The web travels on a perforated drum or belt while heated air is drawn through it, melting bicomponent sheaths or binder fibers through the full thickness. Because there is no nip, the fabric keeps its loft, softness and open structure. Through-air bonding is the standard route for acquisition layers, soft topsheets, highloft batts and thermally bonded airlaid.
Through-air bonding oven is at 138 for the PE sheath, and the ADL loft is right where it should be.
Even air flow across the drum matters as much as temperature; a dead zone shows up as a soft, weak lane.
Also heard as
- through-air bonded
- air-through bonding
Related terms
TAB
Through-air bonded: shop and spec shorthand for fabrics bonded by hot air drawn through the web.
Bicomponent fiber
Fiber spun from two different polymers in one cross section, such as a low-melting sheath around a strong core.
ADL
Acquisition distribution layer: the lofty layer under a diaper topsheet that takes in liquid and spreads it to the core.
Highloft
Low-density, thick nonwoven made for bulk and trapped air rather than strength, such as fiberfill and padding.
Loft
Thickness and springiness of a nonwoven, especially its ability to recover thickness after being compressed.