The Optimization of Alternating Current Electrospun PA 6 Solutions Using a Visual Analysis System

• Main Authors: Tomas Kalous, Pavel Holec, Jakub Erben, Martin Bilek, Ondrej Batka, Pavel Pokorny, Jiri Chaloupek, Jiri Chvojka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: Polymers
• Subjects: nanofibers; AC electrospinning; relaxation time; productivity; polymer solution
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/13/2098

The electrospinning process that produces fine nanofibrous materials have a major disadvantage in the area of productivity. However, alternating current (AC) electrospinning might help to solve the problem via the modification of high voltage signal. The aforementioned productivity aspect can be observed via a camera system that focuses on the jet creation area and that measures the average lifespan. The paper describes the optimization of polyamide 6 (PA 6) solutions and demonstrates the change in the behavior of the process following the addition of a minor dose of oxoacid. This addition served to convert the previously unspinnable (using AC) solution to a high-quality electrospinning solution. The visual analysis of the AC electrospinning of polymeric solutions using a high-speed camera and a programmable power source was chosen as the method for the evaluation of the quality of the process. The solutions were exposed to high voltage applying two types of AC signal, i.e., the sine wave and the step change. All the recordings presented in the paper contained two sets of data: firstly, camera recordings that showed the visual expression of electrospinning and, secondly, signal recordings that provided information on the data position in the signal function.