SHRI GURU GOBIND SINGHJI INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,

VISHNUPURI,NANDED – 431606 (M.S.)

AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTE OWNED BY GOVERNMENT OF MAHARASHTRA.

Wet wipes

GUIDED BY : MADHUSUDHAN SIR

STUDENT NAME : SHINDE SAKSHI GANESH
REGISTRATION NUMBER : 2019BTT014
INDEX
• Introduction
• Types of wet wipes
• Uses of wet wipes
• Properties of wet wipes
• Categories of wipes
• How wet wipes are made?
• Components of wet wipes
• Chemical used for preservatives in wet wipes
Introduction :
• A wet wipe, also known as wet tissue, is a moistened nonwoven cloth mainly used for
cleaning purposes. It is a personal hygiene product under the medical textiles.
• usually made with fibers like cotton, viscose, polyester, polyethylene, etc.
• The wet wipes commercially available are either disposable or flushable which make them easy to use.
• The Added scent, softness, moisturizing capability, disposable, cost and absorbency
are the other factors which added value of wet wipes.
Types of wipes:
Wipes are of two types:
1. Wet wipes
2. Dry wipes

1. Wet wipes
A wet wipe or a wet towel or a moist towelette is a pre-moistened non-woven fabric.

Categories -
• Personal care wipes
• Household and home cleaning wipes
• Industrial cleaning wipes
Uses of wet wipes :
• Freshing up
• Clean your hands without water
• Clean away household dust
• Quick fix cleaning
• Stain remover
• Get rid of dirt from shoes
• Cleaning pets
Properties of wet wipes :

Physical properties Chemical properties Mechanical properties

Size and thickness PH level Tensile strength
Moisture content Chemical stability Absorbency
Texture Volatility Surface texture
Strength and durability Compatibility Flexibility
scent Softness
Personal care wipes:

Ex – Baby wipes , cleansing pads , Cosmetic wet wipes , Personal care hygiene ,
and Pet care wipes .

Baby wipes :
Baby wipes are wet wipes used to cleanse the sensitive skin of infants. These are saturated with solutions anywhere
from gentle cleansing ingrediants to alcohol-based “cleansers.” Baby wipes are typically sold in plastic tubs that
keep the cloths moist and allow for easy dispending.
How wet wipes are made ?
Step 1 : Design
The first step in any manufacturing project is the design. Wet wipes need to contain specific characteristics in order to
satisfy consumer expectations. As such, the fabric selected should be durable enough to withstand heavy-duty cleaning
tasks yet disposable. Since the wipes are saturated in cleansing solution, it’s important that the fabric be absorbent.

In addition to the design of the wipes themselves, manufacturers also need to consider the design of their packaging.
Baby wipe packages should be able to easily dispense single sheets while preserving the moisture of the towelettes that
have not yet been used. Thermo-formed plastic tubes are often the go-to solution for packaging wet wipes.

Step 2 : Materials
Once the design has been developed, the next step is to select the materials. Usually, wet wipes are created from
non-woven fabric. While traditional fabrics are created by weaving fibers together to form an interlocking matrix of loops,
non-woven fabrics are created by a process through which a mass of separate fibers is pressed into a single sheet of
material. Cotton, rayon, polyester, polyethylene, and polypropylene are common fibers used in this process.
Components of wet wipes.
A wet wipes made of two component:
• Absorbent fabric
• Wetting solution

The various substrate materials and their properties are given

in table:
Formation of absorbent fabric

[Link]
Step 3 – Manufacturing
When manufacturing baby wipes, a wet laid process is typically applied.

Wet laid process :

• The wet laid process is typically used for softer cloths that use cotton blends.

• During this process, the non-woven fibers are made into liquid slurries with water and other chemicals, resulting in a paste which is
then pressed into flat sheets by rollers and dried to form long master rolls of material. The master rolls are then further processed
using a slitter rewinder, cutting the sheets down into smaller sizes for additional processing. When the slitting process is complete, a
pneumatic cross cutter traverses to cut the material in order to begin a new roll. Then, the master roll is discharged onto a platform
preparing it for the next phase of manufacturing: consumer roll slitting and perforating.

This next process takes the master rolls of non-woven material and slits them into various widths typically used for
canister or bucket wipe products. Some consumer roll slitting and perforating machines , are capable of increasing roll production
capacity by unwinding, perforating, slitting, and rewinding wipes rolls at a rate of up to 60 per minute. Once the non-woven cloth is
prepared, it is then fed onto coating machinery, where it is coated in the cleansing solution before being packaged. The finished products
are folded, stacked, and transferred to their final package.
Cleansing Ingredients:

Water is main ingredient and serves as a carrier and diluent for the other ingredients . Baby wipes also
contain mild detergents mixed with moisturizing agents , fragrance and preservatives. The detergents
most commonly used are known as amphotoric surfactants similar to those found in baby shampoo.

Packaging Components:

Packaging used in baby wipes must keep the cloths free from contamination ,yet allow for east dispensing.
The package must also prevent the toweletters from drying out.

Thermo-molded plastic tubs are the packaging choice for most manufactures.

These tubs are produced on injection molding equipment by pumping molten polyethylene plastic into a
two part mold .Pressure is applied to the mold externally until the plastic cools.

When the mold is open the plastic tube is ejected and stored until ready for filling.
Wetting solution for wet wipes
The wetting solution used in wet wipes may consist of chemical like hydro alcohols,
emulsions or oils. They may include alcohol, binder, softener, surfactant, pH buering material
(organic and inorganic acids), emulsifier, silicone oils, perfumes (aleo vera, cinnamon, lemon
leaves, lavender, chamomile, etc.), mineral powders, antibacterial agents, and their combina-
tions. Lotions and medicines may also be applied on wet wipes .
Chemicals used for preservatives in wet wipes
The package should keep wipes moist, free from contamination and allow easy dispensing. Thermo-molded plastic
containers are generally used. The design is the often-long term storage of partly used packs, evaporation of the solution, and
the interaction between the various components of the wipes and packaging makes them more susceptible to contamination
than most other personal care [Link] nature and composition of the wipe can have an effect on preservation/wipe
interaction as well as subsequent preservative system performance. The thicker wet wipes are more absorbent, durable and
use for heavy duty cleaning task. The use of natural fibers like aloe vera, oat mealoften providing more preservation difficulties.

There are several chemicals that may be used as preservatives in wet wipes to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and
fungi. Some common examples include:

Methylisothiazolinone (MIT): This is a synthetic preservative that is often used in wet wipes, as well as in other personal care
products like shampoos and body washes.

Phenoxyethanol: This is a commonly used preservative in personal care products, including wet wipes, as it is effective against
a wide range of microorganisms.

Chlorhexidine digluconate: This is an antiseptic agent that is sometimes used in wet wipes as a preservative to prevent bacterial
growth.

Benzalkonium chloride: This is another antiseptic agent that can be used as a preservative in wet wipes.
Cleansing pads :
Cleansing pads are fibre sponges that have been previously soaked with water,alcohol and other active ingredients for a
specific intended [Link]- makeup removing pads,anti spot treatments and anti-acne pads contain salicylic acid, vitamins,
menthol and other [Link] and instrument may be disinfected with these pads while treating wounds.

Cosmetic wet wipes :

Makeup removal , Anti-ageing wipes , Anti-acne wipes , Nails removal wipes.

Personal care hygiene :

Feminine wipes , moist toilet tissue , face wipes , hand wipes , body wash cloths.
The wipes can remove dirt and sweat before they settle into your pores. Some no-rinse wipes can
even remove waterproof makeup.

Pet care pads :

Wet wipes for eye , ear or dental cleansing pads (with boric acid,potassium chloride, zinc sulphate
sodium borate) for dogs,cats,horse and birds.
Household and Home cleaning Wipes:

• Kitchen Wipes
• Bathroom Wipes
• Food Service Wipes
• Surface Cleaning Wipes
• Automotive Care Wipes
Industrial Cleaning Wipes:
• Degreasing/Machinery Cleaning Wipes
• Car Wipes, Anti-bacterial Wipes, Dental Wipes, Detergent Wipes.

When it comes to industrial application, choosing the right wipe

for the job can make an enormous difference in terms of
performane, efficiency, economy.
Thank you !