Image Processing Approaches To Estimate The Structural Characteristics In Nonwoven Fabric Filters For Filtration Development

This study was conducted to estimate the fabric structural characteristics like fiber diameter and fabric porosity of the needle-punched fabric air filters with the use of image processing. The fiber distribution and web properties of the needle-punched nonwoven fabric filters used for dust filtration have a substantial influence on the filtration performance. Controlling these properties during production, without physical testing, will minimize production costs and material waste. Some computerized assessments will add to the ease of selecting these parameters. Here image processing algorithms have been developed to examine the porosity and fiber diameter properties of needle-punched nonwovens. The examined samples were composed of Polyester (PET) and Polypropylene (PE) fibers with varying areal weights. It is seen that the use of computerized techniques shows comparable results for evaluating structural properties and will also help to predict filtration performance.