NANOMETER DIAMETER FIBERS OF POLYMER, PRODUCED BY ELECTROSPINNING

Electrospinning uses electrical forces to produce polymer fibres with nanometre-scale diameters. Electrospinning occurs when the electrical forces at the surface of a polymer solution or melt overcome the surfa ce tension and cause an electrically charged jet to be ejected. When t he jet dries or solidifies, an electrically charged fibre remains. Thi s charged fibre can be directed or accelerated by electrical forces an d then collected in sheets or other useful geometrical forms. More tha n 20 polymers, including polyethylene oxide, nylon, polyimide, DNA, po lyaramid, and polyaniline, have been electrospun in our laboratory. Mo st were spun from solution, although spinning from the melt in vacuum and air was also demonstrated. Electrospinning from polymer melts in a vacuum is advantageous because higher fields and higher temperatures can be used than in air.