Needle-punched nonwoven fabric

Abstract

The invention relates to a needle-punched nonwoven fabric wherein short fibers of polylactic acid containing an epoxy compound account for 20 to 40 mass % while short fibers of polyethylene terephthalate account for 80 to 60 mass %, the metsuke (weight per unit surface area) being 100 to 200 g/m 2 , and the tensile strength per metsuke at 20° C. being 0.30 to 0.60 (N/cm)/(g/m 2 ) in the longitudinal direction and 0.48 to 0.90 (N/cm)/(g/m 2 ) in the lateral direction. The present invention provides needle-punched nonwoven fabrics that are low in environment load, high enough in durability to serve as interior finishing material for automobiles, and high in stretchability during molding.

1 . A needle-punched nonwoven fabric wherein short fibers of polylactic acid containing an epoxy compound account for 20 to 40 mass % while short fibers of polyethylene terephthalate account for 60 to 80 mass %, the metsuke (weight per unit surface area) being 100 to 200 g/m 2 , and the tensile strength per metsuke at 20° C. being 0.30 to 0.60 (N/cm)/(g/m 2 ) in the longitudinal direction and 0.48 to 0.90 (N/cm)/(g/m 2 ) in the lateral direction. 
     
     
         2 . A needle-punched nonwoven fabric as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the tensile strength per metsuke at 130° C. is in the range of 0.30 to 0.40 (N/cm)/(g/m 2 ) in the longitudinal direction and 0.36 to 0.50 (N/cm)/(g/m 2 ) in the lateral direction. 
     
     
         3 . A needle-punched nonwoven fabric as claimed in either  claim 1  or  2   claim 1  that are not subjected to resin finishing.