Universities and Research centers
Numerous laboratories around the world are engaged in nanofiber material research and its final application development. Elmarco welcomes their effort, as the nanofiber research shorten the way to the final market across many application areas. Elmarco delivers laboratory electrospinning equipment as a contribution to the further development within area of nanofiber materials. Recipes for various polymers are available for researchers as well, in order to employ existing experience with Nanospider™ needle-free technology, thus to move starting point forward.
No matter if working on energy storage, regenerative medicine or filtration application, researchers can utilize Elmarco’s technology and know-how best when upscaling to higher volume production is needed. Research centers cooperate with Elmarco also in case when they need to upscale the results obtained on needle-based equipment.
Science and basic research are supported too. E.g. by the latest upgrade of NS LAB tool, enabling observation of nanofiber formation on the spinning electrode.
Nanospider™ technology is a patented, needle-free high voltage, free liquid surface electrospinning process. The technology is based upon the discovery, that it is possible to create Taylor Cones and the subsequent flow of material not only from the tip of a capillary, but also from a thin film of a polymer solution.
The technology enabled Elmarco to build industrial scale production equipment with out nozzles, needles or spinnerets.
High productivity & scalability
High fiber diameter and web uniformity
Economical operation and easy maintenance
Flexibility in used polymers and substrates
| Nanospider™ technology allows the production of nanofibers from polymers solved in water, acids or bipolar solvents and is suitable for the production of organic high quality fibers. This versatile technology is easily adapted to a variety of process parameters for the optimization of the specific properties of the produced nanofibers. |
| Nanospider™ technology uses simply shaped electrodes, has no parts easily clogged (in comparison to needle-type electrospinning) and is generally mechanically simple. |
| The numbers of fibers per machine width is given by the distance of the Taylor cones. Nanospider™ free liquid surface electrospinning lets natural physics define this distance, rather than using individual needles. This allows higher fiber packing density and thus an increased productivity as well as better fiber homogeneity and more consistent web morphology. |
References
Numerous R&D teams around the world prepare nanofiber materials on Elmarco's Nanospider™ laboratory equipment. Articles listed on this page share results of experimental work conducted by those teams and are published as full text. The articles can be taken as inspiration how to spin specific polymers on Elmarco's laboratory tools.
Morphology of PAN magnetic nanofiber mats
In this study, magnetic nanofiber mats were prepared from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and by adding magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles using needle-free NS LAB electrospinning equipment. The distribution of nanoparticles in the fiber matrix was investigated as well as the chemical and morphological properties of the resulting magnetic nanofibers. The article describes parameters of electrospinning process in detail, including method of polymer solution preparation.
Tissue engineering study on coated PDLLA/PLGA membranes
The study demonstrates possibility to tailor the cellular response and biocidal activity by applying different combinations of nanoparticulate layers on electrospun fibers. Description of primary material preparation discloses details of the PDLLA/PLGA electrospinning on the NS LAB equipment as well.
Effect of plasma treatment on PVDF membrane
Within this work a PVDF nanofiber production on Nanospider™ technology is described. The nanofibre material has been used for investigation of the role of plasma power on nanofiber membranes treatment, resulting to surface hydrophilization without polymer chains rupture and disorder of crystal structure.
Performance of solid desiccant based on PVA-LiCl membrane
This study evaluates performance of PVA-LiCl desiccant prepared in nano-structured form of nanofiber layer. The PVA-LiCl nanofibers were spun on NS LAB equipment and the study reveals the polymer solution chemistry, as well as the detailed description of nanofiber layer manufacturing.
Effect of PEO on the electrospinning of ethyl cellulose
A procedure of ethyl cellulose (EC) electrospinning on NS LAB equipment is shown in this article. The study itself evaluates poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as a process aid to enhance the electrospinning of EC solutions.