Method and apparatus for spinning bicomponent filaments and products produced therefrom

An apparatus for spinning bicomponent sheath/core filaments having a distributor plate and spinnerette and a shim positioned between the distributor plate and spinnerette to effect a controlled pressure drop of the sheath polymer material. In particular, the distributor plate and spinnerette each have a plurality of spaced core polymer flow passages and sheath polymer passages wherein the respective core polymer flow passages are axially aligned and the respective sheath polymer flow passages are aligned. The shim is positioned between the spinnerette and distributor plate to control the sheath polymer flow from the outlet of the distributor sheath polymer flow passages to the inlet of each spinnerette core polymer flow passage separately. Producing sheath/core bicomponent fibers using this apparatus results in fibers having concentric sheath/core configurations and increased throughput.