Viscose vs Polyester Spunlace: How to Choose the Right Fiber
The single most impactful specification is the fiber. Here is a practical comparison of viscose and polyester — and how to blend them for the best balance of performance and cost.
Viscose and polyester are the two workhorse fibers of spunlace nonwoven fabric. Viscose brings absorbency and softness; polyester brings wet strength and lower cost. Almost every spunlace product is either 100% one or a blend of the two. This guide explains the trade-offs so you can specify the right fiber for your application.
The Fundamental Difference
Viscose (also called rayon) is a regenerated cellulose fiber derived from wood pulp. It is hydrophilic — it absorbs and holds water. Polyester is a synthetic polymer fiber that is hydrophobic — it repels water. This single difference drives almost every other property difference between the two.
The One-Line Summary
Viscose absorbs liquid and is soft but weakens when wet. Polyester repels liquid and stays strong when wet but feels stiffer. Blending the two gives you absorbency from viscose and wet strength from polyester.
Head-to-Head Property Comparison
| Property | Viscose | Polyester | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absorbency | High (holds 3-5x its weight) | Low (hydrophobic) | Viscose |
| Softness / hand-feel | Excellent, textile-like | Moderate, stiffer | Viscose |
| Wet tensile strength | Low (loses strength when wet) | High (unaffected by water) | Polyester |
| Dry tensile strength | Moderate | High | Polyester |
| Biodegradability | Yes (cellulose) | No (synthetic) | Viscose |
| Cost per kg | Higher | Lower | Polyester |
| Linting | Moderate | Very low | Polyester |
| Heat resistance | Degrades at high heat | Melts at ~250C, heat-resistant | Polyester |
Understanding Blend Ratios
The blend ratio is expressed as viscose/polyester. The three ratios you will encounter most often, and what they are for:
| Blend | Character | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|
| 100% Viscose | Maximum softness and absorbency, lower wet strength | Baby wipes, cosmetic pads, facial wipes, medical |
| 70/30 Viscose/PET | Good absorbency with meaningful wet strength | Disinfectant wipes, general cleaning, household |
| 50/50 Viscose/PET | Balanced, lower cost, durable | Industrial wiping, tough cleaning, cost-sensitive |
| 30/70 or 100% PET | High strength, low absorbency | Filtration, automotive, technical |
The Wet Strength Problem
This is the most important thing to understand about viscose: it loses a large portion of its strength when wet. A 100% viscose wipe can feel strong when dry but tear easily once saturated with lotion or water.
Polyester, being a synthetic polymer, retains nearly all of its strength when wet. This is why cleaning and disinfectant wipes — which get saturated and scrubbed — almost always include polyester in the blend.
If your product must hold together while wet and under stress, do not use 100% viscose. Add 30-50% polyester, or switch to a lower GSM blend to maintain strength at lower cost.
Cost and the Blend Trade-Off
Polyester staple fiber is typically 20-40% cheaper than viscose staple fiber. Blending polyester into the mix is therefore the most direct way to reduce material cost while maintaining or improving wet strength.
Practical Cost Example
A 70 gsm 100% viscose fabric and a 60 gsm 70/30 viscose/polyester fabric can have similar wet strength — but the 60 gsm blend is typically 15-25% cheaper per square meter. If absorbency is not the limiting factor, the blend wins on cost.
Biodegradability and Sustainability
If your product needs to be biodegradable or compostable, viscose is the only option of the two. 100% viscose spunlace is biodegradable and, with the right certification path, compostable. Polyester does not biodegrade and persists in the environment.
This is why flushable and eco-positioned wipes are made from viscose or wood pulp, not polyester. If you are pursuing a compostable claim, you will need 100% cellulose fibers — see our flushable and dispersible wipes guide.
How to Choose
Quick Decision Guide
1. Does the product contact skin and need to be soft? Start with 100% viscose or a viscose-dominant blend. 2. Does the product need to hold together when wet? Add 30-50% polyester. 3. Is cost a primary driver? Increase polyester content. 4. Is biodegradability required? Use 100% viscose (no polyester). 5. Still unsure? Send us your application and we will recommend a fiber and blend with samples.
Frequently Asked Questions
1What is the difference between viscose and rayon?
They are the same fiber. Viscose is the specific process used to make rayon, and the two terms are used interchangeably in the nonwovens industry. Both are regenerated cellulose fibers derived from wood pulp.
2Is viscose or polyester stronger?
Polyester is stronger, especially when wet. Viscose loses a large portion of its strength when saturated with water or lotion, while polyester retains nearly all of its strength. For products that must hold together when wet, include polyester in the blend.
3Is viscose biodegradable?
Yes. Viscose is a cellulose fiber and biodegrades naturally. Polyester is synthetic and does not biodegrade. If biodegradability is required, use 100% viscose (or another cellulose fiber) with no polyester content.
4What is the best viscose/polyester blend for cleaning wipes?
70/30 viscose/polyester is the most common blend for cleaning and disinfectant wipes. It provides good absorbency from the viscose and enough wet strength from the polyester to survive scrubbing, at a lower cost than 100% viscose.
5Can I get a custom fiber blend?
Yes. SunLuner can produce custom viscose/polyester ratios within each production line's capabilities. Custom blends may require a minimum order quantity of 3-5 MT. Contact us with your target blend and application.
Related Applications
Keep Reading
Spunlace Fabric for Wet Wipes: The Complete Substrate Guide
How to choose spunlace nonwoven fabric for wet wipes: GSM, fiber type, surface pattern, lotion compatibility, and supplier selection.
FundamentalsSpunlace Nonwoven Fabric: The Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about spunlace nonwoven fabric: the hydroentanglement process, material options, process variants, key properties, and how to specify when ordering from a manufacturer.
Need Help Specifying Your Fabric?
Send us your application requirements and our technical team will recommend the right material, GSM, and process.
Contact: Leon Gu, Senior Business Development Manager ·leon.gu@sunluner.com · +86 180 5877 7108