Poly(lactide) nanofibers produced by a melt‐electrospinning system with a laser melting device

Abstract

A new melt-electrospinning system equipped with a CO 2 -laser melting device was developed. Rod-like samples were prepared from poly(lactide) pellets, and then fibers were produced from the samples using the new system. The effects of producing conditions on the fiber diameter were investigated. Furthermore, the physical properties of the fibers were investigated. The following conclusions were obtained: (i) in a special case, fibers having an average fiber diameter smaller than 1 mm could be obtained using the system developed; (ii) the fiber diameter could be decreased with increased laser output power, but the physical properties of the fibers such as the melting point and the molecular weight were decreased; and (iii) the electrospun fibers exhibited an amorphous state, and the annealed fibers exhibited an isotropic crystal orientation.

Three-Dimensional Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications: Role of Porosity and Pore Size

“…75,76 In melt electrospinning, the polymer is heated with an electric heater or CO 2 laser above its melting or glass transition temperature. 77,78 However, as polymer melts have lower charge density and are more viscous than its solution, fibers obtained from melt electrospinning process are thicker than those fabricated from solution electrospinning. 75,79 Cell encapsulation…”

Ultra-Fine Fibers Produced by Laser-Electrospinning

“…Ogata et al prepared ultra-fine fibers of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol), poly (lactide) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) using this process. [16][17][18] They have also examined the effects of laser power and collector distance on the diameter of the fibers.…”

The Effect of Applied Voltage and Laser Power on the Molecular Orientation of Laser-Electrospun Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Fibers

“…However, most studies on electrospinning focus on electrospinning from polymer solution, which has the disadvantage that it requires a solvent, increasing both the production cost and the burden on the environment. In recent years, to overcome this disadvantage, so-called "melt electrospinning" has been studied [3][4][5][6][7]. Laser-electrospinning is one melt electrospinning method that involves heating the fiber material rapidly by laser irradiation.…”

“…( [4][5][6][7] . Ultra-fine poly ( ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers with a diameter of 1.7 µm have been produced [6].…”