The electrospinning process is the earliest to achieve industrial production and is also the most common method for preparing submicron-nanofibers. Currently, there are two main processing methods used, namely solution method and melting method. Currently, solution method is used to produce nanofibers accounting for 10% of the total. An overwhelming proportion. The electrospinning process has relatively low cost, simple maintenance and processing, and is the main method for laboratory research and industrial production of nanofibers. However, solvent selection and recovery systems are still issues that restrict large-scale industrial production of electrospinning. The electrospinning equipment currently on the market generally includes the following three series.
1 Needleless electrospinning technology
The needle-free electrospinning technology “Nanospider” of the Czech company Elmarco is the world’s first nanofiber production line put into industrial operation. The equipment has the characteristics of simple structure and low operating cost. The raw materials that can be used include organic materials, inorganic materials and bio-based polymer raw materials. The electrospinning equipment that can be provided according to user requirements includes: NS-Lab laboratory series, with a working width of 300mm; production equipment includes the NS-1S-500U series with a width of 0.5m, the NS-4S-1000U series with a width of 1m and NS-8S-1600U series with a width of 1.6m. The fibers and fiber webs developed by the new generation of Nanospider technology and equipment have better uniformity, lower consumption of raw materials and solvents, and significantly reduced operating costs.
2 SPUR porous electrospinning production technology
The porous electrospinning technology developed by the Czech SPUR company has excellent versatility and can be used for the production of submicron-nano fibers. Its features include: precise design capacity; only one maintenance person required for continuous operation for 16 hours; the equipment structure is simple, easy to operate, and safe; and the amount of waste silk is low. The company’s SPUR-120 production line has a working width of 1200mm and a production capacity of 300m2/h based on products with a weight of 0.25g/m2.
3 Development technology of electrospun nanofiber composite products
By combining electrospun nanofibers with nanoscale powders produced by electrospraying, hybrid products with differentiated morphological structures can be developed, which are very suitable for the processing of tissue engineering materials. Research practice shows that the hybrid combination of electrospinning and electrostatic spraying can effectively improve the properties of fiber materials and the structural characteristics of the fiber surface.
At present, many nanofiber manufacturers in Europe, Japan and other places have successively developed electrospinning-electrospray composite products. and provide related equipment. For example, the “Fluidnatek” technology and equipment developed by the Spanish Valencia company has good production flexibility and can be adapted to small experiments and commercial production. It has diversified processing varieties and can undertake coaxial electrospinning and multi-axis electrospinning. Process testing. This series of equipment adopts a modular design, and the production scale or categories can be adjusted according to market needs. At present, composite products produced by electrospinning-electrospraying are favored by the market.
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