Physics of Electrospinning

Abstract

Electrospinning is the process of producing fibers ranging from sub-micron to Nano-scale in diameter consistently and reproducibly. The Electrospinning consists of three main parts High voltage power source (up to 30 kV), Spinneret (such as a syringe, with a small diameter needle) and a conducting collector. The basic principle of electrospinning technique is that, when an electrically charged solution is feed through a small opening such as syringe pump, needle or a pipette tip then due to its charge the solution is drawn as a jet towards an oppositely charged conducting collector plate. The solvent evaporates gradually during jet travel towards the collecting plate and a charged solid fiber is laid to accumulate at the collector plate. The high voltage is connected to the end of a needle containing the liquid solution. The fiber collecting screen is expected to be conductive and it can either be a stationary plate or a rotating platform or substrate. The physics of electrospinning involves several key factors, including the electrostatic forces, surface tension and viscosity of the polymer solution.