Device and method for preparing a continuous nanofibrous yarn

摘要

Apparatus for preparing a continuous nanofibrous yarn comprising an electrocspinning chamber 1 with at least one first opening 3 in the upper region of the chamber to receive a gas and a second opening 14 in the bottom region of said chamber for discharging the gas and the yarn 7; means for creating helical movement of the gas 6 within the chamber; means for introducing a plurality of nanofibres into said chamber, wherein said nanofibres are twisted together by said helical movement of gas; and means for continuously removing said yarn from said camber through the second opening 14. The chamber may be shaped as an inverted cone, a bicone or cylinder; and have a negative pressure within the chamber created via the use of a fan 2 or vacuum pump around the base chamber which preferably creates a horizontal gas flow below the second opening. Alternatively the low pressure can be created by the use of a compressed air across the opening to create a venture effect. The means for introducing the nanofibres are via oppositely charged nozzles 5, and the yarn is preferably wound onto a roller 13. Alternatively the nanofibres are collected on a core yarn (16, fig 3b) that is pulled through the electrospinning chamber.