Abstract: A high efficiency particulate air filter for the capture of virus particles is disclosed. The filter includes a coform three-dimensional fibrous matrix comprising a population of fibrillated polymeric nanofibers and a population of microparticles homogenously distributed throughout the fibrous matrix. In an embodiment, the microparticles are ion exchange resins. The virus particles are captured by the fibrous matrix and bind to the to the surface of the resins by permanent electrostatic forces and inactivated by the biocidal agent. A process for removing virus particles from an aerosol is also disclosed. The filter provides at least a log10 reduction value (LRV) greater than 3 for virus particles with a diameter smaller than 0.3 microns with a pressure drop of less than 200 Pascal at an aerosol face velocity of 5.3 cm/s.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming and fibrillating a molten polymeric film into nanofibers consisting of a plurality of two-phase flow spinning nozzles arranged in a substantially liner array each nozzle into nanofibers including one or more first input orifices for a process gas; one or more second input orifices for a polymer melt; a flow channel including two or more channel walls and a monotonically decreasing flow area wherein the process gas and polymer melt are combined into a stratified two phase flow with the polymer melt formed into a film on one or more of the channel walls; and one or more channel exit openings, each exit opening including an edge at which the process gas reaches sonic velocity or less and where the edge is configured to fibrillate the polymeric film into a stream of nanofibers.

Abstract: A fibrous super absorbent material is disclosed including a) a hydrophilic three-dimensional fibrous web consisting of a first population of fibrillated nanofibers, and a second population of fibrillated microfibers, both populations uniformly distributed throughout the three-dimensional fibrous web where the first population comprises at least 50% of the total fiber population and b) a population of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) particles with a median size of less than 40 microns dispersed throughout the fibrous web. In various embodiments, a plurality of coarse (greater than 40 microns in diameter), fine from about (40 ?m to about 10 ?m in diameter), ultrafine (from about 10 ?m to about one ?m in diameter) and nanosize (less than one ?m in diameter) particles are dispersed into the fibrous structure to absorb liquids or remove contaminants or bacteria from the fluids.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing a coform fibrous materials comprising the steps of supplying a first fiber forming stream comprising a first phase comprising a polymer melt and a second phase comprising a pressurized gas to a two-phase flow nozzle, supplying a separate second stream containing at least one secondary material to the two-phase flow nozzle, combining the first fiber forming stream and the second stream to form a composite fiber forming stream and fibrillating the composite fiber forming stream into a coform fibrous web. Superabsorbent and filtration coform fibrous materials for filtration and produced using the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for producing nanofibers and non-woven nanofibrous materials from polymer melts, liquids and particles using a two-phase flow nozzle. The process comprises supplying a first phase comprising a polymer melt and a second phase comprising a pressurized gas stream to a two-phase flow nozzle; injecting the polymer melt and the pressurized gas stream into a mixing chamber within the two-phase flow nozzle wherein the mixing chamber combines the polymer flow and pressurized gas into a two-phase flow; distributing the two-phase flow uniformly to a converging channel terminating into an channel exit wherein the converging channel accelerates the two-phase flow creating a polymeric film along the surface of the converging channel and fibrillating the polymeric film at the channel exit of the converging channel in the form of a plurality of nanofibers.