Electrospinning approach for the improvement of mechanical and shielding properties of nanofiber mats

Electrospinning has been successfully used to develop aligned micro- and nanofiber mats for lightweight reinforcement of composite materials and structures. Electrospinning systems can be oriented either vertically, utilizing gravity-assisted electric field material deposition, or horizontally, utilizing electric field with little effect on gravity. A horizontal apparatus has been designed and fabricated for improved micro- and nano-fiber alignment that provides the possibility of developing better reinforcement materials in the form of aligned fiber mats. These nano fiber mats are stiffer, stronger and have better mechanical, electrical and thermal properties for structural and multi-functional applications. The micro- and nano-fiber mats produced with the set up were scanned under Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). These images show successful deposition of micro- and nano-fibers with alignment comparable with current electrospinning systems. System enhancement is in work to enhance alignment of deposited fibers through additional electromagnetic controls.