Abstract:
A melt blowing system for the manufacturing of pleatable/moldable nonwoven fabrics includes a collector positioned to receive a plurality of fibers, a first die in fluid communication with a first liquid polymer supply having a melt flow index of about 500 or lower, and a second die in fluid communication with a second liquid polymer supply having a melt flow index of about 500 or higher. The first die has a concentric air design, includes a plurality of spinneret nozzles facing the collector surface, and is configured to draw a first plurality of fibers. The second die includes a plurality of spinneret nozzles having smaller capillary diameter than those of the first die and is positioned to draw a second plurality of fibers such that the first and second pluralities of fibers form a co-mingled nonwoven web with varying fiber diameters on the collector surface.