Design and manufacture of an additive manufacturing printer based on 3D melt electrospinning writing of polymer
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Behnam Akhoundi
,
Vahid Modanloo
Abstract
Objectives
Electrospinning is one of the most well-known approaches to producing polymer nanofibers from a polymer solution by applying a potential difference (voltage) between the spinner and the collector, which is used in various industries such as medicine and military. This method has some significant restrictions, like low process efficiency due to the evaporation of the solvent, remaining solvent on the fibers, which are sometimes toxic, and inability to control the geometry of the produced fibers. On the other hand, preparing some solvents used in the electrospinning of polymer solutions is costly. Polymer melt electrospinning writing is a replacement for this type of electrospinning, which can be mentioned in terms of economy, efficiency, and production of solvent-free fibers. Therefore, in this research, a melt polymer electrospinning device was designed and manufactured according to existing extrusion-based additive manufacturing (AM) devices (3D printer).
Methods
Changes in an extrusion-based 3D printer to convert it into a writing electrospinning device experimentally.
Results
PLA and PCL fibers with diameters ranging from 8 to 84 μm were produced. The effect of process variables on the produced fibers’ diameter was investigated: Applied potential difference between the nozzle and the substrate: As its increases, the fiber diameter decreases. Increasing temperature: As its increases, the fiber diameter decreases. Distance between the nozzle and the substrate: As its increases, the fiber diameter increases. Flow rate: As its increases, the fiber diameter increases.
Conclusions
By presenting a 3D printer-electrospinning device, it is possible to control the fiber’s diameter and the 3D geometry in the 3D printing-electrospinning process.
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Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
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Research funding: None declared.
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Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.
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Articles in the same Issue
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- Design and manufacture of an additive manufacturing printer based on 3D melt electrospinning writing of polymer
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Research Articles
- Experimental investigation and simulation of 3D printed sandwich structures with novel core topologies under bending loads
- Notable electrical and mechanical properties of polyacrylamide (PAM) with graphene oxide (GO) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)
- Study on the thermal stability and combustion performance of polyurethane foams modified with manganese phytate
- Improving the rheology of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and processability of blown film extrusion using a new binary processing aid
- Stereocomplex formation of a poly(D-lactide)/poly(L-lactide) blend on a technical scale
- Experimental investigation on mechanical and tribological characteristics of snake grass/sisal fiber reinforced hybrid composites
- Tensile properties of sandwich-designed carbon fiber filled PLA prepared via multi-material additive layered manufacturing and post-annealing treatment
- Non-isothermal simulation of a corner vortex within entry flow for a viscoelastic fluid
- Feasibility assessment of injection molding online monitoring based on oil pressure/nozzle pressure/cavity pressure
- Modelling of roller conveyor for the simulation of rubber tire tread extrusion
- Reactive compatibilization of polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride and styrene, prepared by a mechanochemical method, for a blend system of biodegradable poly(propylene carbonate)/polypropylene spunbond nonwoven slice
- Effect of stacking sequence and thickness variation on the thermo-mechanical properties of flax-kenaf laminated biocomposites and prediction of the optimal configuration using a decision-making framework
- Design and manufacture of an additive manufacturing printer based on 3D melt electrospinning writing of polymer
