Biopolymer Electrospinning

Electrospinning is a useful tool for producing fine fibers of about 10 nanometers to 10 microns in diameter from both natural and synthetic polymers. Historical developments, theory, and the types equipment used to produce aligned and non-aligned fibres in electrospinning are discussed. Collector composition or substrates, dimension of the collector, electrospinning materials and configurations of nozzle in electrospinning are discussed with their respective importance. The electrospinning process is influenced by the following solution parameters like viscosity, polymer molecular weight, polymer concentration, surface tension, polymer solution conductivity or surface charge density, rate of evaporation of solvents, dielectric constant and vapour pressure. Voltage, needle tip to collector distance, feedrate, collector material, electrospinning setup, diameter of needle orifice, environmental (ambient) parameters like temperature, humidity, type of atmosphere and pressure also determine electrospun fiber size and morphology.

Keywords: Co-electrospinning, Collector, Electrospinning, Parameters, Spinneret, Voltage.