Process and apparatus for the production of nanofibers

A method for forming a plurality of nanofibers from a single nozzle comprising the steps of:

• (A) providing a nozzle containing:
• a center tube;
• a first supply tube that is positioned concentrically around and apart from said center tube, wherein said center tube and said first supply tube form a first annular column, and wherein said center tube is positioned within said first supply tube so that a first gas jet space is created between a lower end of said center tube and a lower end of said supply tube;
• a middle gas tube positioned concentrically around and apart from said first supply tube, forming a second annular column;
• and
• a second supply tube positioned concentrically around and apart from said middle gas tube, wherein said middle gas tube and second supply tube form a third annular column, and wherein said middle gas tube is positioned within said second supply tube so that a second gas jet space is created between a lower end of said middle gas tube and a lower end of said second supply tube;
• and
• (B) feeding one or more fiber-forming materials into said first and second supply tubes;
• (C) directing the fiber-forming materials into said first and second gas jet spaces, thereby forming an annular film of fiber-forming material in said first and second gas jet spaces, each annular film having an inner circumference;
• (D) simultaneously forcing gas through said center tube and said middle gas tube, and into said first and second gas jet spaces, thereby causing the gas to contact the inner circumference of said annular films in said first and second gas jet spaces, and ejecting the fiber-forming material from the exit orifices of said first and third annular columns in the form of a plurality of strands of fiber-forming material that solidify and form nanofibers having a diameter up to about 3,000 nanometers.