Air-Assisted Melt Centrifugal Electrospinning of PET: Process Control, Structural Evolution, and Performance
- 1 Research Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering and Technology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- 2 Research Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering and Technology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) micro/nanofibers are pivotal for advanced textiles and filtration materials, yet their industrial production is currently constrained by the environmental toxicity of solution electrospinning and the coarse fiber diameters typical of conventional melt spinning. Air-Assisted Melt Centrifugal Electrospinning (A-MCES) has emerged as a transformative, solvent-free technique that overcomes these limitations by integrating centrifugal inertia, electrostatic forces, and high-velocity aerodynamic shear. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the state-of-the-art in A-MCES of PET, specifically focusing on process control, structural evolution, and material performance. We systematically elucidate the critical role of airflow in regulating the thermal history of the melt jet to achieve sub-micron attenuation. Key processing parameters—ranging from intrinsic viscosity to nozzle geometry—are discussed in the context of process optimization. Furthermore, the structure-property relationships are critically examined, revealing how the unique interplay between rapid aerodynamic cooling and high-strain elongation promotes stress-induced crystallization (SIC), which is decisive for mechanical strength. Finally, the review highlights the applications of A-MCES fibers in high-efficiency filtration and biomedical scaffolds, concluding with a perspective on overcoming current challenges related to energy efficiency and uniformity.
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