Effect of collector design on the morphological properties of polycaprolactone electrospun fibers

Abstract

Polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers were produced by electrospinning using three collectors: rotating drum, static copper wires, and a rotating mandrel. The effect of collector design on the alignment and morphology of fibers was evaluated. The drum collector produced a typical tridimensional structure whereby the rotational speed mechanically stretches fibers and affects their diameter and alignment. Randomly oriented fibers with an average diameter of 1142±391nm were obtained at 0rpm, while aligned fibers with an average diameter of 663±334nm were produced at 2000rpm. Static copper wires produced a novel fiber pattern in which the degree of orientation of the fibers is related to the electrical field distribution along the collector. The best fiber alignment and lowest average fiber diameter (490±131nm) were obtained using parallel copper wires with a gap of 1cm. Two main forces influenced the fibers produced by the rotating mandrel. First, the attraction of the electrical field by the collector induced the deposition of fibers parallel to its axis with an average diameter of 606±329nm. Second, the stretching force from the high-speed rotation induced the deposition of fused fibers transverse to the collector axis.