Device for the manufacture of fibers from fusible materials

An apparatus for the manufacture of fibers from fusible low viscosity melts of inorganic mineral or metal materials or organic materials, comprising:

• crucible means for heating the starting material above the melting point thereof and having an orifice in the bottom thereof;
• Laval nozzle means for causing abrupt temperature drop of gases passing therethrough at supersonic speeds and being disposed in relation to said orifice to receive liquid passing therethrough;
• means for permitting a gaseous flow medium to enter the inlet of said Laval nozzle means;
• and
• flow control means for causing said flow medium to pass through said Laval nozzle means at supersonic speed;
• wherein said Laval nozzle means comprises a Laval nozzle having a narrow inner diameter part and an enlarged inner diameter part downstream of said narrow part, the shape of said enlarged part being so selected so as to achieve a sufficient temperature drop of the flow medium within a sufficiently short length of the enlarged part of said Laval nozzle, when said flow medium is flowing therethrough at a supersonic speed, to solidify the melt of starting material into the form of fibers before the surface tension of the melt forms the melt into droplets.