Determining the Optimal Parameter to Produce Nano-fiber On a Drum Collector

Abstract

The goal of my research is to produce a nanofiber plot using a rotary drum. Unlike normal fibers, nanofibers are fibrous, light weighted with a diameter of 100 nanometers or less. It is produced by combining a polymer such as Polycaprolactone (PCL) and a solvent like acetone. There’s different ways to collect fiber, however the process we use is called the electrospinning method. It consists on using electric charge to attract threads of the polymer solution. For my project, I will be using a syringe’s needle and a metal rotating drum to serve as charging ends where the electrospinning method will take place. The variations of the nanofiber are affected by the rotations of the drum, the flow and release of the polymer substance and the distance between the needle and the drum. The syringe is controlled by a syringe pump which is programed to push at a specific rate. The optimal parameters consist on having perfect alignments of the fibers in a parallel pattern. Once the PCL fiber is produced, we collect it from the drum, and observe it through the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The overall outcome of my project is to built a custom made system that adapts to the production of a desired pattern of nanofiber.