Processing of multilayered filament composites by melt blown spinning

Newly designed layer multiplying blocks are introduced in the process line of a melt blown spinning machine. The layer multiplying blocks have the capability to produce filament composites up to 1025 layers. Multilayer filament composites of polypropylene (PP) with poly(caprolactone) (PCL), a water soluble polyester or poly(l-lactic acid) are successfully produced in the form of nonwovens. Selected samples of PP/PCL are delaminated using the following methods: semi-crystalline PP/PCL samples are soaked in chloroform and agitated, and amorphous PP/PCL samples are subjected to mechanical stress in the axial spinning direction. Results show the possibility to create thin ribbons with extremely high surface area. The produced nonwovens and ribbons are characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and by differential scanning calorimetry. The extremely high surface area ribbons can be applied in different fields where high surface area is required, such as filtration, energy applications, catalysis, or tissue engineering. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40786.