Method for forming nanofiber nonwoven products

A method for producing a nanofiber nonwoven product comprising the steps of:

• extruding a polyamide composition comprising N6, N66, N6T/66, N612, N6/66, N6I/66, N66/6I/6T, N11, and/or N12, wherein “N” means Nylon, having a moisture content, with a pressurized gas having a pressure ranging from 160 kPa to 220 kPa through a fiber forming channel having a channel temperature ranging from 270° C. to 315° C. to form nanofibers wherein less than 20% of the nanofibers have a fiber diameter of greater than 700 nm;
• and
• collecting the nanofibers on a belt to form the nanofiber nonwoven product, wherein greater than 50% of the fibers in the nanofiber nonwoven product are the nanofibers;
• wherein the polyamide nanofiber nonwoven product has an Air Permeability Value of less than 600 CFM/ft2, and
• wherein the moisture content of the polyamide composition is controlled by drying the polyamide composition to have a moisture content from 0.005 wt. % to 1 wt. %, and rehydrating the dried polyamide composition.