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Overview

DuPont introduced Sontara® in 1973 after a decade of research into spunlaced, or hydro-entangled, fabrics. With five patents in the technology of spunlaced nonwovens between 1963 and 1970, DuPont became an expert in these specialty fabrics. Spunlaced fabrics are made with a special process, in which jets of water with needle-like properties are used to entangle a web of fibers on a flat surface, creating a tear-resistant, matte-like material. Because no adhesives or additives are used in the process, the resulting fabric is practically lint-free and can be used in a variety of applications from hospital surgical gowns and masks to baby wipes. DuPont has also marketed Sontara® as clean, absorbent wipes for cleaning airplane windows, preparing race cars for paint layers and in a variety of other consumer cleaning needs. Sontara® was first made at DuPont's Old Hickory plant in 1973, which is today the largest spunlacing facility in the world.

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