A method of producing a linear nanofibrous structure in an alternating electric field, a device for performing this method and a device for producing a nanofibrous thread

Abstract

A method of producing a linear fibrous structure in an alternating electric field by spinning of a polymer solution or polymer melt on a spinning electrode, in which nanofibers are formed from the polymer solution or melt in a spinning area created on the spinning electrode and are carried away from it by the action of the electric wind. In the spinning area, a narrow flat linear structure of polymer solution is formed with a finite length. The spinning area is open in the spinning direction and in the central part thereof. The nanofibers are formed and move away from the spinning area in a flat structure in which they gradually lose their kinetic energy. In a place with zero kinetic energy, nanofibers form a linear virtual collector in which nanofibers are formed into a ribbon of nanofibers.

1 . A method of producing a linear nanofibrous structure in an alternating electric field on a spinning electrode from a polymer solution (Z) or polymer melt, in which on the spinning electrode is formed a spinning area with a supercritical intensity (E) of the alternating electric field in which nanofibers are formed and are carried away from the spinning electrode by the electric wind in the direction of the maximum values of the electric field, wherein on the spinning electrode is created at least one linear spinning area with supercritical intensity (E) of the alternating electric field created/set in a narrow area from which the formed nanofibers are carried parallel to the spinning electrode from which the emerging nanofibers carried away from the spinning area by the effect of the electric wind in the direction of the maximum values of the electric field gradient in a flat planar or conical structure whose initial width/thickness is the same as the width of the linear spinning area, wherein with the decreasing gradient of the electric field, the nanofibers in the entire planar structure lose their kinetic energy up to the point where the force balance of all electric and gravitational forces acting on the formed nanofibers is created, thereby creating a virtual a collector in which the nanofibers stop, gather and are compacted into a linear nanofibrous of the structure that is drawn off, with the gradual increase in the linear mass of the linear nanofibrous structure, and during the drawing off, the nanofibers are at least partially parallelized and form a ribbon of nanofibers. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The method of producing nanofibers by AC electrospinning according to  claim 1 , wherein the spinning area of the belt spinning electrode and the spinning area of the linear spinning electrode is straight and the nanofibers that emerge from it move in a planar flat structure. 
     
     
         4 . The method of producing nanofibers by AC electrospinning according to  claim 1 , wherein the spinning area of the rotating disk electrode is formed by a part of a circle on the circumference of the disk spinning electrode and the nanofibers emerging from it move in a planar flat structure perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the disk spinning electrode, wherein the linear virtual collector is formed by a part of a circle. 
     
     
         5 . The method of producing nanofibers by AC electrospinning according to  claim 3 , wherein two spinning areas are created near the edges of the linear spinning electrode formed by a strip in which nanofibers are formed in the direction of the maximum values of the electric field gradient, wherein the nanofibers emerging from the two spinning areas move in planar flat structures which move away from each other in the direction of movement of the nanofibers. 
     
     
         6 . The method of producing nanofibers by AC electrospinning according to  claim 4 , wherein two spinning areas are created near the edges of the circumferential surface of the disk spinning electrode, in which nanofibers are formed in the direction of the maximum values of the electric field gradient, wherein the nanofibers emerging from the two spinning areas move in conical flat structures which move away from each other in the direction of movement of the nanofibers. 
     
     
         7 . The method of producing nanofibers by AC electrospinning according to  claim 1 , wherein the drawn-off ribbon of nanofibers is imparted a twist and/or is wound on a bobbin in a winding device. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A device for producing a linear nanofibrous structure in an alternating electric field from a polymer solution (Z) or polymer melt by the method according to  claim 1  on a spinning electrode, mounted in a spinning chamber and connected to a high AC voltage source and coupled to means for applying the polymer solution or melt to the surface of the spinning electrode thereby forming a spinning area on the spinning electrode with supercritical intensity (E) of the alternating electric field, wherein the spinning area ( 10 ,  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ) with a supercritical intensity (E) of the alternating electric field is linear and above it, in the direction of the maximum values of the gradient of the electric field, a virtual collector is created in a spinning chamber ( 4 ) at the point of the force balance of the electric and gravitational forces acting on the formed nanofibers, for stopping, collecting and compacting the nanofibers into a linear fibrous structure to which the draw-off mechanism and a winding device for winding a ribbon of nanofibers is assigned. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the spinning area of the spinning electrode is straight. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the spinning electrode is formed by a belt spinning electrode and the maximum gradient of the electric filed is directed vertically upwards. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the spinning electrode is formed by a linear spinning electrode consisting of a linear flexible structure. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the linear flexible structure is a cable, or a thin strip or a thin strap. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the linear flexible structure forming the linear spinning electrode a structure composed of several mutually intertwined or interlaced parts, wherein a shield bar is arranged below the spinning area. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein on the spinning electrode, two spinning areas are formed in the vicinity of the edges of the spinning electrode. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the spinning electrode is formed by a narrow rotating disk spinning electrode, which extends with the lower part of its circumference into polymer solution (Z) or melt in the reservoir and the spinning area is formed on the free part of the circumference of the disk spinning electrode, which is formed by a part of a circle, wherein the maximum gradient of the electric field s directed from the spinning area in the radial direction, and the nanofibers are carried in a planar surface structure from which a ribbon of nanofibers is formed in the virtual collector. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (Canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (Canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The device for producing nanofibrous thread on the device according to  claim 11 , wherein to the device for producing a linear nanofibrous structure drawn off in the form of a ribbon of nanofibers, a twisting device is assigned for creating a false or permanent twist, the winding device being arranged downstream of the twisting device.