Process for the production of alginate fibre material and products made

Abstract

A process for producing dried alginate fibre material, in which wet spun insoluble alginate fibres are overlaid in a sheet onto a more slowly moving liquid permeable conveyor and are subjected to a dewatering drying operation, includes special treatment to eliminate or reduce bonding of the overlaid fibres at their points of contact or intersection. This is accomplished preferably by passing the dried sheet or web that is produced through successive pairs of rollers driven at different speeds so as to pull the individual fibres longitudinally and break any existing inter-fibre bonds. Also, prior to and during initial drying of the sheet of wet fibres application thereto of external mechanical forces is avoided and alcohol exchange to remove water may be used. The rollers may advantageously produce a stretch-breaking effect. The alginate fibre material produced is particularly suitable for making up medical or surgical dressings and the like.