Study of polypropylene/poly(ethylene terephthalate) bicomponent melt‐blowing process: The fiber temperature and elongational viscosity profiles of the spinline

Abstract

AbstractAlthough there are significant differences between high‐speed melt spinning and melt blowing (MB), they are similar in many important components. This study, motivated by the need to better understand the bicomponent MB process, used the basic theories of high‐speed melt spinning to estimate the fiber temperature and elongation viscosity profiles of the polypropylene/poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PP/PET) bicomponent MB process. During the MB process, the filament temperature decreased dramatically within the first 2 in. from the MB die. The fiber temperature‐decay profiles of PP, PET monocomponent, and PP/PET bicomponent filaments followed similar trends. PP filaments attenuated faster than PET filaments and the bicomponent filaments attenuated at a medium rate between that of PP and PET. Accordingly, the elongational viscosity increased significantly in the first 2 in. from the die. PET filaments exhibited higher elongational viscosity than that of 100% PP filaments. The elongational viscosity profile of 75%PP/25%PET was between that of PP and PET monocomponent filaments. These data provided important information on understanding the MB process and filament attenuation. It also suggested that the filament elongational viscosity profile is the key factor in production of finer bicomponent MB fibers. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 1145–1150, 2003