Some nonwoven materials have sufficient web strength after forming to be handled even if they are subsequently additionally bonded. Examples of such webs arise when a bonding step is an integral part of the web-forming process, as in spun-bond and melt-blown systems. Most other webs have relatively little strength as formed and may require an additional bonding step in order to make the nonwoven web suitable for its intended end use.
This article will deal with chemical bonding as opposed to the other two broad categories of nonwovens-bonding: mechanical bonding and thermal bonding.