In this process polymer granules are melted and molten polymer is extruded through spinnerets. The continuous filaments are cooled and deposited on to a conveyor to form a uniform web. Some remaining temperature can cause filaments to adhere to one another, but this cannot be regarded as the principal method of bonding.
The spunlaid process (also known as spunbonded) has the advantage of giving nonwovens greater strength, but raw material flexibility is more restricted. Co-extrusion of second components is used in several spunlaid processes, usually to provide extra properties or bonding capabilities.
In meltblown web formation, low viscosity polymers are extruded into a high velocity airstream on leaving the spinneret. This scatters the melt, solidifies it and breaks it up into a fibrous web.