Patent ID: 7901611
Filing Date: 2011-03-08
Classification: D01D

Abstract:
1. A method of optimizing electrode parameters for an electrospinning configuration, comprising the steps of: providing a system for fabricating an aligned-fiber mat, said system including an uncharged collector, an electrically-conductive spinneret having an output facing said collector and maintained in a spaced-apart relationship therewith, an electrode having a tip positioned at a control location that is spaced apart from said collector with said collector being substantially disposed between said output and said tip while said output and said tip remain in line-of-sight of one another and aligned along a defined x-axis, said output and said tip having substantially the same geometric shape, means for applying voltages of opposing polarity to said spinneret and said electrode, and means for pumping a fiberizable material through said spinneret; operating said system for a fixed amount of time at known values of i) said voltages, ii) a distance between said output of said spinneret and said tip of said electrode, iii) length of said spinneret, iv) length of said electrode, v) radius of said spinneret, and vi) radius of said electrode, wherein a fiber mat made from said fiberizable material is deposited on said collector, said fiber mat having a measured fiber mat width y iterating through a particle acceleration model over said fixed amount of time to determine values for mass (m), drag (μ), and surface tension (σ) associated with said fiberizable material at said output of said spinneret that reduces a difference between said measured fiber mat width y M and a calculated fiber mat width y n to a selected tolerance, wherein q E is an electric field between said spinneret and said electrode, v v d d x is a unit vector aligned with said x-axis, y is a unit vector perpendicular to said x-axis, and x selecting a fiber mat design defined by a particular width and fiber distribution across said particular width; and solving said particle acceleration model to yield calculated values for said charge and said electric field corresponding to said fiber mat design so-selected wherein said step of solving defines said calculated fiber mat width y