JP4238119B2 - Method for manufacturing fiber assembly and apparatus for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a fiber assembly and a manufacturing apparatus therefor.

  Conventionally, as a method for producing a fiber assembly by an electrospinning method, there is a distinction between a solution electrospinning method and a melt electrospinning method depending on the state of a polymer as a raw material (for example, Patent Literature 1, Patent Literature 1). 2). However, in the former solution electrostatic spinning method, a spinning stock solution in which a polymer is dissolved in a solvent is used, and in the fiber assembly after spinning, the solvent is in a volatile state. It was a bad way. Further, since the solvent evaporates in the spinning atmosphere at the time of spinning, it is necessary to appropriately adjust the solvent concentration in the atmosphere. If the solvent is not properly adjusted, the spinning state deteriorates.

  On the other hand, in the latter melt electrospinning method, heat is applied to reduce the polymer to a viscosity capable of electrospinning, but thermal degradation may occur due to long-term residence, leading to deterioration of the physical properties of the polymer. It was. In addition, there is a problem that the facility becomes large, for example, an extruder for supplying the molten polymer to the spinning nozzle is required.

International Publication No. 01/89022 Pamphlet (Abstract etc.) JP-A-59-204957 (Examples)

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is an improved method of manufacturing a fiber assembly by a conventional electrospinning method, and can be manufactured without using a solvent, and the method of manufacturing a fiber assembly that does not cause deterioration of physical properties due to heat The purpose is to provide. Another object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple fiber assembly manufacturing apparatus that can carry out the fiber assembly manufacturing method and that does not require an extruder.

The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is as follows: “(1) Supplying a polymer in an unmelted state , (2) Irradiating a laser to the supplied polymer to make the polymer deformable. An irradiation step, (3) a fiberizing step in which the deformable polymer is electrically pulled, reduced in diameter and stretched to form a fiber, and (4) a fiber assembly in which the fibers are accumulated to form a fiber assembly. A method for producing a fiber assembly, comprising: a body forming step. According to the first aspect of the invention, the polymer supplied in the non-molten state is irradiated with laser to give heat, and is in a deformable (electrostatic spinning) state. No solvent is required. In addition, since the polymer can be instantly deformed (electrospinable) by heating with laser irradiation, it is not necessary to expose the polymer to a high temperature state for a long time. Decomposition can be suppressed and deterioration of physical properties can be prevented. In addition to this effect, since the polymer is supplied in a non-molten state, spinning is possible with a relatively simple apparatus without requiring a large apparatus such as an extruder. Further, since the amount of polymer supplied in the width direction (direction perpendicular to the production direction of the fiber assembly) can be easily controlled when the fiber assembly is formed, it is easy to manufacture a fiber assembly having a uniform basis weight distribution.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is as follows: "(1) Supply means capable of supplying the polymer in an unmelted state , (2) Laser irradiation means capable of allowing the supplied polymer to be deformable, (3) The deformation And a fiberizing means capable of electrically pulling a possible polymer, reducing the diameter and stretching it to obtain a fiber, and (4) an accumulation means capable of accumulating the fibers to form a fiber assembly. This is a characteristic feature of a “fiber assembly manufacturing apparatus”. According to the invention concerning Claim 2 , manufacture of the fiber assembly of the invention concerning Claim 1 can be implemented. Moreover, since an extruder is not required, the facility is relatively simple and a fiber assembly can be manufactured at a low cost.

  According to the method for producing a fiber assembly of the present invention, it can be produced without using a solvent, and physical properties are not deteriorated by heat.

  In addition, the fiber assembly production apparatus of the present invention is a relatively simple fiber assembly production apparatus that can carry out the fiber assembly production method and that does not require an extruder or the like.

  The fiber assembly manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1, which is a conceptual schematic cross-sectional view of a fiber assembly manufacturing apparatus. The manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1 includes a supply unit including a pair of delivery rolls 20 that can supply the fiber 11 wound around the bobbin 10 to the application unit 31, and a high-voltage power supply 30 that can apply a voltage to the supplied fiber 11. A laser irradiation means comprising a laser oscillator 40 capable of irradiating a laser until the fiber 12 to which a voltage is applied by the application means is in a deformable state, and electrically applying the deformable fiber to which the voltage is applied. And a collecting means comprising a grounding means connected to a collecting body and a conveyor 60 capable of forming the fiber assembly 70 by accumulating the fine fibers 13 so that the fiber can be drawn to be thinned and stretched into fine fibers. It has. In the manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1, a potential difference is formed by the applying means and the grounding means, and the deformable fiber to which the voltage is applied is electrically pulled to reduce the diameter and stretch it. The means and the grounding means constitute a fiberizing means.

  More specifically, first, a supply step of supplying the fiber 11 wound around the bobbin 10 to the application unit 31 by the pair of delivery rolls 20 is performed. The polymer constituting the fiber 11 of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it can be deformed by laser irradiation, and can be composed of general-purpose resin and engineer plastic. More specifically, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyamide and the like can be mentioned.

  Since the fiber 11 supplied to the application unit 31 is in a non-molten state, the supply amount of the fiber 11 is easy to be constant, and a fiber aggregate 70 having a uniform basis weight distribution is easy to manufacture. Moreover, the fiber 11 can be directly supplied from the bobbin 10, and it is also suitable from the point that an extruder is not required.

  In FIG. 1, the fibers 11 are supplied by the pair of delivery rolls 20. However, the fibers 11 are not limited to this as long as the fibers 11 can be supplied to the application unit 31.

  In the manufacturing method of the fiber assembly 70 in FIG. 1, a voltage is then applied to the supplied fiber 11 using the high voltage power supply 30. This is because a potential difference is provided in combination with a grounding means described later so that the fiber is electrically pulled and stretched to reduce the diameter. By providing the potential difference in this way, static charges are accumulated in the fibers, and are electrically pulled by the conveyor 60 that is grounded 50, thereby reducing the diameter and stretching the fibers. Since the fibers are electrically pulled, the action of the electric field becomes stronger as the fibers approach the conveyor 60, the speed of the fibers is accelerated, and fine fibers with a small fiber diameter can be manufactured.

  The voltage applied by the high-voltage power supply 30 is not particularly limited because it varies depending on the distance between the application unit 31 and the conveyor 60, the type of fiber constituent polymer, the degree of laser irradiation, and the like.

  In addition, in FIG. 1, since the several fiber 11 is supplied to the application part 31, by the application by the high voltage power supply 30, the mutual fiber repels electrostatically and is isolate | separated into each fiber ( A fiber 12) to which a voltage is applied is obtained. Therefore, the fusion of fibers by the next laser irradiation does not occur.

  Next, the laser is radiated using the laser oscillator 40 until the fiber 12 to which the voltage is applied by the applying means becomes deformable. The laser to be irradiated is not particularly limited as long as the fiber 12 to which the voltage is applied can be deformed. For example, a gas laser (mainly carbon dioxide laser, He-Ne) is used. Lasers, Ar ion lasers), solid lasers (mainly ruby lasers, Nd: YAG lasers, Nd: glass lasers) and liquid lasers (mainly dye lasers) can be used.

  Such a laser is preferably irradiated in the vicinity of the application unit 31 so that the fiber 12 can be easily reduced in diameter. As shown in FIG. 1, in order to irradiate a plurality of fibers 12 with a laser, for example, the laser can be branched by an optical fiber, and each fiber 12 can be irradiated with a laser. It is also possible to irradiate a laser with widening.

  Such a laser irradiates and heats the polymer constituting the fiber 12 to a state where it can be deformed. In other words, it irradiates and heats the polymer 12 to a state where the diameter can be reduced by electrical pulling. .

  In the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, bricks are arranged as laser absorbers 42 at positions facing the laser oscillator 40 so as to absorb excess laser and not deteriorate the working environment.

  Next, in FIG. 1, the deformable fiber 12 to which a voltage is applied is electrically pulled to reduce the diameter and stretch the fiber 12 to obtain a fine fiber. As described above, this fine fiber formation is performed by a potential difference between the high voltage power supply 30 and the grounded conveyor 60. In FIG. 1, the conveyor 60 is grounded 50, but a voltage may be applied to the conveyor 60 as long as a potential difference is formed with the voltage applied by the high voltage power supply 30. In contrast to FIG. 1, a high voltage may be applied to the conveyor, and a potential difference may be provided by grounding a region corresponding to the application unit 31 in FIG. Furthermore, you may install the electrode which can be earth | grounded or applied separately from the conveyor 60. FIG.

  The thinned fibers 13 are collected on the conveyor 60 to form a fiber assembly 70. In FIG. 1, since the conveyor 60 is used as a collection body, the fiber assembly 70 can be manufactured continuously. However, as long as the thin fibers 13 can be collected, there is no need to be a conveyor and there is no particular limitation. For example, a drum, a net, etc. can also be used as a collector.

  1 uses one bobbin, but a plurality of manufacturing apparatuses similar to those in FIG. 1 are installed in the production direction of the fiber assembly or in a direction perpendicular to the production direction, and the fiber assembly is provided. Can increase productivity.

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual schematic cross-sectional view showing another aspect of the production apparatus of the present invention. 2 is exactly the same as FIG. 1 except that the rod-like polymer 14 is supplied instead of supplying the fiber 11 unwound from the bobbin 10 in FIG. Thus, the manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus of this invention can manufacture the fiber assembly 70 irrespective of the form of a polymer.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual schematic cross-sectional view showing still another aspect of the production apparatus of the present invention. In the manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 3, instead of supplying the fiber 11 unwound from the bobbin 10 in FIG. 1, the molten polymer is supplied from the extruder 15, and the molten polymer 16 is discharged from the spinning nozzle 21. Except for this, it is exactly the same as FIG. In FIG. 3, the molten polymer is supplied from the extruder 15 and the molten polymer 16 is discharged from the spinning nozzle 21, but the heat necessary for fiberization can be provided by laser irradiation. Since the heating temperature in the spinning nozzle 21 can be kept lower than that of a conventional melt electrostatic spinning apparatus, the polymer can be made into a fiber while suppressing thermal decomposition of the polymer. Unlike FIG. 3, application from the high voltage power supply 30 may be performed on the spinning nozzle 21.

Conceptual schematic cross-sectional view of a fiber assembly manufacturing apparatus Conceptual schematic cross-sectional view of another manufacturing apparatus for fiber assemblies Conceptual schematic cross-sectional view of still another manufacturing apparatus for fiber assemblies

Explanation of symbols

10 Bobbin 11 Fiber 12 Voltage-applied fiber 13 Fine fiber (fine fiber)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 Bar-shaped polymer 15 Extruder 16 Molten polymer 20 Feed roll 21 Spinning nozzle 30 High voltage power supply 31 Application part 40 Laser oscillator 41 Laser irradiation part 42 Laser absorber 50 Grounding 60 Conveyor 70 Fiber assembly

Claims (2)

(1) Supply process for supplying the polymer in an unmelted state ,
(2) An irradiation process in which the supplied polymer is irradiated with a laser so that the polymer can be deformed.
(3) a fiberizing step of electrically pulling the deformable polymer to reduce the diameter and stretching the polymer;
(4) A fiber assembly forming step for collecting the fibers to form a fiber assembly;
And a method for producing a fiber assembly.
(1) Supply means capable of supplying the polymer in an unmelted state ,
(2) Laser irradiation means capable of making the supplied polymer deformable,
(3) A fiberizing means for electrically pulling the deformable polymer to reduce the diameter and to stretch and fiberize the polymer; and
(4) An accumulation means capable of accumulating the fibers to form a fiber assembly,
An apparatus for producing a fiber assembly, comprising:

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