Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a nonwoven fabric from fibres, wherein the fibres are spun by means of at least one spinneret, are cooled and then deposited on a collection device to form a nonwoven web. The nonwoven web undergoes hot fluid bonding during at least two consecutive bonding steps. In a first bonding step, the surface of the nonwoven web is subjected to a hot fluid and, in a second bonding step, the surface of the nonwoven web is also subsequently subjected to a hot fluid and, in addition and at the same time, surface pressure is exerted on the nonwoven web.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously making a spunbond web of filaments comprises a spinneret, a cooling chamber into which process air for can be introduced for the purpose of cooling the filaments, a monomer suction device between a spinneret and cooling chamber, a stretcher and a deposition device for depositing the filaments of the spunbond web. The cooling chamber is divided into two cooling compartments, and process air can be suctioned out from a first upper cooling compartment at a volumetric flow rate (VM) to a monomer suction device. Process air exits from the first upper cooling compartment at a volumetric flow rate (V1) into a second lower cooling compartment and from the first upper cooling compartment at a volumetric flow rate (V1) into a second lower cooling compartment. A ratio (VM/V1) is 0.1 to 0.35.

Abstract: An apparatus for making spunbonded nonwoven from continuous thermoplastic filaments has a spinneret for downwardly emitting the continuous filaments in a filament direction, a cooling chamber directly beneath the spinneret for receiving the filaments from the spinneret and cooling the spun filaments with cooling air and having relative to a longitudinally extending machine direction a pair of longitudinal sides extending parallel to the machine direction and a pair of transverse sides extending substantially perpendicular to the machine direction between the longitudinal sides. Respective air-supply manifolds on the transverse sides feed cooling air therefrom into the cooling chamber. The cooling air is extracted from the cooling chamber at the longitudinal sides. A stretcher directly beneath the cooling chamber receives and elongates the cooled filaments, and a device deposits the stretched filaments as a band and conveys the band off in the machine direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for making spunbonded nonwoven has a spinneret for emitting the continuous filaments in a filament-travel direction, a cooling chamber downstream in the direction from the spinneret and receiving the filaments, and two air-supply manifolds flanking the chamber for feeding cooling air thereinto transverse to the direction. A flow straightener for equalizing flow of the cooling air on the filaments is provided in at least one of the air-supply manifolds and has passage walls forming a plurality of flow passages that extend transversely to a filament-travel direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for making spunbonded nonwovens has a spinneret for emitting continuous thermoplastic filaments in a filament-travel direction, a cooling chamber downstream in the direction from the spinneret for cooling the spun filaments with cooling air, two manifolds on opposite sides of the cooling chamber opening transversely of the direction into the cooling chamber, and a respective conduit having a conduit cross-sectional area and connected to each manifold for feeding cooling air thereto. The conduit cross-sectional area increases toward the manifold to a manifold cross-sectional area, and manifold cross-sectional area is at least twice as large as the conduit cross-sectional area. At least one flow straightener is provided upstream from the cooling chamber in each manifold for orienting air flow in an air-flow direction, and at least one perforated planar homogenizing element is provided in each manifold for homogenizing the cooling air flow.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a spunbond nonwoven from endless filaments of a thermoplastic synthetic resin has a spinneret for spinning the filaments in a filament-travel direction into a spinning zone and a monomer aspirator downstream of the spinneret and having two vacuum intake ports flanking the spinning zone zone, horizontally confronting each other, and each extending transversely to the direction opposite one another. Suction means connected to the two ports withdraws gas through both the vacuum intake ports. The suction and/or the ports are set up to vary the flow through the vacuum intake ports such that substantially more gas flows through one of the ports than through the other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing a spun-bonded web from filaments, comprising spinnerets, a cooling chamber into which process air can be introduced in order to cool the filaments, a monomer suction device arranged between the spinnerets and the cooling chamber, a stretching unit, and a placing device for placing the filaments so as to form the spun-bonded web. The cooling chamber is divided into two cooling chamber portions. Process air can be suctioned out of a first upper cooling chamber portion to the monomer suction device with a volumetric flow rate Vm, and process air exits the first upper cooling chamber portion into a second lower cooling chamber portion with a volumetric flow rate V1. The volumetric flow rate ratio VM/V1 is 0.1 to 0.3.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a spunbond nonwoven from monofilaments of thermoplastic synthetics has a spinneret for spinning and emitting the filaments in a travel direction, a cooler downstream of the spinneret for cooling the spun filaments, and a stretcher downstream of the cooler for stretching the filaments. An intermediate passage extending in the travel direction between the cooler and the stretcher has upstream and downstream converging passage sections. The upstream passage section in the travel direction of the filaments having a shorter length than the downstream passage section in the travel direction of the filaments. A ratio BE/BA of an inlet width BE to an outlet width BA of the upstream passage section is 1.5 to 5.5. A ratio of an inlet width bE, to an outlet width bA, of the downstream passage section is 1 to 4.

Abstract: This invention relates to polypropylene fibers and fabrics containing polypropylene fibers, the fibers comprising propylene polymers comprising at least 50 mol % propylene, said polymers having: a) a melt flow rate (MFR, ASTM 1238, 230° C., 2.16 kg) of about 10 dg/min to about 25 dg/min; b) a dimensionless Stress Ratio/Loss Tangent Index R2 [defined by Eq. (8)] at 190° C. from about 1.5 to about 30; c) an onset temperature of crystallization under flow, Tc,rheol, (as determined by SAOS rheology, 190° C., 1° C./min, where said polymer has 0 wt % nucleating agent present), of at least about 123° C.; d) an average meso run length determined by 13C NMR of at least about 55 or higher; and e) optionally, a loss tangent, tan ?, [defined by Eq. (2)] at an angular frequency of 0.1 rad/s at 190° C. from about 14 to about 70.

Abstract: A nonwoven web made of plastic fibers and having a web thickness less than 2 mm (preferably less than 1.5 mm) and a grammage less than 30 g/m2 (preferably less than 25 g/m2) and conveyed this web in a travel direction so that it physically contacts a guide or treatment roller. A stabilization plate extending in and transversely to the travel direction of the nonwoven web is provided upstream or downstream of the roller in the travel direction, and the nonwoven web is guided in the travel direction past the stabilization plate such that a spacing between a face of the stabilization plate turned toward the nonwoven web and the nonwoven web face is 0 to 20 mm (preferably 0.1 to 10 mm, and very preferably 0.2 to 5 mm).

Abstract: An apparatus for making a nonwoven spunbond web has a spinneret for making endless filaments moving in a predetermined direction. A monomer extractor downstream from the spinneret has an upstream extractor end face directed upstream and forming a gap with a downstream spinneret end face. A cooler downstream of the extractor for the filaments has an upstream cooler end face forming with a downstream extractor end face a second gap. A stretcher downstream of the cooler for the cooled filaments has an upstream stretcher end face forming a third gap with the downstream cooler end face. The filaments are deposited on a web former by the stretcher to form the nonwoven spunbond web. A deformable seal for seals one of the gaps, and means connected to the deformable seal press the seal against the end faces forming the one gap with a variable pressure or contact face.

Abstract: An apparatus for making spunbond from continuous thermoplastic filaments has a spinneret for spinning the continuous filaments and advancing them in a filament-travel direction, a cooler for cooling the filaments, a stretcher for stretching the filaments, a depositing device including a foraminous belt extending in a machine direction transverse to the filament-travel direction for deposition of the filaments as a nonwoven web and conveyance away from the stretcher, a diffusor between the stretcher and the foraminous belt so that filaments and primary air from the stretcher enter into the diffusor, and a suction device for extracting air through the foraminous belt at an extraction region underneath the diffusor outlet and having a width b in a machine direction that is greater than a width B of the diffusor outlet. The diffusor forms upstream and downstream secondary air-inlet gaps at opposite ends through which secondary air is aspirated into the diffusor.

Abstract: A method of making a spun-bond nonwoven fabric of thermoplastic filaments has the steps of first spinning the thermoplastic filaments, then cooling the spun filaments, and then conducting the cooled and spun filaments in a travel direction through a stretcher with primary air such that the primary air exits a downstream end of the stretcher with the filaments at a predetermined primary air volume/flow VP. The filaments and substantially all of the primary air are passed together as a flow from the downstream end of the stretcher into a diffuser. Secondary air is introduced into the flow at a secondary air volume/flow VS such that a ratio VP/VS of the primary rate VP to the secondary rate is equal to at least 4.5 and the primary and secondary air flow with the filaments in the travel direction through the diffuser.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a spunbond nonwoven from endless filaments of a thermoplastic synthetic resin has a spinneret for spinning the filaments in a filament-travel direction into a spinning zone and a monomer aspirator downstream of the spinneret and having two vacuum intake ports flanking the spinning zone zone, horizontally confronting each other, and each extending transversely to the direction opposite one another. Suction means connected to the two ports withdraws gas through both the vacuum intake ports. The suction and/or the ports are set up to vary the flow through the vacuum intake ports such that substantially more gas flows through one of the ports than through the other.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a spunbond nonwoven from monofilaments of thermoplastic synthetics has a spinneret for spinning and emitting the filaments in a travel direction, a cooler downstream of the spinneret for cooling the spun filaments, and a stretcher downstream of the cooler for stretching the filaments. An intermediate passage extending in the travel direction between the cooler and the stretcher has upstream and downstream converging passage sections. The upstream passage section in the travel direction of the filaments having a shorter length than the downstream passage section in the travel direction of the filaments. A ratio BE/BA of an inlet width BE to an outlet width BA of the upstream passage section is 1.5 to 5.5. A ratio of an inlet width bE, to an outlet width bA, of the downstream passage section is 1 to 4.

Abstract: A method of making a spun-bond nonwoven fabric of thermoplastic filaments has the steps of first spinning the thermoplastic filaments, then cooling the spun filaments, and then conducting the cooled and spun filaments in a travel direction through a stretcher with primary air such that the primary air exits a downstream end of the stretcher with the filaments at a predetermined primary air volume/flow VP. The filaments and substantially all of the primary air are passed together as a flow from the downstream end of the stretcher into a diffuser. Secondary air is introduced into the flow at a secondary air volume/flow VS such that a ratio VP/VS of the primary rate VP to the secondary rate is equal to at least 4.5 and the primary and secondary air flow with the filaments in the travel direction through the diffuser.

Abstract: A nonwoven web made of plastic fibers and having a web thickness less than 2 mm (preferably less than 1.5 mm) and a grammage less than 30 g/m2 (preferably less than 25 g/m2) and conveyed this web in a travel direction so that it physically contacts a guide or treatment roller. A stabilization plate extending in and transversely to the travel direction of the nonwoven web is provided upstream or downstream of the roller in the travel direction, and the nonwoven web is guided in the travel direction past the stabilization plate such that a spacing between a face of the stabilization plate turned toward the nonwoven web and the nonwoven web face is 0 to 20 mm (preferably 0.1 to 10 mm, and very preferably 0.2 to 5 mm).

Abstract: This invention relates to polypropylene fibers and fabrics containing polypropylene fibers, the fibers comprising propylene polymers comprising at least 50 mol % propylene, said polymers having: a) a melt flow rate (MFR, ASTM 1238, 230° C., 2.16 kg) of about 10 dg/min to about 25 dg/min; b) a dimensionless Stress Ratio/Loss Tangent Index R2 [defined by Eq. (8)] at 190° C. from about 1.5 to about 30; c) an onset temperature of crystallization under flow, Tc,rheol, (as determined by SAOS rheology, 190° C., 1° C./min, where said polymer has 0 wt % nucleating agent present), of at least about 123° C.; d) an average meso run length determined by 13C NMR of at least about 55 or higher; and e) optionally, a loss tangent, tan ?, [defined by Eq. (2)] at an angular frequency of 0.1 rad/s at 190° C. from about 14 to about 70.

Abstract: This invention relates to polypropylene fibers and fabrics containing polypropylene fibers, the fibers comprising propylene polymers comprising at least 50 mol % propylene, said polymers having: a) a melt flow rate (MFR, ASTM 1238, 230° C., 2.16 kg) of about 10 dg/min to about 25 dg/min; b) a dimensionless Stress Ratio/Loss Tangent Index R2 [defined by Eq. (8)] at 190° C. from about 1.5 to about 30; c) an onset temperature of crystallization under flow, Tc,rheol, (as determined by SAOS rheology, 190° C., 1° C./min, where said polymer has 0 wt % nucleating agent present), of at least about 123° C.; d) an average meso run length determined by 13C NMR of at least about 55 or higher; and e) optionally, a loss tangent, tan?, [defined by Eq. (2)] at an angular frequency of 0.1 rad/s at 190° C. from about 14 to about 70.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing a spun-bonded web from filaments, comprising spinnerets, a cooling chamber into which process air can be introduced in order to cool the filaments, a monomer suction device arranged between the spinnerets and the cooling chamber, a stretching unit, and a placing device for placing the filaments so as to form the spun-bonded web. The cooling chamber is divided into two cooling chamber portions. Process air can be suctioned out of a first upper cooling chamber portion to the monomer suction device with a volumetric flow rate Vm, and process air exits the first upper cooling chamber portion into a second lower cooling chamber portion with a volumetric flow rate V1. The volumetric flow rate ratio VM/V1 is 0.1 to 0.3.