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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Chemistry and Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #209815
Title: Spunlaced Cottons

Author
item Parikh, Dharnidhar
item Sawhney, Amar
item Condon, Brian

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2007
Publication Date: 6/15/2007
Citation: Parikh, D.V., Sawhney, A.P., Condon, B.D. 2007. Spunlaced Cottons. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. CDROM. p. 729-732.

Interpretive Summary: Skin wounds are covered to protect the wounds and give comfort. The wounds produce a little to large amount of fluid exudates. One of the purposes of the bandage is to absorb the body fluid and maintain a sterile environment for wound healing. The material for medical bandages for the past one hundred years are woven cotton gauze. These materials, made from absorbent gauze, are described in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). Because the gauze is used to convert it to dressings and bandages for wounds, the standards of construction and chemical purity of gauze are well defined in the Absorbent Gauze monograph. Sterilized dressings and bandages are used as wound care materials. Since the last ten to fifteen years surgical bandages made out of hydroentangled cotton and cotton containing fabrics are very much in use, primarily because they are technical better and more economically produced. This paper discsusses spunlaced cottons in detail.

Technical Abstract: Skin wounds have traditionally been covered to protect the wound from contamination and to permit the skin to heal preferably without leaving scars. These wounds may be treated in hospitals, clinics or at home. Fresh wounds initially produce a little to large amount of fluid exudates which provides an environment for bacterial growth and infection. One of the purposes of the dressing and bandage is to absorb the body fluid and maintain a sterile environment for wound healing. The preferred material for medical/surgical dressings, sponges, and bandages for the past one hundred years has been woven cotton gauze in several plain weave variations. These materials, made from Absorbent Gauze, are described in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). Because the gauze is used to convert it to dressings and bandages for wounds, the standards of construction and chemical purity of gauze are well defined in the Absorbent Gauze monograph. Sterilized dressings and bandages are used as wound care materials.