Method and device for manufacturing ultrafine fibres from thermoplastic polymers

US5260003A · kind A · utility

Inventors

• Peter-Roger Nyssen · Dormagen, DE
• Armin Kreimer · Dormagen, DE
• Wolfram Wagner · Dormagen, DE
• Dirk Berkenhaus · Cologne, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 22, 1992
• Grant date: Nov 9, 1993
• Expiry date: Jul 22, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B29B2009/125
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A process and device for manufacturing ultrafine fibers and ultrafine-fibre mats from thermoplastic polymers with mean fibre diameters of 0,2-15 .mu.m, preferably 0,5-10 .mu.m, by a melt blowing technique. The polymer melt (12) flows through at least one bore (15) in a melt blowing nozzle (18). Immediately on emerging from the bore, gas is blown against the extrusion from both sides of the bore exit (15), thus breaking up the melt to form fibers. To this end, the gas is accelerated to supersonic speed in Laval nozzles (25, 26; 31, 32), disposed in mirror symmetry round the bore exits (15), and decelerated to just below the speed of sound in channels (27) with constant cross-section, or a cross-section which decreases in the direction of flow, fitted downstream of the Laval nozzles, and the melt (12) fed into the gas stream emerging from the channels (27).