Modeling-Based Control of Electrospinning Process

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This grant provides funding for further analysis and development of methods of control of electrospinning process. The emphasis of this research will be on controlled fabrication of nanofiber assemblies with desired structure and properties, in conjunction with high-rate nanomanufacturing processes. Fundamental studies of jet interactions in the multiple-jet nanomanufacturing systems will be conducted experimentally. Based on this analysis, numerical models of the multiple-jet processes will be developed and validated. The models and experimental results will be used to develop better electromechanical methods of process control and nanofiber deposition. This GOALI project will be conducted in collaboration with a major manufacturer. If successful, the results of this research will lead to improvements in the methods of fabrication of continuous nanofibers and process control. Development of sophisticated, coupled models resting on a wealth of new measurements utilizing contemporary experimental methods will further improve our fundamental understanding of the electrospinning process. Controlled high-rate nanomanufacturing that is addressed in this project for the first time will critically impact industrial processes at the existing and emerging companies in many industries, including chemical, filtration, biomedical, textile, composites, optoelectronics, energy, and other industries, and may lead to the development of entirely new industries.