Electrostatic fiber formation, also known as ââ?¬Å?electrospinningââ?¬Â, has emerged in recent years as the popular choice for producing continuous threads, nano fiber arrays and nonwoven fabrics with fiber diameters below 1Ã?µm for a wide range of materials. The process is divided into five operational components: fluid charging, formation of the cone-jet, thinning of the steady jet, onset and growth of jet instabilities that give rise to diameter reduction into the submicron regime, and collection of the fibers. Dependence of the jetting phenomenon on operating variables is discussed. Electrospun polymeric fibers are attractive candidates in the development of scaffolds for the tissue engineering and for providing new systems for delivery of bioactive molecules. Electrospinning has gained widespread interest due to its potential to produce nanofibers having high porosity similar to the natural extracellular matrix (ECM). The inherently high surface to volume ratio of electrospun scaffolds can enhance cell attachment, drug loading, and mass transfer properties.
Loading....