For my thesis research, I dissolved PLA and PCL in chloroform: methanol (3:1), PMMA (350.000 MW, 13 wt%) in acetone, and collagen in acetate acid--and then, I mixed them together. The problem is when I tried to electrospinning with this solution, the needle clogging happened every time. It causes uncontinuous fiber synthesis. Fortunately, when I tried to observe some fibers from the solution, the result was 'no beads' appear.
I use needle 21 G with electrospinning parameters 20 kV and flow rate 2 ml/h.
Is there any suggestions for me on how to get rid needle clogging? Thank you.
Hi Evangelina,
Sounds like a dense mixture to perform fine fibers (you might have problems with solvent' polarity ratios causing polymers' clogging). I suggest to increase needle's diameter or consider a multi-needle system.
Fábio Garrudo
Fiber forming always begins with 'thick part' and then becomes thinner and then when it ends, fiber forming starts again withthick one and the next part is thin, and sometimes the fiber becomes thick again and so on. It doesnt continously produce thin fibers.
Haydee Vargas I'm currently using PLA for 2 wt% and PCL for 3 wt%.
Fábio Garrudo
Here is the problem with my electrospinning. It doesnt uniformly produce thin fibers. Instead keeps on thick-thin-thick cycles.
Fábio Garrudo
Sure, i'll give it a try. Thank you so much for your help.- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Physical Sciences
- Materials Science