elektrospinding

Electrospinning is a fabrication method for producing ultrafine fibers from polymer solutions or melts by applying a high electric field. A viscous polymer solution is loaded into a syringe and extruded through a spinneret. Under a strong electric potential, charges accumulate at the liquid surface, creating a Taylor cone. When the electrostatic forces exceed surface tension, a jet is ejected, is stretched and thinned as the solvent evaporates, and solid fibers are deposited on a grounded collector.

Typical equipment includes a syringe pump, a conductive needle or spinneret, a high-voltage power supply, and a collecting target. By adjusting process parameters such as voltage, flow rate, and the distance to the collector, fiber diameter and morphology can be tuned from tens of nanometers to a few micrometers. Common polymer systems include PVP, PVA, PVDF, PAN, and polystyrene, dissolved in solvents like DMF, THF, acetone, or water. Ambient humidity and temperature also influence fiber formation.

Applications are wide and include filtration membranes with high surface area, tissue engineering scaffolds, wound dressings, drug delivery systems, sensors, and energy storage membranes. Electrospun materials often exhibit high porosity, interconnected pore networks, and substantial surface-to-volume ratios.

Limitations include relatively low production rates for laboratory-scale setups and solvent handling concerns; scaling up requires specialized equipment and process control. Research continues in needleless and multi-jet configurations, coaxial and blended fibers, and in post-treatment methods to modify surface chemistry or crystallinity.