5602.90 - Other:

This HTS category, 5602.90, encompasses felt materials that do not fit into the more specific classifications for needleloom felt and stitchbonded fiber fabrics (5602.10). It covers a broad range of felt products that may be impregnated, coated, covered, or laminated, provided they do not meet the criteria for other defined felt types within heading 5602. The key defining characteristic is its felt construction, which involves interlocking fibers through mechanical or chemical means, rather than weaving or knitting.

Distinguishing this category from its sibling, 5602.10, lies in the manufacturing process and resulting structure. Needleloom felt and stitchbonded fabrics are produced using specialized techniques that create a distinct fabric structure characterized by the entanglement of fibers by needles or stitches. Category 5602.90, conversely, captures other felted materials, including those formed through processes like wet-laid or dry-laid methods, where the primary characteristic is the mass of interlocked fibers.

Within this category, further distinctions are made to refine classification. Subcategories exist to account for variations in the treatment and construction of the felt. For instance, "Laminated fabrics" specifically address felt materials that have been bonded with other materials, such as plastics or textiles, through lamination. The remaining "Other" subcategory serves as a catch-all for felted products that are not needleloom or stitchbonded, and are not specifically laminated, covering a wide array of felt applications and constructions.