METHOD OF MAKING SORBENT ARTICLES

• Main Authors: DYRUD, JAMES F, TAMAKI, CYNTHIA Y, INSLEY, THOMAS I, MEYER, DANIEL E, YOUNG, DONALD E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 07.12.2004
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBONFILAMENTS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; BRAIDING; CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS,THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; COTTON-WOOL; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS,NON-WOVEN FABRICS; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; KNITTING; LACE-MAKING; MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARYMATERIAL; MECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OFARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES ORRIBBONS; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; NATURAL OR ARTIFICIAL THREADS OR FIBRES; NON-WOVEN FABRICS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PROSTHESES; SEPARATION; SPINNING; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ARTCOLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TEXTILES; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; TRIMMINGS; WADDING

A method of making a microfibrous sorbent article is provided. The method includes the steps of a) extruding molten thermoplastic fiber forming polymer from multiple orifices in a fiber-foaming die, said orifices being aligned along the face of the die; b) attenuating the fibers in a stream of hot air to form a fiber stream of microfibers; and c) collecting said microfibers on a collector having a forming surface, said surface being aligned with said die and substantially parallel to and equidistant from said die such that the fibers form a spirally wound microfibrous sorbent article which is supported on its exteri or surface by said forming surface and which is drawn across said forming surfa ce substantially parallel to said die. Also provided is a microfibrous sorbent article prepared according to the method.