emulsion spinning

Emulsion spinning is a method used in the production of man-made textile fibers. This technique is a variation of solution spinning, suitable for polymers that are nonmelting and insoluble. In this process, these polymers are ground into a fine powder and then mixed into a solution of another, soluble polymer. This mixture is then spun, similar to other solution spinning methods. After extrusion through a spinnerette, the soluble polymer is removed, either by a solvent or by burning, leaving behind the desired fiber. This method is particularly useful for creating fibers from materials with extremely high melting points, such as fluorocarbons like Teflon, or even inorganic materials like ceramics, by suspending them in a polymer solution that is later burned away.1