Patent ID: 8114325

Claim:
A flash spinning process comprising the steps of: flash spinning by supplying a fluidized mixture having at least two components to at least one nozzle comprising an orifice opening into a slotted fan jet outlet; issuing the fluidized mixture from the slotted fan jet outlet to form an issued material; vaporizing or expanding at least one component of the issued material to form a fluid jet; transporting the remaining component(s) of the issued material away from the nozzle with the fluid jet; and collecting the remaining component(s) of the issued material prior to the onset of large scale, turbulent flow on a moving collection surface located at a distance of about 0.25 cm to about 13 cm from the nozzle wherein one component of the fluidized mixture comprises a spin agent, further comprising supplying the fluidized mixture to the nozzle at a temperature greater than the boiling temperature of the spin agent at a pressure sufficient to keep the spin agent in liquid state, and issuing the fluidized mixture into an environment at a temperature within about 40° C. of the boiling temperature of the spin agent, such that the spin agent vaporizes and a solidified second component is issued from the nozzle.