- Spinning (polymers)
-
Spinning is manufacturing process for creating polymer fibers. It is a specialized form of extrusion that uses a spinneret to form multiple continuous filaments. There are four types of spinning: wet, dry, melt, and gel spinning.[1]
Contents
Process
First, the polymer being spun must be converted into a fluid state. If the polymer is a thermoplastic then it is just melted, if not then it may be dissolved in a solvent or chemically treated to form soluble or thermoplastic derivatives. The fluid polymer is then forced through the spinneret, where the polymer cools to a rubbery state, and then a solidified state.[1]
Wet spinning
Wet spinning is the oldest of the four processes. This process is used for polymers that need to be dissolved in a solvent to be spun. The spinneret is submerged in a chemical bath that causes the fiber to precipitate, and then solidify, as it emerges. The process gets its name from this "wet" bath. Acrylic, rayon, aramid, modacrylic, and spandex are produced via this process.[1]
Dry spinning
Dry spinning is also used for polymers that must be dissolved in solvent. It differs in that the solidification is achieved through evaporation of the solvent. This is usually achieved by a stream of air or inert gas. Because there is no precipitating liquid involved, the fiber does not need to be dried, and the solvent is more easily recovered. Acetate, triacetate, acrylic, modacrylic, polybenzimidazole fiber, spandex, and vinyon are produced via this process.[1]
Melt spinning
Melt spinning is used for polymers that can be melted. The polymer solidifies by cooling after being extruded from the spinneret. Nylon, olefin, polyester, saran, and sulfar are produced via this process.[1]
Extrusion spinning
Pellets or granules of the solid polymer are fed into an extruder. The pellets are compressed, heated and melted by an extrusion screw, then fed to a spinning pump and into the spinneret.
Direct spinning
The direct spinning process avoids the stage of solid polymer pellets. The polymer melt is produced from the raw materials, and then from the polymer finisher directly pumped to the spinning mill. Direct spinning is mainly applied during production of polyester fibers and filaments and is dedicated to high production capacity (>100 ton/day).
Gel spinning
Gel spinning, also known as dry-wet spinning, is used to obtain high strength or other special properties in the fibers. The polymer is in a "gel" state, only partially liquid, which keeps the polymer chains somewhat bound together. These bonds produce strong inter-chain forces in the fiber, which increase its tensile strength. The polymer chains within the fibers also have a large degree of orientation, which increases strength. The fibers are first air dried, then cooled further in a liquid bath. Some high strength polyethylene and aramid fibers are produced via this process.[1]
Electro spinning
Electro spinning uses an electrical charge to draw very fine (typically on the micro or nano scale) fibres from a liquid. Electrospinning shares characteristics of both electrospraying and conventional solution dry spinning[2] of fibers. The process does not require the use of coagulation chemistry or high temperatures to produce solid threads from solution. This makes the process particularly suited to the production of fibers using large and complex molecules. Electrospinning from molten precursors is also practiced; this method ensures that no solvent can be carried over into the final product
- see also the main article on Electrospinning
Drawing
Main article: Drawing (manufacturing)Finally, the fibers are drawn to increase strength and orientation. This may be done while the polymer is still solidifying or after it has completely cooled.[1]
See also
- Spinneret (polymers)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Manufacturing: Synthetic and Cellulosic Fiber Formation Technology, http://www.fibersource.com/f-tutor/techpag.htm, retrieved 2008-11-19.
- ^ Ziabicki, A. Fundamentals of fiber formation, John Wiley and Sons, London, 1976, ISBN 0-471-98220-2.
Categories:
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.