Patent ID: 6824729
Filing Date: 2004-11-30
Classification: D01D,D04H,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of preparing a nonwoven web having substantially continuous synthetic fine fiber, comprising the steps of:a. preparing an aqueous amide crosslinked polymer solution of about 10 to about 75 percent by weight of a linear superabsorbent precursor polymer having a molecular weight of from about 300,000 to about 10,000,000; b. extruding said polymer solution at a temperature of from about 20Â° C. to about 180Â° C. and a viscosity of from about 3 to about 1000 Pa sec through a die having a plurality of orifices to form a plurality of threadlines, said orifices having diameters in the range of from about 0.20 to about 1.2 mm; and c. attenuating said threadlines with a primary gaseous source under conditions sufficient to permit the viscosity of each threadline, as it leaves a die orifice and for a distance of no more than about 8 cm, to increase incrementally with increasing distance from the die, while substantially maintaining uniformity of viscosity in the radial direction, at a rate sufficient to provide fibers having the desired attenuation and mean fiber diameter without significant fiber breakage.