초록 ▼

A process is provided for issuing material from a nozzle in a rotor rotating at a given rotational speed wherein the material is issued by way of a fluid jet. The material can be collected on a collector concentric to the rotor. The collector can be a flexible belt moving in the axial direction of t

A process is provided for issuing material from a nozzle in a rotor rotating at a given rotational speed wherein the material is issued by way of a fluid jet. The material can be collected on a collector concentric to the rotor. The collector can be a flexible belt moving in the axial direction of the rotor. The collected material can take the form of discrete particles, fibers, plexifilamentary web, discrete fibrils or a membrane.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A process comprising the steps of: supplying a fluidized mixture having at least two components at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to a rotor spinning about an axis at a rotational speed, the rotor having at least one material-issuing nozzle comprising an opening therein a

We claim: 1. A process comprising the steps of: supplying a fluidized mixture having at least two components at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to a rotor spinning about an axis at a rotational speed, the rotor having at least one material-issuing nozzle comprising an opening therein along the periphery of the rotor; issuing the fluidized mixture from the opening of the nozzle at a reduced pressure relative to that in the supplying step to form an issued material at a material issuance speed; vaporizing or expanding at least one component of the issued material to form a fluid jet; and transporting the remaining component(s) of the issued material away from the rotor by the fluid jet. 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the fluidized mixture comprises at least about 50% by weight of a spin agent, and wherein the fluidized mixture is issued at a temperature greater than the boiling temperature of the spin agent. 3. The process of claim 2, wherein the fluidized mixture comprises at least about 70% by weight of a spin agent. 4. The process of claim 1, wherein the fluidized mixture comprises a compressed vapor. 5. The process of claim 1, wherein the fluid jet is issued at a speed of at least about 30 meters per second. 6. The process of claim 1, wherein one component comprises a spin agent, further comprising supplying the fluidized mixture to the rotor at a temperature greater than the boiling temperature of the spin agent at a pressure sufficient to keep the spin agent in liquid state, and issuing the fluidized mixture from the opening into an environment at a temperature within about 40째 C. of the boiling temperature of the spin agent such that the spin agent vaporizes and a solidified second component is propelled from the nozzle. 7. The process of claim 6, wherein the fluidized mixture is issued into an environment at a temperature within about 10째 C. of the boiling temperature of the spin agent. 8. The process of claim 1, further comprising collecting the remaining component(s) of the issued material on a collection surface of a collection belt concentric to the axis of the rotor to form a collected material, the collection belt moving in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor at a collection belt speed. 9. The process of claim 8, further comprising selecting the rotational speed and the collection belt speed so that the component(s) collected on the collection surface comprise multiple layers. 10. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one material-issuing nozzle spreads the issued material primarily in the axial direction. 11. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one material-issuing nozzle spreads the issued material primarily in a non-axial direction. 12. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one material-issuing nozzle directs the issued material primarily in the radial direction. 13. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one material-issuing nozzle directs the issued material primarily in a non-radial direction. 14. The process of claim 8, wherein the at least one material-issuing nozzle directs the issued material in the direction of the movement of the collection belt. 15. The process of any of claims 1-14, wherein the at least one material-issuing nozzle comprises a fan jet. 16. The process of claim 1, wherein the rotor has two or more material-issuing nozzles comprising openings therein along the periphery of the rotor. 17. The process of claim 16, wherein the material-issuing nozzles are spaced apart axially. 18. The process of claim 16, wherein the material-issuing nozzles are spaced apart circumferentially. 19. The process of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the tangential speed at the periphery of the rotor to the material issuance speed is less than or equal to 1. 20. The process of claim 8, further comprising applying vacuum to the collection belt on the side opposite the collection surface. 21. The process of claim 8 or claim 20, further comprising creating an electrical potential between the remaining component(s) of the issued material and the collection surface. 22. The process of claim 21, further comprising applying a voltage to the collection belt and grounding the rotor. 23. The process of claim 21, wherein the collection belt is supported by an electrically conductive support structure, further comprising applying a voltage to the support structure and grounding the rotor. 24. The process of claim 21, further comprising applying a voltage to the rotor and grounding the collection belt. 25. The process of claim 21, wherein the rotor further comprises charging elements and a voltage is applied to the charging elements. 26. The process of claim 25, wherein the charging elements are pins directed radially towards the collection surface. 27. The process of claim 25, wherein the charging elements are pins directed tangentially towards the opening of the nozzle(s). 28. The process of claim 8, wherein the collection surface is located a distance of between about twice the thickness of the collected component(s) and about 15 cm from the nozzle. 29. The process of claim 28, wherein the collection surface is located a distance of between about 0.5 cm and about 8 cm from the nozzle. 30. The process of claim 1, wherein the fluidized mixture comprises polyolefin. 31. The process of claim 8, further comprising heating the collected material to a temperature sufficient to bond the material. 32. The process of claim 8, wherein the collected material comprises a polymeric fibrous material and further comprising passing hot gas through the collected material at a temperature sufficient to bond the material. 33. The process of claim 8, wherein auxiliary gas is supplied to a cavity between the rotor and the collection surface. 34. The process of claim 8, further comprising issuing a liquid mist from at least one fogging jet nozzle located along the periphery of the rotor. 35. The process of claim 1, wherein the fluidized mixture is a solution. 36. The process of claim 35, wherein the fluidized mixture is a solution comprising a polymer and a volatile spin agent and forms a plexifilamentary film-fibril material. 37. The process of claim 1, wherein the fluidized mixture is a solution comprising a polymer and a volatile spin agent and forms polymeric beads. 38. The process of claim 1, wherein the fluidized mixture is a mixture of pulp and fluid. 39. The process of claim 1, wherein the fluidized mixture is a mixture of particles and fluid. 40. The process of claim 1, further comprising flowing a gas through the rotor. 41. The process of claim 1, wherein the fluidized mixture is supplied to multiple nozzles, and wherein a portion of the nozzles spread the issued material at a first angle between about 20 and 40 degrees from the axial direction and a portion of the nozzles spread the issued material at a second angle opposite the first angle with respect to the axial direction.