I am fabricating PVA nanofibers loaded with metal salts using Aluminum foil as collector. The fibers formation is good but I have difficulty in removing the fiber sheet from the foil. It firmly sticks with the foil upon drying. Any suggestions for this. Thanks
Dear Saqib Siddiqui
You can use nonwoven fabric for fibre collection to avoid sticking.
As Arun Karthick indicated, try other substrates than aluminium foil. You will find many suggestions on electrospintech.com and also similar questions on researchgate.
Try electrospinning on microscope slides.. I’ve did that and it was much easier to peel after electrospinning
Hi,
I have tried many options including the fabric, the most effective was non-stick aluminium foil (one specific brand worked nicely) just ensure that it's covering the collector drum with it's non-stick side facing the polymer jet! some brands have that engraved on the sheet..
Also, I have seen some people squishing the foil sheet before flattening it again onto the collector that creates some structure on the surface rather than it being completely flat which would facilitate peeling your polymer upon drying..
and of course make sure the solvent is completely evaporated before peeling, maybe place it under the hood overnight!
Good luck..
I have used cooking sheet ( baking paper), and silanized Aluminum foil. Both have worked like a charm. If you use cooking sheet and drum collector, ensure that entire drum is covered with the cooking paper. If not the fibers preferentially travel on to the more conductive area.
In case of flat collector, cover it completely as well and mind the distance ( < 15cm).
Good luck
Hi,
While all of these techniques are suitable, I can suggest a different technique if the nanofiber is still difficult to separate.
Place the aluminum foil on an ice cube. After cooling, you can easily separate the nanofibers on the ice mold. You can use tweezers for separate the nanofiber.
You should separate the nanofibers gently and precisely. Otherwise, the nanofiber may be disrupted or the aluminum foil may tear.
Hi, using an ice cube can be a solution. Place the aluminum foil on top of the ice cube, wait for it to cool, then you can take it out slowly with a tweezers.
Behzat YILDIRIM water condensed on to the sample and film shrunk... am i doing something wrong?
Dear Aswin,
The area of the ice should be smaller than the foil. If not, cover the ice with a different foil. Place the nanofiber-coated foil back on the ice.
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