Modeling the Melt Blowing of Hollow Fibers

Abstract

In commercial operation, a melt-blowing die is used to produce fine fibers that are solid, not hollow. In this paper, a model was developed to predict what would happen if hollow fibers were produced with a modified melt-blowing die. The model involved the simultaneous solution of the momentum, energy, and continuity equations. The model equations were solved numerically. Predicted parameters included fiber hollowness, fiber attenuation, vibration frequency, vibration amplitude, temperature, and stress. Hollowness can affect the laydown pattern of the melt-blown fibers.

Using Swirl Dies To Spin Solid and Hollow Fibers

“…Now, as Figures 4-6 show, the operation of a swirl die demonstrates the same trends as conventional melt blowing dies in response to changes in the four primary operating variables in melt blowing. With this similar behavior established, will swirl dies respond to hollowness in a manner similar to the predicted behavior (as described in Marla et al 11 ) for spinning hollow fibers with an annular die? If so, then what are the processing limits?…”

“…Hollow Fibers Spun with Swirl Dies. Marla et al 11 modified their 3D melt blowing model for solid fibers (see Marla and Shambaugh 5 ) and simulated the manufacture of hollow fibers in the melt blowing process using an annular die configuration. They modeled the effect of hollowness on the fiber properties in the melt blowing process and drew several conclusions based on the predictions of the model.…”

Effects of the Polymer Fiber on the Flow Field from an Annular Melt-Blowing Die

“…This modeling has been done for both solid [13][14][15] and hollow fibers. 16 The interactions between air and a fiber have been examined for melt spinning, 17 in which the final fiber velocity is determined by the take-up roll. However, to the authors' knowledge, these interactions as they occur in the melt-blowing process have been studied in much less detail.…”

A Review on the Studies of Air Flow Field and Fiber Formation Process during Melt Blowing

“…However, the models underpredicted the fiber whipping amplitude, which could be explained by the fact that the models did not include turbulence effects. By modifying the equations in the previous models, , Marla et al developed 1D and 3D models to predict hollow fiber production. Their simulation results indicated that hollow fibers have higher fiber amplitude and higher frequency than solid filaments, which could increase the quality of fiber laydown in terms of web uniformity.…”