specified MD/CD tensile strength and wet-strength requirements.

This allows suppliers to quote comparable products.

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Questions to Ask a Spunlace Manufacturer About Raw Materials

Before placing an order, buyers can ask:

About fiber

• What fiber type is used?

• What is the exact composition?

• What fiber length is used?

• What fiber fineness is used?

• Is the fiber virgin, regenerated or recycled?

• Who supplies the fiber?

About consistency

• Is the same fiber grade used for repeat orders?

• How is incoming fiber inspected?

• How is blend ratio controlled?

• Can the supplier provide raw-material batch traceability?

About performance

• What GSM is recommended?

• What wet strength can be achieved?

• What absorbency can be achieved?

• What linting level is typical?

• Can samples be produced before bulk production?

These questions help distinguish a manufacturer with controlled raw-material management from a supplier simply selling a generic fabric specification.

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A Practical Raw-Material Selection Framework

Instead of starting with:

"Which fiber is cheapest?"

Use this sequence:

1. Define the application

What will the finished product do?

2. Define the critical properties

For example:

Absorbency + softness + wet strength

3. Select the fiber family

Viscose, polyester, cotton, lyocell or a blend.

4. Optimize the blend

If a single fiber cannot provide the required balance, consider blending.

5. Set GSM

Choose the lowest practical GSM that meets the finished-product requirements.

6. Test the fabric

Evaluate laboratory properties and actual product performance.

7. Compare total cost

Consider:

Raw material cost + fabric cost + converting performance + waste + finished-product yield

This approach usually produces better purchasing decisions than comparing material prices alone.

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Common Mistakes When Choosing Spunlace Raw Materials

Mistake 1: Assuming 100% viscose is always better

It may provide excellent softness and absorbency, but the application may require greater durability.

Mistake 2: Assuming polyester is only for cheap products

Polyester can be valuable when strength and durability are important.

Mistake 3: Comparing GSM without comparing composition

50 GSM viscose and 50 GSM polyester are not equivalent materials.

Mistake 4: Ignoring fiber fineness

Fiber fineness can influence surface feel and structure significantly.

Mistake 5: Choosing based only on raw-material price

The lowest fiber price does not necessarily produce the lowest finished-product cost.

Mistake 6: Ignoring wet performance

A dry tensile test cannot fully predict how a wipe will behave when saturated.

Mistake 7: Changing fiber supplier without revalidation

Even when the nominal fiber type and composition remain unchanged, differences in fiber grade can affect production and finished-fabric performance.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main raw materials for spunlace nonwoven fabric?

The main raw materials include viscose, polyester, cotton, lyocell and various blends. Viscose and polyester are particularly common in commercial spunlace production.

What is viscose spunlace fabric?

Viscose spunlace fabric is a hydroentangled nonwoven made using viscose staple fibers. It is commonly selected for applications requiring softness and absorbency, such as wipes and personal-care products.

What is polyester spunlace fabric?

Polyester spunlace fabric is a hydroentangled nonwoven made primarily from polyester staple fibers. It is often selected for applications requiring durability, strength and synthetic-fiber characteristics.

Is viscose better than polyester for spunlace?

Neither is universally better. Viscose is generally attractive for softness and absorbency, while polyester is often attractive for strength and durability. The appropriate choice depends on the finished product.

Can viscose and polyester be blended in spunlace?

Yes. Blending allows manufacturers to balance properties such as absorbency, softness, wet strength and durability.

What is the best fiber for wet wipes?

There is no single best fiber for every wet wipe. Viscose and viscose-rich blends are commonly used when softness and absorbency are important, while blends can be selected when additional durability or wet strength is required.

Does higher GSM mean better spunlace fabric?

No. Higher GSM means more fiber mass per square meter, but it does not automatically mean better quality. The correct GSM depends on the required finished-product performance.

Does fiber composition affect spunlace price?

Yes. Fiber type and blend ratio can significantly influence material cost. However, buyers should compare the total cost of achieving the required finished-product performance rather than only the price per kilogram.

Can spunlace contain recycled fibers?

Yes, depending on the production system and product requirements. Buyers should confirm the exact recycled content, source and supporting documentation when recycled material is commercially important.

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Conclusion: Choosing the Right Spunlace Raw Material

The raw material is the foundation of spunlace nonwoven fabric, but it does not determine the final performance by itself.

The finished fabric results from the interaction of:

Fiber type

→ Fiber grade

→ Blend ratio

→ Fiber length and fineness

→ Web structure

→ Hydroentanglement

→ Finishing

→ Final product design

Viscose is often attractive for softness and absorbency. Polyester is often attractive for strength and durability. Cotton and other cellulosic fibers can serve more specialized requirements, while blends allow manufacturers to balance competing properties.

For buyers, the best approach is to start with the finished product and work backward.

Application → Required performance → Fiber selection → Blend ratio → GSM → Testing → Cost comparison

That process produces a much more reliable material specification than simply asking a supplier for "spunlace fabric."