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Improve energy efficiency

One theme Sandler observed by nonwovens producers in the construction industry is energy efficiency in new construction and building renovation. In fact, insulation materials have become more efficient in terms of certain requirements, and now the government is also promoting energy conservation through legislation to achieve the goals of climate change policy, said RonnySchr Oder, deputy sales director of the company's technology products. In addition, the demand for sustainable materials continues to rise.

Sandler fibercomfort series polyester non-woven fabric can be used as an insulation material for internal walls, and can also be used as a roofing material to obtain insulation between and above the rafters. The porous structure of the product-microfibers form a "fibrous skeleton" and create a large inner surface, making it an efficient thermal and acoustic insulation material. They have low thermal conductivity and can still achieve excellent thermal and acoustic insulation at low product thickness, thereby reducing raw material costs. These single-polymer nonwovens are fully recyclable, partially made from recycled fibers, supporting closed-loop material circulation and conserving natural resources. Schröder said: "They are mainly used for renovation and renovation, but they are equally suitable for the construction of new buildings."

When talking about the European construction market, he believes that the competition in this market is very fierce. Regulations related to building design and environmental protection impose higher and more complex requirements on building materials, which makes the overall market more demanding of functional materials. "Nonwovens are well positioned to meet the challenges of this market. Efficient thermal and acoustic insulation, ease of use and a variety of designs make nonwovens an attractive option."

Participation in major international projects

Kjeldsen Henrik, CCO of the Fibertex Nonwovens, said that the roofing and construction market is in good growth in most regions. Fibertex Nonwovens are also providing many types of products for the roofing industry, such as support materials for the manufacture of industrial flat roofing waterproofing membranes, and self-adhesive membranes. Kjeldsen explained: "This saves valuable time during the installation process and also improves the actual installation effect."

Another growing application, Fibertex said, is the use of anti-condensation products for metal roofing. The goal of this application is to absorb condensed water to avoid water droplets in the building. Kjeldsen said that these products are equipped with self-adhesive films to withstand high temperatures and high humidity. He said: "Nonwovens can provide a very flexible solution. It can give the final product excellent tensile strength and controllable elongation, and has hydrophobic or hydrophilic properties. In addition, it also has many advantages during installation."

Recently, Fibertex Nonwovens worked hard to become one of the largest suppliers of bridge projects in the world. The company supplied Formtex products to the Sheikh Jabar Al Ahmad Causeway in Kuwait. The 36-kilometer-long concrete bridge is being built over the bay between Kuwait City and the Subiyah region.

The salt water, high temperature and carbon dioxide content in the air will aggravate the damage to the concrete structure. Therefore, in accordance with the requirements of the project owner, innovative solutions are needed to ensure that the service life of reinforced concrete exceeds 120 years. The project was undertaken as a design-build-operate (DBO) project and the contractor had to pay for maintenance during part of the operation. As such, they are particularly focused on finding financially sustainable solutions throughout the life cycle of the bridge. Formtex is a double-sided CPF lining material. Fibertex Nonwovens supply a total of 1.5 million square meters of Formtex material. This product is used to cast concrete components on site, and then use concrete components to build bridge decks and piers.

Kjeldsen explained: "Formtex CPF lining material helps to discharge water from the concrete structure, thereby reducing the water/cement (w/c) ratio of the concrete, so that it can produce a smooth and uniform concrete casting without pores, thereby ensuring that the concrete surface can withstand the strong impact of sand and salt water, greatly improving the strength and durability of the concrete. This is not the first time that Formtex has been selected for a major international project, but it is the largest project so far."

optimistic outlook

Roofing and construction market expert Johns Manville(JM) is optimistic about the growth of the construction market. According to Tom Balkom, director of nonwovens sales at Johns Manville North America, demand for nonwovens in the U.S. construction market is growing strongly and is expected to continue to grow at a high level for most of 2018. At the same time, after a long period of malaise in the European market, JM saw the overall operating rate in the region pick up for the second consecutive year.

"We expect this positive momentum to continue over the next few years," said Martin Kleinebrecht, head of global marketing and product management for nonwovens at Johns Manville. "Given that GDP and construction demand is growing in most regions, the trend towards higher quality construction products is likely to strengthen further, which is definitely good news for us." This trend towards higher quality products is particularly evident in Eastern and South-Eastern European countries, he added.

JM produces glass fiber non-woven fabrics and polyester spunbond materials for asphalt shingles, asphalt roofing films, single-layer synthetic roofing films, roof shingles, asphalt and polymer board base films, insulation boards, and external gypsum cladding boards.

The company sees the use of nonwovens in the roofing and construction industry growing every year, while the traditional materials of glass fiber nonwovens or spunbond materials are constantly being updated, and in different geographical areas, the situation will be different. Balkom said that it is not common for nonwovens to be successfully used in all areas, but JM has recently done so.

By using highly sophisticated JM fiberglass nonwovens, manufacturers are able to successfully replace cellulose paper layers in compact exterior panel structures. Kleinebrecht said: "The new compact vertical panels have passed the Euroclass A2 fire rating certification, which means they are non-flammable. This is something that traditional materials cannot achieve."

JM is committed to working closely with customers to develop tailor-made products, and its architectural innovation program also includes improving customers' production economics, thereby helping them maintain their industry-leading edge. Kleinebrecht added: "For example, we were able to use the spunbond production line recently invested in Berlin, Germany (based on JM's proprietary BiCo technology) for product development to solve the processing challenges in the production of low-temperature roofing films."

looking for new ideas

Polyester nonwovens Freudenberg Performance Materials (Freudenberg Advanced Materials) are used in asphalt waterproofing membranes for the construction market. The company has also developed polyester nonwovens reinforced with glass fiber filaments.

Dr. Frank Heislitz, chief technology officer of Freudenberg Performance Materials, said: "The flexibility of polyester combined with the stability of glass allows for excellent flowability, especially under high stress conditions and for use in high-speed asphalt production lines. It also gives asphalt membranes excellent dimensional stability and durability."

He added that another benefit of these composites is the elimination of thermal memory with glass reinforcement-once applied to the roof, the membrane will not shrink due to temperature changes.

Dr. Heislitz believes that the application of nonwovens in the construction field is growing steadily, on the one hand because of the continuous innovation of products, on the other hand, because of different characteristics, manufacturers can find new ways to apply nonwovens in the construction industry.

One feature of the Freudenberg substrate is that it is made primarily of 100 percent recycled PET. As a result, the company has been able to reduce CO2 emissions from its production to 0.14 billion kg per year and reduce water consumption by 50%. Heislitz said: "The new regulations on building energy certification are undoubtedly driving the market more and more towards environmentally friendly nonwovens. The production of recycled materials is also a growth area in the construction industry."

Freudenberg recently invested in a new glass fiber reinforced spunbond line in Macon, Georgia, USA. Heislitz said the line, launched last year, will not only expand its capacity and product portfolio, but will also enable the company to further strengthen its presence and leadership in the local market as well as globally. This new line represents Freudenberg's latest technology and will complement Macon's original staple fiber line.

Effective sealing of building envelope

DowDuPont's Tyvek has essentially become synonymous with building cladding-in fact, it was the company that invented the category more than 40 years ago. Today, Tyvek's portfolio of building solutions can effectively seal the building envelope, provide solutions that meet or exceed specifications, help extend the life of the building, and help reduce fossil fuel consumption. They are resistant to moisture and air, but are highly permeable, thus reducing the risk of condensation damage, wood decay or mold growth.

"Tyvek building sheathing, Flashing Systems and Tyvek Protec roofing underlayment control air and water penetration and allow internal water vapor to escape, contributing to a more sustainable, durable and comfortable structure," said Alan Hubbell, Building Business Marketing Manager."

Tyvek Protec roofing underlay materials are the latest addition to the company's portfolio of architectural solutions. This material was launched in 2016 and has a unique embossed pattern, which can provide better traction and grip for roof walking. At the same time, it also has excellent lightweight, durable, secondary moisture protection and wrinkle-free surface. Features, installation is also easier.

"As more and more countries push their building standards, we believe this will drive demand for nonwovens in the global building market. Our products are helping to lead innovation in the global market," the Hubbell concluded."