GB1338380A - Non-woven fabrics - Google Patents

Abstract

1338380 Webs from fibrillated film LAMBEG INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION 18 Nov 1970 [18 Nov 1969] 56302/69 Heading D1R A non-woven web is formed by feeding a fibrillated polymer film between two parallel surfaces, and repeatedly displacing the film so that its fibres, as they. pass to the surfaces, are displaced in one or more directions transverse to their direction of travel between the surfaces. As shown, Fig. 1, extruded, drawn, fibrillated film 10 is over-fed by rollers 12, 14 to form a fibrous mass between moving aprons 16, 18 backed by pressure plate 20 and heater plate 22. The aprons may be separated at intervals to provide further fibre tombling. The mass may subsequently be consolidated by needling and/or fusion bonding. To facilitate bonding, composite or laminated films may be used, one polymer component having a lower melting point than the other, or a low melting point polymer may be sprayed or rolled on to the fibrillated film. The film may contain other materials, e.g. dye-receptive or metallic surface particles. Static electricity may be induced in the fibrillated film to assist mass formation. The mass may be formed, Fig. 2, by the film 10 being tucked by tucker 28 between running apron 24 and plate 26, a running scrim 30, e.g. of hessian, woven polypropylene tape, or a fibrillated film, replacing the lower apron and forming a backing for the mass. Alternatively, Fig. 3, film 10 is fed between rotating toothed wheel 32 and running backing fabric 34, the film being pressed between the wheel teeth by pleating device 36 to displace the fibres. The film may be of polypropylene or polyamide such as nylon 6 or nylon 66.