APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ELECTROSPINNING POLYMERIC FIBERS AND MEMBRANES

摘要

An apparatus and methods for electrospinning polymer fibers and membranes include electrospinning a polymer fiber from a conducting fluid containing the polymer in the presence of a first electric field established between a conducting fluid introduction device (5) and a ground source (9) and modifying the first electric field with a second electric field to form a jet stream of the conducting fluid. The apparatus includes a conducting fluid introduction device (5) containing a plurality of spinnerets (6) for delivering a conducting fluid a ground member (9) positioned adjacent the spinnerets (6), a support member (3) disposed between the spinnerets (6) and the ground member (9) and movable to receive fibers formed from the conducting fluid, and a means (2) for controlling the flow characteristics of conducting fluid from at least one spinneret (6) independently from the flow characteristics of conducting fluid from another spinneret (6).