The RFQ simply asked for "waterproof" and "antibacterial" features, but when the goods arrived, water still seeped through and there was no clear proof of antibacterial testing. Often, it’s not a bad fabric—it’s that "function" never turned into real specs at order placement. Whenever Dongguan Hendar Cloth Co., Ltd. gets a functional fabric inquiry, we ask two things upfront: how it will be used and how it will be tested. Not to slow things down, but because without them, "functional" means nothing.

For PP spunbond nonwovens, parameters such as weight (GSM), width, color, and embossing are basic specs, while features like hydrophilic, hydrophobic, anti-static, and anti-aging are functional treatments assessed per order. Here is the key distinction: basic specs only require a number or code, whereas functional requirements must specify "under what operating conditions, targeting what medium, and verified by which testing standard."

2. Two questions to settle before purchasing

Whether the fabric will contact water, oil, or chemical media, the duration of exposure, presence of heat or UV sunlight, skin contact, and whether it requires downstream printing or thermal bonding—all these conditions determine the exact level of functionality required. Take PP spunbond nonwoven fabric as an example: Hendar supplies starting from 12 GSM and up, evaluated and confirmed on an order-by-order basis, with functional treatments layered on top of this base. Without clear operating conditions, neither the GSM nor the functional specs can be finalized.

A usable verification conclusion states four things: which sample was tested, by which method, with what result, and what that result covers. Miss any one of them and the document is just a sheet of paper.

• Split the requirement into four parts: product, treatment, target standard and verification method. Only then is it an executable requirement instead of a sentence like "must be antibacterial".
• Put specifications and functions on one confirmation sheet: list out GSM & tolerance, net width, color, embossing pattern, functional treatment, tensile strength targets, roll length or diameter, and acceptance methods item by item. Hendar includes all these parameters right alongside our quote, making it easy for you to compare two quotes side by side.
• Verify before shipment: hydrophilic, water repellent and hydrostatic pressure items can be tested to order, and third-party re-testing by the buyer is welcome. A test report is only responsible for the sample submitted; a change of weight, color or formulation requires a new judgement.
• Be clear about the raw material: Hendar exclusively uses 100% virgin PP resin, with zero recycled materials and no fillers. This forms the material foundation for superior tensile strength, toughness, low odor, hygiene, and batch-to-batch consistency. Functional treatments are layered on top of this solid base—never used the other way around to mask inferior raw materials.

Barrier is built by structure, not solved by treatment.
Keep in mind that functional finishes and product structure aren't the same thing: choose SMS for barrier protection, and lamination for liquid and oil proofing.Simply adding a functional finish onto standard spunbond fabric often falls short of expectations.

Starting with just "waterproof" or "antibacterial"? Put your end-use conditions and key test specs into a checklist first. Hendar can run a validation sample straight from that list—way faster than endlessly rewriting requirements.

A: No. Antibacterial has to specify the strain, the test method and the contact time, and it has to state which sample was tested. A requirement that carries only a name leaves both sides with different expectations and no common basis for acceptance.

A: No. Water-repellent finishing changes the surface performance of the fabric and blocks liquid for a short contact time; lamination adds a film structure that blocks sustained water and oil. If the order only says "waterproof", either approach could be delivered against it.

A: Not automatically. A test conclusion applies to the sample submitted and the conditions used at the time. A different weight, color or treatment requires a new judgement, so request the report for the exact item you are buying.

Dongguan Hendar Cloth Co., Ltd is ISO 9001:2015 and SGS certified, with PP spunbond, laminated meltblown and SMS lines serving buyers in more than 40 countries and regions. Contact our team for a specification sheet, sampling and functional finishing options.