Controlling Some Specifications of Nanofibers Produced by Electrospinning Through the Rotation Speed and Shape of the Collector

Abstract

Nanofibers possess properties that make them suitable for use in a variety of applications, including high specific surface area and biomimetic potential. This has led to numerous potential applications for electrospinning fibers. Precise control and prediction of nanofiber alignment and diameter are critical for these applications. Several variables affect fiber properties, including the collector’s speed and shape. In this research, the conventional collector used in electrospinning technology was modified by using a polyamide collector in the form of a cone-shaped trunk, and the effect of changing the surface inclination angle on the properties of the resulting fibers was studied. The effect of the conical collector’s rotational speed on fiber morphology, in terms of diameter alignment and density, was also studied. 5 different rotational speeds were applied within the range of (0-6000) rpm, and three inclination angles of 10, 15, and 30 degrees were tested, with the remaining process parameters held constant. The results showed that increasing the inclination angle of the surface of the cone increases the diameter of the produced fibers and reduces their density. Regarding the orientation of the fibers, the study showed that high rotational speeds (4500 rpm and above) produced clear parallelism and alignment between the resulting nanofibers and those taken from the base side of the conical collector, with 82% alignment relative to the diameters of the formed fibers. On the collector, the results showed that a rotational speed of 3000 rpm gave the smallest fiber diameter, reaching 50.07 nm. Also, samples taken from the base side showed identical results, and the smallest diameter measured was 40.1 nm. By comparing the fiber diameters taken from the two bases of the cone, the results showed the presence of a gradient in the alignment, diameters, and density, allowing the formation of a three-dimensional structure for the resulting fiber network. This study demonstrates the importance of calibrating the rotational speed of the collector and its inclination angle in determining the optimum values to obtain three-dimensional fibers at the nanoscale, which can be used in many potential applications.