Patent Application
20080054107
The features of the invention believed to be novel and the elements characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The figures are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
In describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference will be made herein to
The present invention provides an efficient method of mass-producing fibrillated fiber cores with nanofiber fibrils for various applications by mechanical working of the fibers. The term “fiber” means a solid that is characterized by a high aspect ratio of length to diameter. For example, an aspect ratio having a length to an average diameter ratio of from greater than about 2 to about 1000 or more may be using in the generation of nanofibers according to the instant invention. The term “fibrillated fibers” refers to fibers bearing sliver-like fibrils distributed along the length of the fiber and having a length to width ratio of about 2 to about 100 and having a diameter of less than about 1000 nanometers. Fibrillated fibers extending from the fiber, often referred to as the “core fiber” , have a diameter significantly less that the core fiber from which the fibrillated fibers extend. The fibrils extending from the core fiber preferably have diameters in the nanofiber range of less than about 1000 nanometers. As used herein, the term nanofiber means a fiber, whether extending from a core fiber or separated from a core fiber, having a diameter less than about 1000 nanometers. Nanofiber mixtures produced by the instant invention typically have diameters of about 50 nanometers up to less than about 1000 nanometers and lengths of about 0.1-6 millimeters. Nanofibers preferably have diameters of about 50-500 nanometers and lengths of about 0.1 to 6 millimeters.
It has been discovered that fibrillated fibers may be more efficiently produced by first open channel refining fibers at a first shear rate to create fibrillated fibers, and subsequently open channel refining the fibers at a second shear rate, higher than the first shear rate, to increase the degree of fibrillation of the fibers. As used herein, the term open channel refining refers to physical processing of the fiber, primarily by shearing, without substantial crushing, beating and cutting, that results in fibrillation of the fiber with limited reduction of fiber length or generation of fines. Substantial crushing, beating and cutting of the fibers is not desirable in the production of filtration structures, for example, because such forces result in rapid disintegration of the fibers, and in the production of low quality fibrillation with many fines, short fibers and flattened fibers that provide less efficient filtration structures when such fibers are incorporated into the paper filters. Open channel refining, also referred to as shearing, is typically performed by processing an aqueous fiber suspension using one or more widely spaced rotating conical or flat blades or plates. The action of a single moving surface, sufficiently far away from other surfaces, imparts primarily shearing forces on the fibers in an independent shear field. The shear rate varies from a low value near the hub or axis of rotation to a maximum shear value at the outer periphery of the blades or plates, where maximum relative tip velocity is achieved. However, such shear is very low compared to that imparted by common surface refining methods where two surfaces in close proximity are caused to aggressively shear fibers, as in beaters, conical and high speed rotor refiners, and disk refiners. An example of the latter employs a rotor with one or more rows of teeth that spins at high speed within a stator.
By contrast, the term closed channel refining refers to physical processing of the fiber by a combination of shearing, crushing, beating and cutting that results in both fibrillation of the fiber and reduction of fiber size and length, and a significant generation of fines compared to open channel refining. Closed channel refining is typically performed by processing an aqueous fiber suspension in a commercial beater or in a conical or flat plate refiner, the latter using closely spaced conical or flat blades or plates that rotate with respect to each other. This may be accomplished where one blade or plate is stationary and the other is rotating, or where two blades or plates are rotating at different angular speeds or in different directions. The action of both surfaces of the blades or plates imparts the shearing and other physical forces on the fibers, and each surface reinforces the shearing and cutting forces imparted by the other. As with open channel refining, the shear rate between the relatively rotating blades or plates varies from a tow value near the hub or axis of rotation to a maximum shear value at the outer periphery of the blades or plates, where maximum relative tip velocity is achieved.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fibrillated fibers and nanofibers are produced in continuously agitated refiners from materials such as cellulose, acrylic, polyolefin, polyester, nylon, aramid and liquid crystal polymer fibers, particularly polypropylene and polyethylene fibers. In general, the fibers employed in the present invention may be organic or inorganic materials including, but not limited to, polymers, engineered resins, ceramics, cellulose, rayon, glass, metal, activated alumina, carbon or activated carbon, silica, zeolites, or combinations thereof. Combination of organic and inorganic fibers and/or whiskers are contemplated and within the scope of the invention as for example, glass, ceramic, or metal fibers and polymeric fibers may be used together.
The quality of the fibrillated fibers produced by the present invention is measured in one important aspect by the Canadian Standard Freeness value. Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF) means a value for the freeness or drainage rate of pulp as measured by the rate that a suspension of pulp may be drained. This methodology is well known to one having skill in the paper making arts. While the CSF value is slightly responsive to fiber length, it is strongly responsive to the degree of fiber fibrillation. Thus, the CSF, which is a measure of how easily water may be removed from the pulp, is a suitable means of monitoring the degree of fiber fibrillation. If the surface area is very high, then very little water will be drained from the pulp in a given amount of time and the CSF value will become progressively lower as the fibers fibrillate more extensively.
The open channel refiners employed in the present invention can be staged in batch or continuous mode depending on the final product specifications. In batch mode, the fibers are sheared in a single vessel, and the rotor speed increases from a low shear rate to a high shear rate. In continuous mode, the fibers are sheared in a multiple vessels, and the rotor speed of each vessel through which the fibers are processed increases from a low shear rate to a high shear rate.
The reduction of CSF as a function of time for fibers during shearing at a constant rate is shown in
It has been discovered that varying shear rate during the open channel refining of fibers results in more efficient fiber fibrillation. In order to shorten the time needed to reach point B on the CSF rate curve as shown in
A preferred continuous arrangement of open channel refiners is depicted in
In rotary processing equipment such as the refiners of
The process of making fibrillated fibers begins by feeding an aqueous suspension of fibers 22 into first refiner 40. The starting fibers have diameter of a few microns with fiber length varying from about 2-6 mm. The fiber concentration in water can vary from 1-6% by weight. The first refiner is fed continuously with fibers 22 and, after open channel refining therein for a desired time, the processed fiber suspension 34 continuously flows to succeeding refiner 50, where it is further open channel refined at a higher shear rate. The processed fiber suspension 36 then flows from refiner 50 to refiner 60, and then as processed fiber suspension 38 to refiner 70, where it is further open channel refined at increasing shear rates in continuous mode operation. The finished fibrillated fiber suspension 80 emerges from refiner 70.
The rate at which the fibers are fed into first refiner 40 is governed by the specifications of the final fibrillated fiber 80. The feed rate (in dry fibers) can typically vary from about 20-1000 lbs./hr. (9-450 kg/hr), and the average residence time in each refiner varies from about 30 min. to 2 hours. The number of sequential refiners to meet such production rates can vary from 2 up to 10, with each refiner having a shear rate higher than that of the previous refiner. The temperature inside the refiners is usually maintained below about 175° F. (80° C.).
The processed fiber 80 is characterized by Canadian Standard Freeness rating of the fiber mixture, and by optical measurement techniques. Typically, entering fibers have a CSF rating of about 750 to 700, which then decreases with each stage of refining to a final CSF rating of about 50 to 0. The finished fibrillated fiber product obtained at the end of processing has all the nanofibers still attached to the core fibers, as shown in
Fiber slurry of 3.5% solids content is fed into the first of a series of open channel refiners at 33 gal./min. (125 l/min.). The fiber length varies between 2 to 5 millimeters. The processed fiber from the first open channel refiner is fed into the second open channel refiner and optionally into one or more other open channel refiners until the desired CSF is achieved in the last open channel refiner. For the first open channel refiner, there are three blades, each 17 in. (43 cm) in diameter running at a speed of about 1750 rev./min. The intermediate open channel refiners have four 20 in. (51 cm) diameter blades running at a speed of about 1750 rev./min. The last open channel refiner has two 23 in. (58 cm) blades running at a speed of about 1750 rev./min. The fiber in every open channel refiner represents a range of CSF curve from CSF 700 to CSF 0. The fiber in the first open channel refiner has an average CSF distribution close to CSF 700 and the fiber in the last open channel refiner has an average CSF distribution close to CSF 0. At any given point during the process, every open channel refiner contains about 600 lbs. (275 kg) of dry fiber and 2000 gal. (7570 l) of water. The consistency of each open channel refiner is kept around 3.5 weight percent solids.
As an alternative to continuous processing, the present method of producing fibrillated fibers may be run as a batch process as well. In batch mode, each individual refiner may be used to produce about 3-700 lbs/hr (1.5-320 kg/hr). The residence time in each refiner varies from about 30 min. to 8 hours. The blade dimensions are optimized for appropriate shear rate, which may be determined without undue experimentation. The material produced in batch and continuous mode is identical, as characterized using CSF and optical measurement techniques, and the rheological properties are not affected.
If further refining is required, the fiber suspension may be recycled 32 from the final refiner back to any previous refiner stage 24, 26, 28 or 30 for additional open channel refining. The resulting fiber suspension, after all open channel refining, may proceeds to belt dewatering to provide the final wet lap fibrillated fibers. Such fibrillated fibers may be used for papermaking, filters, or other uses typical of such fibers. Alternatively, the suspension may undergo further processing, as set forth in U.S. patent application No. [atty. docket no. KXIN100008000] entitled “Process for Producing Nanofibers” by the same inventors filed on even date herewith.
Thus, the present invention provides an improved process and system for producing fibrillated fibers, with fibrils in the nanofiber-size range attached to larger core fibers, that is more efficient than prior methods in time and cost. The process retains elongated fiber length with reduced amount of fines at higher energy efficiency and productivity, resulting in improved volume and yield.
While the present invention has been particularly described, in conjunction with a specific preferred embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60842195 | Aug 2006 | US |
