METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCTION OF NONWOVEN FIBROUS ARTICLES

摘要

Superabsorbent articles in the form of soft, nonwoven fibrous webs are produced from aqueous, fiber-forming polymer solutions by forming the polymer into water soluble filaments in die 18, contacting the filaments with a primary air stream having a velocity effective to attenuate and to partially dry the filaments, contacting the attenuated filaments with a secondary air stream from nozzle 22 having a velocity effective to fragment the filaments into fibers and to transport the fibers to a web-forming zone 32 while also further attenuating and drying the fibers, collecting the fibers in reticulated web-form in the web-forming zone and curing the web in oven 38 to a water insoluble state. The temperature and air stream velocities are controlled with respect to ambient humidity and water content of the fiber during the fiber and web formation such that the fibers are collected without sticking. Collection is preferably on a wire belt 36 followed by transport through a curing oven to compacting rolls 58,60 and web take-up 64.