Ultra-Fine Fibers Produced by Laser-Electrospinning

Abstract

We used a CO₂ laser as a heat source to avoid thermodegradation in the melt-electrospinning process (termed “laser electrospinning” (LES)). Nylon 6, polypropylene, poly (ethylene terephthalate) and poly (L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) fiber webs were prepared by the LES. For Nylon 6 and poly (L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone), fibers having average diameters of approximately 1 μm and a coefficient of variation (CV) of no more than 20% were obtained. The effects of the applied voltage and laser power on the diameter of the PET fibers were investigated. The average diameter of the electrospun PET fibers decreased with a decrease in the applied voltage; however, using an applied voltage that was too low caused thermodegradation. The average diameter decreased with an increase in laser power. Above a certain laser power, however, shot particles and large deviations in the fiber diameter were observed.