: Needle-Punching process is the main method used for increasing the strength of fibrous web. The increase in strength is achieved by causing the fibers in the web to be entangled together. In this work the effect of needle-punching parameters such as punch-density and needle penetration on mechanical properties of polypropylene needle- punched fabrics such as orientation; bending and strength properties have been investigated. Four needle-punched fabrics were produced using appropriate Carding/Cross-lapping machines. The influence of punch-density and needle penetrations on fabric properties was studied. Orientation of the fibers in the samples was determined using Correlation, Angular power spectrum and Radon transforms methods. The latter method was found to be the most suitable method for determination of fiber orientation. Elongation and breaking-load of the samples both in machine and cross-machine directions were measured using strip method. Additionally bending stiffness of the samples in the above directions was evaluated. The results indicate that an increase in amount of punch density generally leads to variation in orientation of the fibers in the fabrics in both directions. It was also found that an increase in the amount punch-density causes a corresponding increase in fiber orientation in machine direction; additionally it was found that the amount of punch-density affects the bending modules and strength of the fabrics. It is therefore concluded that the amount of punch-density profoundly influence the properties of needle-punched fabrics.
