Industrial upscaling of electrospinning and applications of polymer nanofibers: A review

Abstract

Electrospun nanofibers are extensively studied and their potential applications are largely demonstrated. Today, electrospinning equipment and technological solutions, and electrospun materials are rapidly moving to commercialization. Dedicated companies supply laboratory and industrial-scale components and apparatus for electrospinning, and others commercialize electrospun products. This paper focuses on relevant technological approaches developed by research, which show perspectives for scaling-up and for fulfilling requirements of industrial production in terms of throughput, accuracy, and functionality of the realized nanofibers. A critical analysis is provided about technological weakness and strength points in combination with expected challenges from the market. Environment, energy, and biotechnology are some of the industrial fields where the potentialities of electrospun nanofibers are largely demonstrated. A focus on technological approaches developed by research and on their weakness and strong points is provided. The requirements of industrial production with respect to electrospinning throughput, accuracy, and nanofiber functionality are discussed, together with challenges from the market. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.