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Why can melt electrospinning create new materials in a non-toxic environment? What is the science behind it?
With the increasing awareness of environmental protection, many manufacturing fields are committed to finding non-toxic material processing processes. Melt electrospinning technology is one of the leaders. This technology can not only effectively produce fiber structures, but also do it without using volatile solvents, bringing new possibilities to the industry.
Historical background of melt electrospinning technology
Melt electrospinning technology was first patented by Charles Norton in 1936. However, it was not until 1981 that Larondo and Manley described the technology in detail in three research papers. With the deepening of scientific research, this technology attracted attention again in 2001, and a number of application studies were conducted. In 2011, the combination of fusion electrospinning technology and mobile collectors was officially proposed as a new 3D printing method.
Basic principles of melt electrospinning technology
The basic physical principles of melt electrospinning are the same as electrostatic fiber drawing, but it uses a polymer melt rather than a solution. Polymer melts are typically more viscous than solutions, allowing electrically polarized jets to follow predictable paths. Molten jets require cooling to solidify, also in contrast to solution electrospinning, which relies on evaporation.
Key parameters of melt electrospinning
Temperature
To ensure complete melting of the polymer, a suitable minimum temperature must be maintained. The length of the rotator is shorter than that of solution electrospinning, which is also a factor that cannot be ignored.
Traffic
The most important parameter controlling fiber diameter is the polymer flow rate through the spinner. Generally speaking, the greater the flow rate, the greater the fiber diameter.
Molecular weight
The molecular weight of the polymer also determines whether it can be melt electrospun. Linear homogeneous polymers below 30,000 g/mol will result in poor fiber quality, while high molecular weights above 100,000 g/mol will have difficulty flowing through the spinner.
Voltage
Adjusting the voltage has little effect on fiber diameter, but it is necessary to ensure an optimized voltage to produce high-quality fibers.
Melt electrospinning equipment
A variety of designs are available when manufacturing fusion electrospinning machines, with both vertically or horizontally mounted equipment and a variety of heat source options including electric heaters, hot gas, and circulation heaters.
Polymer materials involved
Melt electrospinning technology is mainly used for polymers with melting points or glass transition temperatures. Common meltable electrospun polymers include:
Polycaprolactone, polylactic acid, poly(lactic acid-glycolic acid), polymethacrylate, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.
Application of melt electrospinning
Tissue engineering
In the production of biomedical materials, melt electrospinning is widely used in tissue engineering research because it does not require the use of solvents. Fibers made using melt electrospinning technology can form a good scaffold for cells, thereby promoting cell growth and the formation of external matrix.
Drug delivery
Melt electrospinning technology can also prepare drug-loaded fibers. This new formulation technology can play an important role in drug solubility control and combines the advantages of solvent extrusion and electrospinning.
Melt Electrospinning Writing (MEW)
Melt electrospinning is a 3D printing method that allows precise fiber deposition to produce complex structures by controlling the movement speed of the collector.
Future Outlook
The continued development of melt electrospinning technology provides unlimited possibilities for the creation of new materials, which will not only change the face of materials science, but may also have a profound impact on environmental optimization. However, while advancing new technologies, we should also think about: Can future materials technology truly integrate with sustainable development and benefit mankind?
