Apparatus for electro-blowing or blowing-assisted electro-spinning technology and process for post treatment of electrospun or electroblown membranes
AssigneeThe Research Foundation of State University of New York
InventorsBenjamin Chu, Benjamin Hsaio, Dufei Fang
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Abstract
A spinneret format, an electric-field reversal format and a process for post-treatment of membranes formed from electro-spinning or electro-blowing are provided, including a cleaning method and apparatus for electro-blowing or blowing-assisted electro-spinning technology.
Claims55
A spinneret assembly configured to form a polymer fiber, comprising:
- a spinneret body defining a retaining void configured to retain one of a polymer solution and a polymer melt and defining a delivery void configured to deliver the one of the polymer solution and the polymer melt from the spinneret body;
- a discharge needle disposed in the spinneret body, the discharge needle comprising an upper portion and a tip portion connected to the upper portion, the upper portion having a diameter about equal to a diameter of the delivery void, and the tip portion having a diameter less than the diameter of the upper portion, the upper portion configured to move between a first position disposed outside the delivery void and a second position disposed within the delivery void.
A method of forming a polymer fiber, comprising:
- retaining one of a polymer solution and a polymer melt within a body;
- and
- moving a needle disposed within the body between a first position in which a portion of the needle substantially fills a void through which the one of the polymer solution and the polymer melt is delivered from the body and a second position in which the portion of the needle is disposed outside the void.
A spinneret configured to form a polymer fiber, comprising:
- a spinneret body defining a retaining void configured to retain one of a polymer solution and a polymer melt and defining a delivery void configured to deliver the one of the polymer solution and the polymer melt from the spinneret body;
- a cleaning unit disposed outside of the spinneret body, the cleaning unit configured to move adjacent an exterior surface of the spinneret body and to remove an at least partially solidified polymer from the exterior surface of the spinneret body.
A method of forming a polymer fiber, comprising:
- delivering one of a polymer solution and a polymer melt through a void;
- removing an at least partially solidified polymer from a surface adjacent the void.
An apparatus configured to form a polymer fiber, comprising:
- a spinneret comprising:
- a spinneret body defining a retaining void configured to retain one of a polymer solution and a polymer melt and defining a delivery void configured to deliver the one of the polymer solution and the polymer melt from the spinneret body;
- a target configured to receive the one of the polymer solution and the polymer melt from the spinneret;
- a ground potential source connected to the spinneret and configured to maintain the spinneret at or near ground potential;
- and
- a voltage source connected to the target and configured to maintain the target at a voltage above the voltage at which the spinneret is held.
A method of forming a polymer fiber, comprising:
- maintaining at a voltage near or at a ground potential a spinneret configured to retain and to deliver one of a polymer solution and a polymer melt;
- maintaining at a voltage higher than the voltage near or at the ground potential a target configured to receive the one of the polymer solution, from which the solvent has been essentially evaporated, and the polymer melt from the spinneret.
A method for orienting fibers of a fibrous membrane, comprising:
- simultaneously drawing and annealing the fibrous membrane in a first direction at a strain ratio of from 5 to 1000%, at a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature of a polymer forming the fibers of the fibrous membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.