New methods to electrospin nanofibers

Abstract

Electrospinning from a single jet is commonly used to produce very fine polymeric fibers. The mass production rate of the electrospinning from a single jet is relatively low. Alternative methods to launch multiple jets and increase production rates are described here. Few variations on the electrospinning process are reported in literature. In this paper we discuss three novel methods to launch polymer jets via electric fields. Multiple pendant drop electrospinning jets from porous tubes produced fibers with average fiber diameter smaller than 400 nanometers. Bubble launched electrospinning and blown-film methods also result in multiple jets but of larger fiber diameters. These processes have not been optimized to produce small fibers. The three methods here have production rates on the order of 0.03 to 9.00 g/hr per jet. These methods should be scalable.