Meltblowing: I-basic physical mechanisms and threadline model

S. Sinha-Ray, A. L. Yarin, B. Pourdeyhimi

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    70 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The work aims at the experimental and theoretical study of the mechanism of meltblowing. Meltblowing is a popular method of producing polymer microfibers and nanofibers en masse in the form of nonwovens via aerodynamic blowing of polymer melt jets. However, its physical aspects are still not fully understood. The process involves a complex interplay of the aerodynamics of turbulent gas jets with strong elongational flows of polymer melts, none of them fully uncovered and explained. To evaluate the role of turbulent pulsations (produced by turbulent eddies in the gas jet) in meltblowing, we studied first a model experimental situation where solid flexible sewing threadlines were subjected to parallel high speed gas jet. After that a comprehensive theory of meltblowing is developed, which encompasses the effects of the distributed drag and lift forces, as well as turbulent pulsations acting on polymer jets, which undergo, as a result, severe bending instability leading to strong stretching and thinning. Linearized theory of bending perturbation propagation over threadlines and polymer jets in meltblowing is given and some successful comparisons with the experimental data are demonstrated.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number034912
    JournalJournal of Applied Physics
    Volume108
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2010 Aug 1

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    The current work is supported by the Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center (NCRC).

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Physics and Astronomy

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