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3658812 
Journal Article 
Production of Well-Defined Organic Fibres for Inhalation Experiment 
Marijnissen, J; Buwalda, H; Van Pinxteren, M; Lemkowitz, S; Bibo, H 
1989 
Yes 
Journal of Aerosol Science
ISSN: 0021-8502
EISSN: 1879-1964 
NIOSH/00195513 
20 
8 
1285-1288 
The production of well defined organic fibers of selected materials and dimensions was described for use in inhalation experiments. The method synthesized manmade organic fibers using two selected polymers. The polymers, in a certain volume ratio, flowed through a multiflux mixer which split the double layered polymer stream into two equal parts and then recombined them in such a way that four polymer layers flowed out. Using a number of mixers, a multilayered structure could be created with the two different polymers succeeding each other. Fibrils could then be formed by forcing the multilayered stream through a fine wire gauze as the less viscous polymer flowed around the more viscous one. A filament with a diameter of approximately 40 micrometers was thus formed with a matrix containing on the order of 100 fibrils of one micrometer diameter. The filaments were stretched, bundled, and embedded in an ice matrix, then cut to a predetermined length by a microtome and separated on the basis of diameter. The result was a suspension of highly monodisperse fibers which could be aerosolized by use of a nebulizer. The authors conclude that the described spin process combined with cutting and size separation according to diameter enables the production of monodisperse fibers. Treatment of fibers such that surface properties and electrical behavior are altered will enable the examination of factors influencing the transport and deposition behavior of such fibers.