Process for molding target electrode used in the application of electrostatic charge to a fibrous structure

摘要

A process for molding target electrode used in the application of electrostatic charge to a flash-spun fibrous structure, the target electrode comprising a dielectric surface layer (16) serving to significantly reduce the rate of loss in charging efficiency caused by in-process degradation of the dielectric material and by flash-spun fouling deposits accumulating upon the target electrode in the course of electrostatic charging of the fibrous structure that is being fed to and along the target surface. The dielectric surface layer (16) is primarily comprised of a rubber copolymer formulation of acrylonitrile/butadiene and phenolic resin hardener and is compression molded over a metal target insert (44) in a hot press molding apparatus (50, 52 and 60) and is subsequently cooled whilst being compression loaded in a fixture.