Analysis of the effect of flow-induced crystallization on the stability of low-speed spinning using the linear stability method

Abstract

The stability of low-speed spinning process exhibiting spinline flow-induced crystallization (FIC) with no neck-like spinline deformation has been investigated using the method of linear stability analysis. Effects of various process conditions such as fluid viscoelasticity and the spinline cooling on the spinning stability have been found closely related to the development of the spinline crystallinity. It also has been found that the FIC makes the system less stable or more unstable than no FIC cases when the spinline crystallinity reaches its maximum possible value, whereas the FIC generally stabilizes the system if the crystallinity doesn’t reach its maximum value on the spinline. It is believed that the destabilizing effect of the FIC on low-speed spinning when the crystallinity is fully developed on the spinline is due to the reduction of the real spinning length available for deformation on the spinline. On the other hand, the increased spinline tension caused by the FIC when the maximum crystallinity is not reached on the spinline and thus no reduction in the spinning length occurs, makes the sensitivity of spinline variables to external disturbances smaller and hence stabilizes the system. These linear stability results are consistent with the findings by nonlinear transient simulation, as first reported by Lee et al. (2005b).