Three-Dimensional Model for Electrospinning Processes in Controlled Gas Counterflow

TL;DR

This paper models the effects of controlled gas counterflow on electrospinning jets using a non-linear Langevin approach, revealing how air drag influences fiber diameter and stability, with implications for improving nanofiber quality.

Contribution

It introduces a novel non-linear Langevin-like model to simulate air drag effects in electrospinning, enhancing understanding of jet dynamics under controlled gas flows.

Findings

Controlled gas counterflow reduces fiber diameter.

Air drag affects jet bending instabilities.

Model insights aid in designing better electrospinning processes.

Abstract

We study the effects of a controlled gas flow on the dynamics of electrified jets in the electrospinning process. The main idea is to model the air drag effects of the gas flow by using a non-linear Langevin-like approach. The model is employed to investigate the dynamics of electrified polymer jets at different conditions of air drag force, showing that a controlled gas counterflow can lead to a decrease of the average diameter of electrospun fibers, and potentially to an improvement of the quality of electrospun products. We probe the influence of air drag effects on the bending instabilities of the jet and on its angular fluctuations during the process. The insights provided by this study might prove useful for the design of future electrospinning experiments and polymer nanofiber materials.