Short fiber formation during extrusion of polyethylene–sodium lignosulfonate blends

摘要

AbstractWhen extruding a blend of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and a technical grade of sodium lignosulfonate through a capillary it was observed that LDPE formed fibers in a matrix of the lignosulfonate. With short capillaries and low shear rates, short fibers of LDPE with lengths between 0.5 and 5 mm and with diameters in the range 2–20 μm can be produced. Since sodium lignosulphonate is water‐soluble, the LDPE fibers can easily be isolated. Such fibers can be used for synthetic wood pulp or in nonwoven types of applicat