Chapter 7 - Dissipative particle dynamics simulations of centrifugal melt electrospinning

Abstract

In this chapter, a pulsed electric field is introduced in centrifugal melt electrospinning. Its effects on the molecular chain stretching and jet diameter are explored by the dissipative particle dynamics simulation method. By trial and error, the appropriate centrifugal melt electrospinning model is established. Jets in common and pulsed electric fields are studied. The results show that in the electrostatic field, increasing the rotational speed, temperature, and electric field force could reduce the fiber diameter and increase the fiber yield. Simultaneously increasing the temperature and electric field force, gradually lengthened the molecular chain length of the fiber. However, as the rotational speed increased, the molecular chain length first increased and then decreased. This also exhibited that in centrifugal melt electrospinning, the effect of the rotational speed on the fiber properties was relatively complex. In a pulsed electric field, when the duty ratio was 70%, the fiber diameter was the shortest; when the duty ratio was 100%, the fiber molecular chain was the longest. With the frequency increasing, the average fiber diameter and molecular chain length exhibited opposite trends.