SUPERFINE FIBER CREATING SPINNERET AND USES THEREOF
Apparatuses and methods for the production of superfine fibers.
1 - 29 . (canceled)
30 . A method of creating fibers comprising:
placing a composition into a spinneret comprising one or more openings, wherein the composition comprises a cellulose ester and a solvent capable of dissolving at least a portion of the cellulose ester; and
rotating the spinneret about a spin axis such that rotation of the spinneret causes at least a portion of the material disposed in the spinneret to be ejected through the one or more of the openings and form the fibers as the ejected material solidifies.
31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the spinneret comprises a body defining a central reservoir, which receives the composition, and one or more channels extending from the central reservoir to the one or more openings.
32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein one or more of the channels have a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the openings.
33 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the reservoir is a substantially circular reservoir and wherein the channels extend radially from the circular reservoir to the openings.
34 . The method of claim 30 , further comprising: heating the composition to a temperature greater than room temperature.
35 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising heating the spinneret to a temperature at or near the temperature of the composition.
36 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the openings have a size that promotes the formation of microfibers.
37 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the openings have a size that promotes the formation of nanofibers.
38 . The method of claim 30 , further comprising collecting the fibers on a collection device that at least partially surrounds the spinneret while the spinneret is being rotated.
39 . The method of claim 30 , further comprising heating the spinneret with a heater thermally coupled to the spinneret.
40 . The method of claim 30 , further comprising surrounding the spinneret in a housing, wherein the environment in the housing is controllable.
41 . The method of claim 30 , wherein at least a portion of the superfine fibers are created without electro spinning.
42 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the fibers are formed without subjecting the material to an externally-applied electric field that is sufficient to draw a fiber from the openings of the spinneret.
43 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the fibers are formed without subjecting the material to an externally-applied gas.
44 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the fibers are formed without the fibers falling into liquid after being created.
45 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the produced fibers have a length of 1 micron or longer.