Basic concepts and fundamental insights into electrospinning

Abstract

Electrospinning is a well-known technique for the production of fibers from a range of hundreds of micrometers to a 10th of nanometers. This technique is simple, versatile, cost-effective, high production rate, and very relevant in industry and biomedical research. In this chapter, we have highlighted the basics of electrospinning with apparatus setups, solution parameters (viscosity, surface tension, and solvent), electrospun parameters (applied voltage, tip-collector distance, flow rate, humidity, temperature, and needle gauge), choice of materials (polymer, composite, and ceramics), various types of fibers morphologies, and their physical characterization. The selection of materials and electrospinning parameters is the key and plays an important role in the production of specific morphologies (nonwoven fiber, ribbon, wavy, alignment, random, porous, and bead) of the fibers with unique characteristics such as porosity, permeability, high surface-to-volume ratio, and high mechanical strength. This chapter provides a comprehensive outlook on the preparation and characterization of the electrospinning nanofibers and insights about the about technique in biomedical applications. Show more