Bonded nonwoven fibrous webs comprising softenable oriented semicrystalline polymeric fibers and apparatus and methods for preparing such webs

    公开(公告)号:US09139940B2

    公开(公告)日:2015-09-22

    申请号:US11461201

    申请日:2006-07-31

    IPC分类号: D04H3/14 D04H3/16 D04H3/00

    摘要: A method for making a bonded nonwoven fibrous web comprising 1) providing a nonwoven fibrous web that comprises oriented semicrystalline polymeric fibers, and 2) subjecting the web to a controlled heating and quenching operation that includes a) forcefully passing through the web a fluid heated to at least the onset melting temperature of said polymeric material for a time too short to wholly melt the fibers, and b) immediately quenching the web by forcefully passing through the web a fluid at a temperature at least 50° C. less than the Nominal Melting Point of the material of the fibers. The fibers of the treated web generally have i) an amorphous-characterized phase that exhibits repeatable softening (making the fibers softenable) and ii) a crystallite-characterized phase that reinforces the fiber structure during softening of the amorphous-characterized phase, whereby the fibers may be autogenously bonded while retaining orientation and fiber structure. Apparatus for carrying out the method can comprise 1) a conveyor for conveying a web to be treated, 2) a heater mounted adjacent a first side of the conveyor and comprising a) a chamber having a wall that faces the web, b) one or more conduits through which a heated gas can be introduced into the chamber under pressure and c) a slot in said chamber wall through which heated gas flows from the chamber onto a web on the conveyor, 3) a source of quenching gas downweb from the heater on the first side of the conveyor, the quenching gas having a temperature substantially less than that of the heated gas, 4) gas-withdrawal mean disposed on the second side of the conveyor opposite from the heater, the gas-withdrawal means having a portion in alignment with the slot so as to draw heated gas from the slot through the web and also a portion downweb from the slot in alignment with the source of quenching gas so as to draw the quenching gas through the web to quench the web. Flow restrictor means is preferably disposed on the second side of the conveyor in the path of at least one of the heated gas and the quenching gas so as to even the distribution of the gas through the web.

    Fluid filtration articles and methods of making and using the same
    9.
    发明授权
    Fluid filtration articles and methods of making and using the same 有权
    流体过滤制品及其制造和使用方法

    公开(公告)号:US08512569B2

    公开(公告)日:2013-08-20

    申请号:US12810451

    申请日:2008-12-15

    摘要: Fluid filtration articles, including composite nonwoven fibrous webs, and methods of making and using such articles as gas or liquid filtration elements. The articles include a population of coarse microfibers having a population median diameter of at least 1 micrometer (μm) formed as a first layer, and a population of fine fibers having a population median diameter less than 10 μm formed as a second layer adjoining the first layer. At least one of the fiber populations may be oriented. In one implementation, the coarse microfibers and fine fibers are polymeric, the coarse microfibers have a population median diameter of at least 10 μm, and the fine fibers have a population median diameter less than 10 μm. In another implementation, the population of fine fibers has a population median diameter less than 1 μm. Optionally, one or both of the first and second layers may include particulates.

    摘要翻译: 流体过滤制品,包括复合非织造纤维网,以及制造和使用这些物品如气体或液体过滤元件的方法。 所述制品包括具有形成为第一层的群体中值直径为至少1微米(mum)的粗微纤维群体,并且具有小于10um的群体中值直径的细纤维群体形成为邻接第一层的第二层 层。 至少一个纤维种群可以定向。 在一个实施方案中,粗微纤维和细纤维是聚合物的,粗微纤维的群体中值直径至少为10um,细纤维的群体中值直径小于10um。 在另一个实施方式中,细纤维群体的群体中值直径小于1um。 任选地,第一层和第二层中的一个或两个可以包括微粒。