Air Flow Field and Fiber Motion in a Swirl Die Melt-Blowing Process

Abstract

Melt blowing is an important process for producing nanofibrous nonwovens. Compared to another technology for producing nanofibrous nonwovens, electrospinning, melt blowing applies high-speed air flow field to attenuate the extruded polymer jet. In this study, the air flow field of a swirl die melt-blowing process was simulated by CFD software, Fluent 6.3. The swirling air profile was shown. Meanwhile, a high-speed camera was used to capture the fiber path below a single-orifice melt-blowing swirl die. The spiral motion of the fiber was revealed. The relationship between the fiber path and the air flow field was discussed. This paper shows the relationship between the fiber path and the air flow field in a swirl die melt-blowing process.