Upward Needleless Electrospinning of Nanofibers

• Published in: Journal of engineered fibers and fabrics Vol. 7; no. 2_suppl
• Main Authors: Niu, Haitao, Wang, Xungai, Lin, Tong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.06.2012
• Subjects: Mass production; Fiber generator; Needleless electrospinning; Nanofibers; PAN
• ISSN: 1558-9250; 1558-9250
• DOI: 10.1177/155892501200702S03

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers were prepared by a needleless electrospinning method using three rotating fiber generators, cylinder, disc and coil. The effects of the spinneret shape on the electrospinning process and resultant fiber morphology were examined. The disc spinneret needed the lowest voltage to initiate fiber formation, followed by the coil and cylinder. Compared to cylinder, the disc and coil produced finer fibers with narrower diameter distribution. The productivity of a coil was 23 g/hr, which was much larger than that of the cylinder spinneret having the same length and diameter. Finite elementary method was used to analyze the electric field. Stronger electric field was found to be formed on disc and coil surface, which concentrated on the disc circumferential edge and coil wire surface, respectively. For cylinder, the high intensity electric field was mainly concentrated on the end area. Concentrated electric field on the fiber generating surface could be used to explain the better electrospinning performance of coil, which may form a new concept for designing needleless electrospinning spinnerets.