Understanding Nanofibers: Production Techniques and Properties

NanoFibers

With the advent of Nano Technology, considerable benefits were provided to science and the entire society. This is applicable, especially in developing tiny particles and materials. It is a quick-evolving field with exceptional potential for highly advanced applications.

NanoFibers which are popular for their extreme surface area and porosity, can be utilized in filters, protective clothing, and much more. Electrospinning is considered to be one of the ideal methods for generating such types of ultrafine fibers. In this blog, we shall delve deep into the features, fabrication, and various applications of these one-dimensional materials in domains including chemical protective clothing. They are also suited for drug delivery and filter mediums.

The term ‘Nano’ in Nano Technology is derived from the Greek word ‘Nanos’ meaning dwarf. It implies something very small. One nanometer is equivalent to one billionth of a meter. This is approximately one lakh times much smaller than that of human hair. Owing to its distinctive properties, nanomaterials are a sought-after fiber by scientists and businessmen particularly in textile industries.

In the year 1974, Prof. Nario Taniguchi stated that nanotech primarily featured the processing of separation, deformation, and consolidation of materials through a single atom or molecule at a time. This technology deals with characterizing, designing, generating, and application of structures by managing the shape and size at the nanoscale.

Nanotechnology functions at molecular stage, thereby producing huge structures with enhanced organization. They prioritize two key areas associated with textile industries namely.
• Upgrading current functions and overall performance of textile items.
• Creating intelligent textiles using new features and functions.

Synthesis of Nanophase materials
Below-mentioned are the two crucial ways in the synthesis of Nanophase materials.
• The top-down approach involves disintegration of bulk items into nano sizes.
• The bottom approach develops nanoparticles atom by atom.

Properties of Nanofibers
These one-dimensional materials showcase unique properties owing to their remarkably high surface-to-weight ratio. This makes it best suited for several filtration applications.

Production of ultra-fine fibers
The above-mentioned type of fiber is created in a spinneret via a stream of hot air. This technique is known as melt blown which produces microfibers ranging between one thousand to two thousand nm.

Conclusion
Nanomaterials capture the attention of businesses and scientists due to their economic potential to improve the durability and performance of textile fibers. It is being utilized for numerous purposes including protective clothing and tissue engineering.