16. - 18. 10. 2013, Brno, Czech Republic, EU
ALTERNATING CURRENT ELECTROSPINNING METHOD FOR PREPARATION
OF NANOFIBROUS MATERIALS
Pavel POKORNYa, Lubomir KOCISb, Jiri CHVOJKAa, David LUKASa, Jaroslav BERANa,
Martin BILEKa, Karel PEJCHARa
Technical University in Liberec, Liberec, Czech Republic, EU, pavel.pokorny@tul.cz,
EGU - HV Laboratory a.s., Prague, Czech Republic, EU
Abstract
Alternating current electrospinning method for preparation of nanofibrous materials On the basis of the
article: L. Vysloužilova, P. Pokorny, P. Mikes, M. Bilek, R. Deliu, E. Amler, M. Buzgo, K. G. Kornev, D.
Lukas: Characteristic hydrodynamic time of electrospinning (to be published) we can successfully
used the alternating current for electrospinning. Nanofibers are not electrically charged and structure
of the nanomaterial is different than using a direct current.
Keywords: electrospinning, alternating current, linear nanofibrous material
INTRODUCTION
Electrospinning is a method of producing sub-micron fibers. High voltage (HV) direct current (DC) is
frequently used for electrospinning. Possible usage of alternating current (AC) high voltage for
electrospinning is discussed in this report. Remarks of potential use of this method can be found in US
patents [1], [2], [3] and also in the article [4]. We applied for a Czech patent covering invention of
technology and production of linear nanofibrous material by the use of AC electrospinning [5].
1.
EXPERIMENTAL
Using AC electrospinning bring interesting results. It is not necessary to use a collector for nanofibrous
deposition - the process is powered by electric gradient instead. Nanofibers are electrically neutral.
Fibres join to form a linear structure by attraction of electric charges. Nanofiber layer structure is
different from the one generated by using DC electrospinning method. Mass production of needleless
AC electrospinning is ten times more effective than the mass production of DC electrospinning. We
have carried out the experiments with 10% wt PVB in ethanol. Spinning of other polymers is also
possible, but it is necessary to adjust solution recipes for AC spinning. We used AC HV of 18 - 36 kV
eff. 50 Hz. Rod and needle spinning electrodes have been used in the process. We used HV
transformer as a high voltage source.
Fig. 1 AC electrospinning of PVB solution (i –SPEED 3 camera OLYMPUS)
16. - 18. 10. 2013, Brno, Czech Republic, EU
2.
RESULTS
SEM analysis of gathered material has been performed. Material structure is significantly different from
the structure of material produced by using DC electrospinning and the structure is similar to an
extracellular matrix.
Fig. 2 PVB nanofibers by AC electrospinning
Fig. 3 Typical nanofibers structure by DC electrospinning
3.
CONCLUSION
AC electrospinning technology has a big potential of further development. Produced materials will be
applied in tissue engineering. Our department is currently working on nanofiber yarn production.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The research reported in this paper was supported in part by the Project: Applied research of
new generation protective masks with nanofilters to increase men protection from design,
technological and material point of view VG20122014078.
The paper was supported by the Project OP VaVpI Centre for Nanomaterials, Advanced
Technologies and Innovation CZ.1.05/2.1.00/01.0005.
16. - 18. 10. 2013, Brno, Czech Republic, EU
LITERATURE
[1]
US 2005/0067287 A1, Fuerst et al.:Fabrication of Improved Contact Lens Utilizing Polymer Electrospinning
[2]
US 2003/0226750 A1, Fenn J.B.: Electrospray Dispersion in an Alternating Current Mode
[3]
US 2011/0018174 A1, Baca et al.: Electrospinning Process and Apparatus for Aligned Fiber Production
[4]
L. Vysloužilova, P. Pokorny, P. Mikes, M. Bilek, R. Deliu, E. Amler, M. Buzgo, K. G. Kornev, D. Lukas:
Characteristic hydrodynamic time of electrospinning (to be published)
[5]
PV 2012-907 CZ Pokorny et al.: Způsob pro výrobu polymerních nanovláken zvlákňováním roztoku nebo
taveniny polymeru v elektrickém poli a lineární útvar z polymerních nanovláken vytvořený tímto způsobem