Premium
Numerical approach to modeling fiber motion during melt blowing
Author(s) -
Zeng Y. C.,
Sun Y. F.,
Wang X. H.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.32921
Subject(s) - materials science , microfiber , fiber , viscoelasticity , composite material , jet (fluid) , polymer , blowing agent , mechanics , physics , polyurethane
Melt blowing involves applying a jet of hot air to an extruding polymer melt and drawing the polymer stream into microfibers. This study deals with the dynamic modeling of the instabilities and related processes during melt blowing. A bead‐viscoelastic element model for fiber formation simulation in the melt blowing process was proposed. Mixed Euler‐Lagrange approach was adopted to derive the governing equations for modeling the fiber motion as it is being formed below a melt‐blowing die. The three‐dimensional paths of the fiber whipping in the melt blowing process were calculated. Predicted parameters include fiber diameter, fiber temperature, fiber stress, fiber velocity, and the amplitude of fiber whipping. The mathematical model provides a clear understanding on the mechanism of the formation of microfibers during melt blowing. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011