Synthetic Fiber Manufacturing （合成纤维制造）.pdfVIP

Instructional Module on Synthetic Fiber Manufacturing by Charles B. Weinberger Dept. of Chemical Engineering Drexel University August 30, 1996 Synthetic Fiber Manufacturing 1 Introduction The manufacture of synthetic fibers represents a huge industry, both in the United States and worldwide. In 1990, the dollar value of synthetic fibers was roughly $17 billion in the U.S. and $70 billion worldwide. Natural fibers, consisting mainly of cotton and wool, but also including silk, yielded total dollar values only slightly higher. We sometimes forget how much of these fibers we consume, especially since the appeal of natural fibers of cotton and wool has grown in recent years. Despite questions of aesthetics and taste, there should continue to be a significant demand for synthetic fibers, in large part because these fibers can be tailor-made to provide specific properties that natural fibers cannot provide. As chemical engineers, we are interested in the manufacture of synthetic fibers because we have been the principal developers of the processes used to produce the fibers and because we are usually the ones charged with overseeing and improving the manufacturing operations. As students of chemical engineering, we are interested in the manufacture of synthetic fibers because the process involves several fundamental aspects of chemical engineering. Once we understand this process thoroughly, we will be in a position to understand other chemical processes quite easily. The goal here is to provid