Mathematical modelling of fibre coating

Abstract

In this report we formulate and analyse a mathematical model describing the evo- lution of a thin liquid film coating a wire via an extrusion process. We consider the Navier-Stokes equations for a 2D incompressible Newtonian fluid coupled to the standard equation relating the fluid surface tension with the curvature. Taking the lubrication theory approximation and assuming steady state, the problem is reduced to a single third-order differential equation for the thin film height. An approximate analytical solu- tion for the final film height is derived and compared with a numerical solution obtained by means of a shooting scheme. Good agreement between the two solutions is obtained, resulting in a relative error of around 5%. The approximate solution reveals that the key control parameters for the process are the initial film height, the fluid surface tension and viscosity, the wire velocity and the angle of exit at the extruder.