I've noticed that in review papers and many other electrospinning articles that the discussion on solution preparation is vague or missing completely. Also, the time to prepare solutions is long. Wouldn't this hinder large-scale production? Especially when it comes to adding nanomaterials and sonication is often involved in the process.
Yes, I agree the solution preparation is important part before electrospiining. Based on on my experience obtaining, polymer solutions is specific for the selected polymer or mixture of polymers.
For, example if you want to electrospun chitosan with high molecular chitosan (CSU) but low DDA (40%) you should stirred slowly the prepared water-acidic solution over night ( because the polymer powder is became sticky in solution and viscous with the time). It is not appropriate to dissolve the chitosan 2 days before for example because reactions of degradation may occur.
On other hand the stock water solution of PEO with appropriate concentration can be prepared previously.
Further mixing of chitosan and PEO solution is appropriate to be done one or two hours before the electrospinning procedure.
The concentration of CSU , PEO solution and the ratio between CSU and PEO is also very important for fiber morphology.
You can perform also rheological measurements of the pure and/or mixed solutions in order to define their viscosity values and find the proper concentration for electrospinning. Some viscosity values are too low or too high for electrospinning, and you can easily eliminate them.
It is valuable and helpful also in case you change the molecular weigh of the same polymer used, because you may compare the obtained viscosity values at different concentrations of both polymers.
The time of solution preparation in my opinion doesn't hinder the large-scale production. On the other hand, the time of ellectrospinnig procedure, reproductivity and sensitivity of the method depending on the used polymer or combination of polymers, required more attention.
Exactly why one should not read review papers....gone are the days when journals used to publish "critical reviews".. these days so-called review papers just tabulate results.
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