Process for the manufacture of a plurality of filaments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for making filaments and a fibrous product of randomly overlying filaments in a mat configuration bonded to each other at areas of intersection. The filaments are formed by subjecting a travelling layer of a settable, dielectric, molten polymer material to an electrostatic field of lines of flux of sufficient density and intensity to flow from the layer of molten polymer a multiplicity of filaments which are partially set as they form. The filaments are subjected to the field along enough to separate them from the surface of the layer and are then collected randomly overlying each other in a tacky condition so that they bond to each other in areas of intersection. The method may include insertion of an object in the path of the separated filaments for collecting them on a surface of the object. The object can be rotated so that a package of the matter material is formed about it to protect it. The layer can be pretreated before subjection to the field to densify discrete areas to form on the surface thereof starting points for the filaments. The apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a travelling transport for the layer in the form of a belt permeable to the electrostatic field in which case two electrodes develop the field or the transport may be conductive to act as one of the electrodes developing the field. A collector for the matter material can be constituted as a travelling electrode in the form of a conductive belt which is grounded with a potential applied across the belt transports.