1. Manufacturing process and parameters

The manufacturing process for electrospun fibers is complex. It is influenced by various material and manufacturing parameters. Electrospun fibers can have different chemical compositions, adjustable crystal structure (fibrillar or lamellar) and diameter, as well as well-defined surface properties and aspects. The non-woven membranes formed by the fiber jet have very high surface area and porosity, with good pore connectivity. Fiber-fiber interactions can be either weak (friction between fibers) or strong (chemical bonds), enabling the mechanical properties of the membranes to be fine-tuned.

The basic electrospinning configuration comprises three main parts (figure 1 ): a high-voltage power supply, a metal needle and a conductive collector, usually earthed. As the polymer...