Electrospinning Mechanism for Producing Nanoscale Polymer Fibers

Electrospinning provides a straightforward method to produce polymer fibers with nanoscale diameters. Although the setup for electrospinning is simple and convenient, the spinning mechanism itself is quite complicated. A complete understanding of this mechanism remains to be elucidated and the factors that govern fiber formation are not well understood. In this study, we investigate the electrospinning instabilities by observing the electrospinning jet behaviors with various photographic exposure times ranging from 1/100 to 1/10,000 of a second and the corresponding fiber depositions. We propose an electrospinning mechanism responsible for producing nanoscale fibers and their deposition patterns.     

Electrospinning Instabilities in the Drop Formation and Multi-Jet Ejection Part I: Various Concentrations of PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol) Polymer Solution

The electrospinning technique has attracted significant research attention because of its various potential applications and simplicity of manufacturing fibers of diameter from several micrometers to nanometer range. However, the methods for controlling the shape, structure, and uniformity of electrospun fibers have not yet been fully investigated. In this research electrospinning instabilities, such as cyclical electrospinning fluctuation and multi-jet ejections, which are closely related to the corresponding nanofiber deposition, were investigated for various polymer solution concentrations. The cyclical electrospinning fluctuation was evaluated with an image analysis program integrated with an image acquisition system that we developed. Two different drop size fluctuations of the cyclical process of the drop formation were observed.     

Electrospun precursor carbon nanofibers optimization by using response surface methodology

Ultrafine fibers were electrospun from Polyacrylonitrile and N,N-dimethylformamide solution to be used as a precursor for carbon nanofibers. An electrospinning set-up was used to collect fibers with diameter ranging from 104 nm to 434 nm. Morphology of fibers and its distribution were investigated by varying Berry's number, charge density, spinning angle, spinneret diameter and collector area. A more systematic understanding of process parameters was obtained and a quantitative relationship between electrospinning parameters and average fiber diameter was established by using response surface methodology. It was concluded that; Berry's number, charge density and spinneret diameters played an important role to the diameter of nanofibers and its standard deviation. Spinning angle and collector area had no significant impact. Based on response surface methodology the optimum Polyacrylonitrile average fiber diameter of 280 nm and 28 nm standard deviation, were collected at 1.6 kV/cm charge density, 8 Berry's number and 0.9 mm spinneret diameter.     

Drug Release Behavior of a Drug-Loaded Polylactide Nanofiber Web Prepared via Laser-Electrospinning

In recent years drug-loaded nanofibers prepared using solution electrospinning methods have been actively studied. However, there are a number of problems connected to their solution electrospinning with respect to medical applications because of the hazards associated with the residual solvents. To avoid the use of solvents in this study we prepared and evaluated drug-loaded polylactide (PLA) fiber webs using a laser-electrospinning (LES) type of a melt electrospinning process. The structures and properties of the obtained drug-loaded PLA fiber webs were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction and UV–vis spectrometry. As shown by the various characterization techniques, we employed LES to prepare PLA nanofiber webs with average fiber diameters of 4.21 and 0.67?μm. Additionally, the webs were loaded with argatroban, a thrombin inhibitor, resulting in amorphous structures for both the argatroban and the PLA matrix. An in-vitro investigation of the drug release behavior of the webs revealed that higher release rates occurred for the fiber samples with the small fiber diameters, particularly in comparison with melt spun fibers with an average diameter of 150?μm. Overall, we expect that the herein described drug-loaded PLA nanofiber webs can be applied as medical materials with drug delivery system functions.     

Fabrication and Optimization of Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Zirconium Acetate Electrospun Nanofibers Using Taguchi Experimental Design

This paper presents an investigation regarding poly(vinyl alcohol)/zirconium acetate (organic–inorganic) (PVA/Zrace) nanofibers prepared by electrospinning which could be used as a precursor for fabricating ceramic metal oxide nanofibers. The effect of some processing variables, including polymer solution concentration, tip to collector distance and applied voltage of electrospinning, and the amount of Zrace and their interactions, on the diameter of the nanofibers were studied. Taguchi experimental design and a statistical analysis (ANOVA) were employed and the relationship between experimental conditions and yield levels determined. It was concluded that to obtain a narrow diameter distribution as well as maximum fiber fineness, a polymer concentration of 10 wt%, tip to collector distance of 18 cm and applied voltage of 20 kV variables were the optimum. Furthermore, it was also concluded that the ratio of Zrace (6 g) to PVA solution (10% wt) played an important role for achieving the minimum fiber diameter. Under these optimum conditions, the diameters of the electrospun composite fibers ranged from 86 nm to 381 nm with a diameter average of 193 nm. The experiments were done with Qualitek-4 software with “smaller is better” as the quality characteristics. The optimized conditions showed an improvement in the fibers diameter distribution and the average fibers diameter showed good resemblance with the result predicted using the Taguchi method and the Qualitek-4 software. The ANOVA results showed that all factors had significant effects on the fibers diameter and distribution, but the effect of PVA concentration and zirconium acetate were more significant than the other factors.     

Electrospun cross linked rosin fibers

In this study, we describe the first reported preparation of rosin in fiber form through use of an electrospinning technique utilizing various solvent systems. The polymer concentration of the formed fiber was studied by using various solvents such as chloroform, ethanol, N-N dimethylformamide (DMF), tetrahydrofuran (THF), acetone, and methylene chloride (MC). An electrospray of the solution resulted in the beaded form of the rosin. By varying the polymer concentration with MC, we were then able to obtain uniform fibers. However, the fibers exhibited large diameter. We believe that it is possible to reduce the diameter of the rosin fibers through appropriate selection of electrospinning parameters. In addition, the morphological transitions from beads, to beaded fiber, to fiber were studied at different polymer concentrations. We propose a possible physical cross linking mechanism for the formation of rosin fibers during the electrospinning process. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of producing fiber nanostructures of rosin by using an electrospinning technique.     

Mechanism of Electrospinning for Poly(amic acid)/Polyacrylonitrile Fiber Fabrication

A poly(amic acid) (PAA) solution in xylene was prepared for electrospinning in order to fabricate fibers. However, jet breaking occurred at the point of the occurrence of whipping instability, resulting in forming micro-particles. This was an exceptional jet behavior compared with the general electro-spraying process that occurs directly from the surface of the polymer droplet. It is important to understand the mechanism of electrospinning and the instability of PAA in order to form fibers for mat deposition. Thus, the behavior of the jet breaking was clearly observed by a high-speed camera and the dynamic behavior of the jet was explored by an image analysis technique. Furthermore, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was added to the PAA/xylene solution with various concentrations to change the elongation viscosity. Uniform diameter fibers were obtained by increasing the content of PAN to the level that the drag force between the polymer chains increased enough to overcome the drawing force. As a result the optimum content ratio of the PAA/PAN mixed solution to obtain the desired fiber spinning and deposition was determined as being 5:5.     

Manufacture and Characterization of Poly (butylene terephthalate) Nanofibers by Electrospinning

Poly (butylene terephthalate) (PBT) nanofiber mats were prepared by electrospinning, being directly deposited in the form of a random fibers web. The effect of changing processing parameters such as solution concentration and electrospinning voltage on the morphology of the electrospun PBT nanofibers was investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrospun fibers diameter increased with rising concentration and decreased by increasing the electrospinning voltage, thermal and mechanical properties of electrospun fibers were characterized by DSC and tensile testing, respectively.     

Poly(ɛ-caprolactone) Electrospun Scaffolds Filled with Nanoparticles. Production and Optimization According to Taguchi's Methodology

Polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds were produced by electrospinning. Polymeric solutions in a mix of dichloromethane (DCM) and dimethylformamide were electrospun to form fibers in the sub-micron range. Physical properties of the PCL solutions were characterized with respect to density, viscosity, conductivity and surface tension. Processing was optimized following Taguchi's methodology to select the set of processing parameters that resulted in producing fibers with the smallest diameters, minimum number of defects and with the narrowest distribution of fiber diameter. Morphology of electrospun fibers was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed for the different sets of processing parameters. The optimum conditions found to electrospun PCL were used to process PCL solutions containing nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite (HA) or bioactive glass (BG). Bioactivity of nanocomposite electrospun membranes in simulated body fluid (SBF) was analyzed and biological response was tested by assessing proliferation and viability of MT3C3-E1 preosteoblasts cultured on PCL and its nanocomposite membranes.     

Electrospinning of Poly(Hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) Fibrous Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications: Effects of Electrospinning Parameters and Solution Properties

Electrospinning, a technology capable of fabricating ultrafine fibers (microfibers and nanofibers), has been investigated by various research groups for the production of fibrous biopolymer membranes for potential medical applications. In this study, poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), a natural, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymer, was successfully electrospun to form nonwoven fibrous mats. The effects of different electrospinning parameters (solution feeding rate, applied voltage, working distance and needle size) and polymer solution properties (concentration, viscosity and conductivity) on fiber diameter and morphology were systematically studied and causes for these effects are discussed. The formation of beaded fibers was investigated and the mechanism presented. It was shown that by varying electrospinning parameters within the processing window that was determined in this study, the diameter of electrospun PHBV fibers could be adjusted from a few hundred nanometers to a few microns, which are in the desirable range for constructing “biomimicking” fibrous scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.     

Controlled assembly of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) fibers through an electric-field-assisted electrospinning method

In this paper, we develop an effective electric-field-assisted electrospinning method for the controlled deposition of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) fibers. The electric field distribution becomes uniform and convergent due to the introduction of a metal plate and a focusing aid into the conventional electrospinning setup. As a result, the bending instability is suppressed and the jet is restricted to moving to the collector along a straight line. Helical structure of fibers with lateral width of about 10 μm is formed and aligned on a rotating substrate. The morphology of helical fibers can also be effectively adjusted by varying the collecting velocity.     

蒸汽浸没射流凝结引起的冲击特性研究

本文在广泛的蒸汽压力和过冷水温度范围内,针对饱和蒸汽通过不同出口直径的喷嘴在过冷水中浸没射流凝结引起的压力冲击特性进行了实验研究,测量得到了不同轴向位置和径向位置的冲击压力,并分析了入口蒸汽压力,过冷水温度和喷嘴出口直径对冲击压力的影响规律。结果表明冲击压力主要受入口蒸汽压力和过冷水温度的影响;同时,当汽水参数以及无量纲轴向和径向距离相同时,不同出口直径的喷嘴对应的冲击压力变化很小,从而表明喷嘴出口直径对压力冲击影响很小。     

电纺ZnO纳米纤维电子传输层提高倒置PTB7∶PC70BM电池效率

研究利用静电纺丝制备的不同直径ZnO纳米纤维作为倒置结构有机太阳能电池的电子传输层对器件转化效率的影响。首先通过静电纺丝技术成功制备了半径在43～110 nm之间的ZnO纳米纤维,然后将ZnO纳米纤维作为电子传输层加入到倒置结构有机太阳能电池（ITO/ZnO∶ZnO nanofiber/PTB7∶PC₇₀BM/MoO₃/Al）。与平面结构的ZnO电子传输层相比,ZnO纳米纤维具有比表面积大等优点,增加了电子传输和抽取能力,提高了器件的光电转化效率。实验发现ZnO纳米纤维的直径越小,电池效率越大。当ZnO纳米纤维直径为(46±5)nm,接收时间为30 s时,作为电子传输层的电池效率提高了8%。     

Production of nanofibers by electrospinning under pressurized CO2

Electrospinning is one of the simple technical methods for the production of polymer nanoparticles and nanofibers. Various polymers have been successfully electrospun into ultrafine particles and fibers in recent years mostly in solvent solution and some in melt form. In this work, near- and supercritical CO₂ were used as media for this process. At these conditions, the solubility can be tuned by controlling the temperature and pressure. Therefore, it is possible to form particles and fibers within a thermodynamic window where the biopolymer has been softened, but not dissolved. The experiments were conducted by using electrospinning under pressurized CO₂ system at pressures of ～ 8.0 MPa and temperature of 313 K to produce several polymers fibers. Polyvinylpyrrolidone was used as the starting material. During the electrospinning process, the applied voltage was 10–17 kV and the distance of nozzle and collector was 8 cm. The concentration of polymer solution was 4 wt%. The morphology- and structure-produced fibers were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that temperature and pressure affected the morphology of fibers produced by electrospinning in pressurized CO₂. This suggests that the thermal behavior of the polymer can be optimized by adjusting the polymer through the adjustment of pressure and temperature by using CO₂ as a solvent.     

Electrospinning of Continuous,Large Area,Latticework Fiber onto Two‐Dimensional Pin‐array Collectors

The fiber spinning technique of electrospinning has been optimized in order to prepare unidirectionally aligned and structurally oriented fibers. For this paper, we designed a new device based on a 2D period collector fabrication and electrostatic fields analysis to obtain a large area latticework fibers pattern. The pattern was composed of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)‐based sub‐micron fibers with diameters ranging from 910 nm to 1300 nm, which have potential applications in tissue cell cultures.     

Fiber diameter in electrospinning process

In order to increase the control on the fiber diameter we propose in this paper a methodology to determine stability domains of the process in which the electrospun fiber diameter can be predetermined and also controlled by means of the polymer solution flow and the applied voltage. To define these stability domains we employ a combination of analytical expressions depending on the location along the traveling jet. In the vicinity of the nozzle we employ the expression which links the fiber diameter with the kinematic viscosity of the polymer solution, nozzle-collector distance, solution density, liquid flow, electric current and intensity of the electrostatic field. At larger distances from the nozzle, the fiber diameter can be expressed as a function of solution density, liquid flow, intensity of the applied electrostatic field and distance from the nozzle. Close to the collector the fiber diameter can be expressed with respect to the superficial tension of the polymer solution, dielectric permittivity, liquid flow and intensity of the electric current. Under specific constrains, the superposition of the plots obtained from these mathematical expressions will be used to determine the stability domain for the fiber diameter in which the diameter can be controlled by two process parameters, namely applied voltage and polymer solution flow. Through this approach the present paper can contribute to increased control of the electrospinning process and thus enhanced applicability.     

喷雾腔压力及喷嘴孔径对相变喷雾冷却性能的影响

为了满足大功率激光器件高热流密度及低表面温度的冷却需求,以R22为冷却工质,实验研究了在闭式系统中改变喷雾腔压力及喷嘴孔径对相变喷雾冷却中临界热流密度、冷却温度等冷却性能的影响,实验结果表明:在喷雾入口压力为0.8 MPa,喷雾高度为22 mm,入口温度为-3 ℃的实验条件下,当喷雾腔压力在0.2~0.4 MPa范围内变化时,随着喷雾腔压力的升高,临界热流密度值（CHF）先增大后减小,存在最优的临界热流密度,冷却壁面温度随着喷雾腔压力的升高而上升;当改变喷嘴孔径时,CHF存在最优值,过小及过大的孔径均会影响喷雾冷却性能;当喷嘴孔径为 0.4 mm,喷雾腔压力为0.34 MPa时, CHF值最高,为276.1 Wcm-2,其对应的被冷却表面温度为26.8 ℃,表面换热系数为 66 640 Wm-2K-1。     

Fabrication of size-controlled three-dimensional structures consisting of electrohydrodynamically produced polycaprolactone micro/nanofibers

In this paper, we report a facile method of fabricating size-controlled three-dimensional (3D) polycaprolactone (PCL) micro/nanofiber structure using a modified electrospinning supplemented with a specially designed solvent bath in which the flow rate of the solvent (EtOH) was controlled. By varying the flow rate of the EtOH into the grounded bath and the electrospinning parameters including a distance between the nozzle and target, the height, diameter, porosity, and micro/nanofiber size of the 3D structures were controlled. To show stable micro/nanofibrous structures under the fabricating conditions, we characterized a process diagram for various flow rates of EtOH and weight percents of PCL. We believe that this modified electrospinning process may be a new means of fabricating micro/nanofibrous 3D structures.     

Controlling the fiber diameter during electrospinning

We present a simple analytical model for the forces that determine jet diameter during electrospinning as a function of surface tension, flow rate, and electric current in the jet. The model predicts the existence of a terminal jet diameter, beyond which further thinning of the jet due to growth of the whipping instability does not occur. Experimental data for various electrospun fibers attest to the accuracy of the model.     

Formation of high aspect ratio polyamide-6 nanofibers via electrically induced double layer during electrospinning

In the present study, the formation of high aspect ratio nanofibers in polyamide-6 was investigated as a function of applied voltage ranging from 15 to 25 kV using electrospinning technique. All other experimental parameters were kept constant. The electrospun polyamide-6 nanofibers were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF). FE-SEM images of polyamide-6 nanofibers showed that the diameter of the electrospun fiber was decreased with increasing applied voltage. At the critical applied voltage, the polymer solution was completely ionized to form the dense high aspect ratio nanofibers in between the main nanofibers. The diameter of the polyamide-6 nanofibers was observed to be in the range of 75-110 nm, whereas the high aspect ratio structures consisted of regularly distributed very fine nanofibers with diameters of about 9-28 nm. Trends in fiber diameter and diameter distribution were discussed for the high aspect ratio nanofibers. TEM results revealed that the formation of double layers in polyamide-6 nanofibers and then split-up into ultrafine fibers. The electrically induced double layer in combination with the polyelectrolytic nature of solution is proposed as the suitable mechanisms for the formation of high aspect ratio nanofibers in polyamide-6.