Confil Explained
Confil is a wet-laid nonwoven fabric made from a blend of polyester and cellulose.[1] The International Paper Company acquired the manufacturing process from in 1968,[2] [3] and marketed Confil as a disposable fabric for domestic and hospital use. Although the product was too late to market to take advantage of the 1960s paper clothing fad, International Paper promoted it for general clothing use, positioning the product as superior to paper in feel and durability, but cheap enough to throw away. Despite limited adoption in the fashion industry, demand justified construction of a $16 million factory in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania to increase production volumes.[4] As the price of cotton more than doubled during the 1970s, Confil found use in other specialty applications such as wallpaper, construction fabrics, and geotextiles.[5] In the early 21st century, Confil is largely used in filtration media.
External links
Confil television advertisement broadcast on CBS News during the Apollo 11 launch, 16 July 1969
Notes and References
- Textile Industries . Textile Industries . W. R. C. Smith Publishing Company . 142 . 86 . 1978 . International Paper's Confil, a wet-laid polyester/cellulosic blend . 17 July 2019 .
- The Rubber and Plastics Age . The Rubber and Plastics Age . 49 . 698 . 1968 . International Paper Co. have entered into a know-how agreement with Feldmuhle of Germany concerning 'Confil' non-woven fabric manufacture. The hospital supplies market will be an important outlet. . 17 July 2019 .
- Technology . Textile Industries . W. R. C. Smith Publishing Company . 132 . 26 . 1968 . The International Paper Co. has announced plans to enter the disposable market with Confil. Know-how has been acquired from a Dusseldorf (Germany) company, and natural and man-made fibers are processed on paper machines. Products range from disposable sheets, pillow-cases, table cloths, and napkins to surgical masks and gowns, examination gowns, nurses' uniforms, and laboratory coats. The materials can be made moisture resistant, fire resistant, dust- and lint-free. Initial output is scheduled for the end of 1969. . 18 July 2019 .
- Plastics World . Plastics World . Cahners Publishing Company . 27 . 107 . 1969 . The International Paper Co. announced the purchase of land and plans to build a $16-million plant near Lewisburg, Pa., to produce IP's "CONFIL" non-woven fabric. Completion is scheduled for early 1970. . 17 July 2019 .
- Nonwoven is printed for wall coverings . Textile World . Bragdon, Lord & Nagle Company . 126 . 54 . 1976 . First wall coverings ever printed on International Paper's Confil nonwoven made of Kodel polyester are being introduced by David & Dash in its American Dream collection. The collection also includes 100% cotton fabrics that coordinate with the wall coverings. . 17 July 2019 .