Real-Time Control for Engineering Electrospun Nanofiber Diameter Distributions for Advanced Applications

实时控制工程静电纺纳米纤维直径分布的高级应用

• 批准号: 0826106
• 负责人: Michael Gevelber
• 金额: $ 21.5万
• 依托单位: Trustees of Boston University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-09-01 至 2012-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0826106&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Real; Time; Control; Engineering; Electrospun

This research is directed towards developing the first real-time control system for the electrospinning process that will enable greater control over critical nanofiber manufacturing characteristics, thereby improving yield and production rate. Currently, the electrospinning process is run open-loop with respect to the actual process states, and there are large, unpredictable, time varying distributions of fiber diameter. However, emerging nanofiber applications for medical products and manufacturing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) require nanofibers produced to tighter specifications. The research is focused on understanding the process dynamics in order to develop the appropriate sensing capabilities and control design that will yield effective real-time control for electrospinning. The control design efforts will be directed to meet the requirements of several advanced applications. Electrospun nanofibers are continuous polymer fibers with submicron diameters. They offer larger surface area per mass as well as greater mechanical strength than micron scale or larger fibers, so they are suited to a variety of important applications. High-value applications for nanofibers include improved life-saving surgical instruments such as hemostats and dermal templates, cell scaffolding that enables in-vitro tissue engineering, as well as low-cost manufacturing processes for carbon nanotubes. Each of these advanced applications are in a state where commercial companies are trying to move them from the laboratory to full scale production. However, development of a production process control capability that reliably delivers the required fiber distributions with minimum waste will significantly assist making the electrospinning process become commercially successful.

本研究旨在开发第一个用于静电纺丝过程的实时控制系统，该系统将能够更好地控制关键的纺丝制造特性，从而提高产量和生产率。 目前，静电纺丝工艺相对于实际工艺状态开环运行，并且存在大的、不可预测的、随时间变化的纤维直径分布。 然而，医疗产品和制造碳纳米管（CNT）的新兴应用需要生产更严格规格的纳米纤维。该研究的重点是了解过程动力学，以开发适当的传感能力和控制设计，从而为静电纺丝提供有效的实时控制。 控制设计的努力将被引导，以满足几个先进的应用程序的要求。 静电纺丝纳米纤维是具有亚微米直径的连续聚合物纤维。 与微米级或更大的纤维相比，它们具有更大的单位质量表面积和更高的机械强度，因此它们适用于各种重要的应用。纳米纤维的高价值应用包括改进的救生手术器械，如止血剂和真皮模板，实现体外组织工程的细胞支架，以及碳纳米管的低成本制造工艺。 这些先进的应用程序中的每一个都处于商业公司试图将它们从实验室转移到全面生产的状态。 然而，开发以最小浪费可靠地提供所需纤维分布的生产过程控制能力将显著有助于使静电纺丝工艺在商业上取得成功。