Manufacture of Superfine Organic Fibers
Abstract
Through a new process recently designed at NRL, it is now feasible to produce submicron organic fibers from a variety of thermoplastic materials. By this method an adjustable extruder forces a hot thermoplastic melt through a row of fine orifices into high-velocity dual streams of heated gas, usually air. The nozzle design provides for immediate resumption of attenuation following breaks, which are inevitable at submicron dimensions. Fiber diameters are determined by four basic process variables: air and nozzle temperatures, air pressure, and polymer feed rate (or ram pressure), all of which may be controlled independently. Nylon, linear polyester, polytrifluorochloroethylene, silicone, polystyrene, and other fibers can be produced, but those polymers which possess low melt viscosities attenuate most readily. Materials such as polyvinyl chloride and polyacrylonitrile which do not melt or soften sufficiently below their decomposition temperature cannot be employed in this process. Proper balancing of all the variables yields fine fibers of good uniformity and quality. By eliminating intermediate operations of fiber chopping and wet techniques of paper making, preparation of fabrics from thermoplastics is promising economically as well as technologically.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 25, 1954
- Accession Number
- AD0033752
Entities
People
- C. D. Fluharty
- E. L. Boone
- V. A. Wente
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory