A simple model for nanofiber formation by rotary jet-spinning
  Nanofibers are microstructured materials that span a broad range of applications from tissue engineering scaffolds to polymer transistors. An efficient method of nanofiber production is Rotary Jet-Spinning (RJS), consisting of a perforated reservoir rotating at high speeds along its axis of symmetry, which propels a liquid, polymeric jet out of the reservoir orifice. These jets undergo stretching and solidify forming nanoscale fibers. We report a minimal scaling framework complemented by a semi-analytic and numerical approach to characterize the regimes of nanofiber production using RJS. Our theoretical model is validated for the fiber radius as a function of experimentally tunable parameters. We summarize our findings in a phase diagram for the design space of continuous nanofibers as a function of process parameters, in good agreement with experiments and with natural implications for the production rates as well as in the morphological quality of fibers. 
Paula Mellado, Holly A. McIlwee, Mohammad R. Badrossamay, Josue A.   Goss, L. Mahadevan, K Parker
cond-mat.mtrl-sci cond-mat.soft