Die, die assembly, equipment and method for forming rods of fibrous material

A die assembly for forming a bundle of fibres into a rod, the die assembly comprising a die defining a passage for conducting the bundle of fibres therethrough from an inlet to an outlet, wherein the die comprises an inlet section and a forming section, the inlet section comprising an upstream conical section, an intermediate cylindrical section and a downstream conical section which is shaped to form the fibres of the bundle into a desired configuration as the bundle passes through the downstream conical section of the inlet section of the die to the forming section,

• wherein the die comprises at least one conduit through which a treatment fluid for curing the bundle of fibres may be introduced into the passage, the conduit being arranged to discharge the treatment fluid into the forming section and in a direction that is not opposed to the direction of movement of the bundle of fibres through the die,
• and wherein the die comprises further conduits through which a fluid may be introduced into the passage for treating fibres therein, said further conduits being constructed and arranged to discharge fluid into the intermediate cylindrical section of the inlet section of the passage upstream of the downstream conical section;
• and
• wherein the die assembly comprises a housing defining a chamber into which a treatment fluid may be introduced, and wherein the at least one conduit and the further conduits in the die communicate between the chamber and the passage in the die.