SBIR Phase I: In-Process Fiber Web Characterization

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将开发一个模型，将光衰减和散射数据与基本权重以及用于在过程中测量网均匀性的光学诊断相关联。非织造聚合物纤维网被用作各种产品的主要成分，包括复合材料、医用纺织品、土木工程织物、过滤器、卫生用品、化妆品配件等。超过40个汽车零部件采用了纤维网。这些产品的整体市场估计为1000亿美元。保持纤维网的均匀性是制造非织造纤维纤维网的首要质量问题。最近对光纤网综散射的理解取得了进展，这使得基重均匀性测量的光学诊断得以发展。这项技术的更广泛影响将是提高重要制造业部门的效率和生产力。从学术的角度来看，该项目将寻求使用集合测量和经验建模来确定复杂系统的总体参数。这项工作结果的传播将为科学家们提供处理其他类似复杂系统反应的线索，比如化学处理中遇到的多相悬浮液和乳剂。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a model relating the light attenuation and scattering data to the basis weight as well as optical diagnostics for in-process measurement of web uniformity. Nonwoven polymer fiber webs are used as a primary component in a variety of products including, composite materials, medical textiles, civil engineering fabrics, filters, hygiene products, cosmetics accessories, etc. More than forty automotive parts employ fiber webs. The overall market of these products is estimated to be $100B. Maintaining the uniformity of webs is the quality issue of foremost importance in the manufacturing of nonwoven polymer fiber webs. Recent advancements in the understanding of ensemble scattering by fiber webs are enabling the development of optical diagnostics for the basis-weight uniformity measurements. The broader impact from this technology will be enhancing the efficiency and productivity of a significant manufacturing sector. From an academic point of view, this project will seek to identify the bulk parameters of a complex system using ensemble measurements and empirical modeling. Dissemination of the results of this work would provide scientists clues to handling the response of other similar complex systems, like multiphase suspensions and emulsions encountered in chemical processing.