Online measurements of the fiber diameter distribution during a melt blowing process were taken using a new laser diffraction technique. This technique measured both the attenuation of the fibers as well as entanglement of the fibers into bundles at large distances from the die. A pilot scale unit with a 20.3 cm (8 inch) slot die was used for the studies. Commercial polypropylene polymer was used. Both the spin-line attenuation and fiber bundling were measured as a function of position both below and across the die face.
BansalV.; ShambaughR.L. “On-Line Determination of Density and Crystallinity During Melt Spinning”, Polym. Eng. Sci., 1996, 36(22), 2785–2798.
2.
BlackD.L.; McQuayM.Q.; BoninM.P. “Laser-based Techniques for Particle-size Measurement: A Review of Sizing Methods and Their Industrial Applications”, Prog. Energy Combust. Sci., 1996, 22(3), 267–306.
3.
FandreyC.W.; NaqwiA.A. “Ensemble Diffraction for on- and off-line Sizing of Nonwoven Fibers”, International Nonwovens Technical Conference (INTC) 2003 Meeting, Renaissance Harbor Place Hotel, Baltimore, MD, September 15–18, 2003.
4.
Marlow-FergusonR., ed. “Nonwoven Fabrics” in Encyclopedia of American Industries, 3rd ed., vol. 2, The Gale Group, Detroit, 2001, 192.
5.
MieG., “Beiträge zur Optik trüber Medien, speziell kolloidaler Metallösungen”, Ann. Physik, 1908, 25, 377–452.
6.
YinH.; YanZ.; BreseeR.R. “Experimental Study of the Melt Blowing Process”, Int. Nonwovens J., 1999, 8(1), 60–65.
