This paper presents the possibility of nanofiber formation by a new multiple jet method. A novel needleless electrospinning apparatus was used to produce nanofibers. This employs a new design for supplying solution to a metal roller spinneret. The advantage of this setup is its ease of scaling-up for increased output. Using this new method it was possible to increase the nanofiber production rate because of the multiple jets. The productivity rate has been significantly enhanced and was 24–30 times higher than single needle electrospinning. It was also possible to produce thinner fibers than the single needle method. It was found that fibers produced by this novel needleless electrospinning had fewer beadings than fibers produced by the conventional electrospinning method. The effects of processing parameters including applied voltage and spinning electrospinning distance on eletrospun fiber diameter were also investigated. The study showed that the electrospun fiber diameter was strongly governed by the processing parameters. It was observed that there was a strong interaction between these parameters.
References
1.
DoshiJ.; RenekerD.H.; Electrospinning process and applications of electrospun fibers, Journal of Electrostatics1995, 35, 151–160.
2.
SmithD.J., Electrospun Fibers and an Apparatus Therefore, US Patent 6, 753, 2004, 454.
3.
KrucinskaL., Recent Advances and Innovations in Textile and Clothing, International Technical Textiles Congress: Istanbul, TURKEY, 2005, pp. 19–21.
4.
HohmanM.M., Electrospinning and Electrically Forced Jets. II. Applications, Physics of Fluids2001, 13, 2221–2236.
5.
BuchkoC.J., Mechanical properties of biocompatible protein polymer thin films, J. Mat. Res.2000, 15, 231–242.
6.
BuchkoC.J.; KozloffK.M.; MartinD.C.; Surface characterization of porous, biocompatible protein thin films, Biomaterials2001, 22, 1289–1300.
FertalaA.; HanW.B.; KoF.K.; Mapping Critical Sites in Collagen II for Rational Design of Gene-Engineered Proteins for Cell-Supporting Materials, J Biomed Mater Res.2001, 57, 48–58.
9.
HuangL., Generation of synthetic elastin-mimetic small diameter fibers and fiber networks, Macromolecules2000, 33, 2989–2997.
10.
JinH.J., Electrospinning Bombyx Mori silk with Poly (Ethylene oxide), Abstracts of Papers, American Chemical Society2002, 224, 408–420.
11.
LiW.J., Electrospun nanofibrous structure: a novel scaffold for tissue engineering, J Biomed Mater Res.2002, 60, 613–621.
12.
ChamberlainG.; JoyceM.; A Study of Issues Relating to the Patentability of Biotechnological Subject Matter, Design News, 1990, p. 20.
YunK.S., Lithium secondary battery comprising a super fine fibrous polymer separator film and its fabrication method, US Patent, PCT/KR00/00501, 2001, (7–279–251 B1).
15.
SenecalK.J., Conductive (electrical, ionic and photoelectric) membrane articlers, and method for producing same, US patent application publication 2001.0045547, 2001.
16.
SenecalK.J., Photoelectric response from nanofibrous membranes, Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings2002, 708, 285–289.
17.
HuangZ.M., A review on polymer nanofibers by electrospinning and their applications in nanocomposites, Composites Science and Technology2003, 63, 2223–2253.
18.
TomerV., Selective Emitters for Thermophotovoltaics: ERbia-modified Electrospun Titania Nanofibers, Solar Energy Matl:Solar Cells2005, 85, 477–488.
19.
SrinivasanG.; RenekerD.H.; Structure and morphology of small diameter electrospun aramid fiber, Polym Int1995, 36, 195–201.
20.
RenekerD.H.; ChunI.; Nanometre diameter fibres of polymer, produced by electrospinning, Nanotechnology1996, 7, 216–223.
21.
FongH.; ChunI.; RenekerD.H.; Nanometre diameter fibres of polymer, produced by electrospinning, Polymer1999, 40, 4585–4592.
22.
FundaC., Comparative analysis of various electrospinning methods of nanofibre formation, Fibres & Textiles in Eastern Europe2009, 17, 13–19.
23.
JirsakO.; A Method of Nanofibres Production From a Polymer Solution Using Electrostatic Spinning and a Device for Carrying Out The Method, Cz. Patent 2414, 2, 994, 2003, 274
24.
KameokaJ.; CraigheadH.G.; Fabrication of oriented polymeric nanofibers on planar surfaces by electrospinning, Applied Physics Letters2003, 83, 371–373.
25.
[25] LeeW.S., Apparatus of Polymer Web by Electrospinning Process, US Patent 6, 616, 2003, 435
26.
ChuB.; HsiaoB.; FangD.; Apparatus and Methods for Electrospinning Polymeric Fibers and Membranes, US Patent 6, 713, 2005, 011
TomaszewskiW.; SzadkowskiM.; Investigation of electrospinning with the use of a multi-jet electrospinning head, Fibres & Textiles in Eastern Europe2005, 13, 22–26.
29.
DosunmuO.O., Electrospinning of polymer nanofibres from multiple jets on a porous tubular surface, Nanotechnology2006, 17, 1123–1127.
30.
ShanZ.; Yongchun, XinhouW.; Polymer Engineering and Science, 2010, 2252–2257.
31.
NiuH., Electrostatic spinning assembly, WO 2010/043002, 2010.
32.
ThompsonC.; ChaseG.; YarinA., RenekerD.; Effects of parameters on nanofiber diameter determined from electrospinning model, Polymer2007, 48, 6913–6922.
33.
ZiabariM.; MottaghitalabV.; HaghiA.K.; Electrospun Nanofibers Research: Recent Developments, New York, Nova Science Publishers, 2009, Chap. 8
34.
ZiabariM.; MottaghitalabV.; HaghiA.K.; Electrospun Nanofibers Research: Recent Developments, New York, Nova Science Publishers, 2009, Chap. 9.
35.
TheronS.; ZussmanE.; YarinA.L.; Experimental investigation of the governing parameters in the electrospinning of polymer solutions, Polymer2004, 45, 2017–2030.
36.
TiagoF.; WayneR.; The Image J User Guide1.44, February 9, 2011.
37.
ChristopherB. R., Image Correlation Spectroscopy of Multiphoton Images Correlates with Collagen Mechanical Properties, Biophys J.2008, 94, 2361–2373.
38.
ChristopherB. R., Non-invasive assessment of collagen hydrogel microstructure and mechanics using multphoton microscopy, Biophys J.2007, 92, 2212–2222.
39.
ForwadK.M., RutldgeG.C., Proc. ESA Annual Meeting on Electrostatics2010, Paper B1.
