Electrospinning & Electroplating : Fundamentals, Methods & Applications

Electrospinning is a simple and efficient process in producing nanofibers. The use of an electrospinning process in fabricating tissue engineering scaffolds has received great attention in recent years due to its simplicity and ability to fabricate ultrafine nanofibers. Chapter One investigates the process of formation of ultrafine fibres and nonwoven membranes by electrospinning from natural degradable polymers -- polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs); physical, mechanical, and biological properties of the products have been included. Chapter Two aims to give an insight into the use of this interesting class of polymers in electrospinning as well as to explore the wide range of possible applications. Chapter Three reveals the fundamental working principles of electrospinning process and the effect of electrospinning process parameters towards the nanofibers morphology. Chapter Four provides detailed information on the background of electrospinning, fundamental principles and theory, investigation on parameters involved in nanofibers structural/ biological/mechanical characteristics, advantages of superb properties and biomedical applications of electrospun nanofibres, particularly in tissue engineering heart valves. Chapter Five focuses on the fabrication and characterisation of electrospun PVDF, PVDF/PLA (50/50 wt %) and PVDF/G (99.5/0.5 wt %) membranes. Chapter Six presents the main results of recent experimental investigation of the electrodeposition and characterisation of Fe/TiO2 composite coatings obtained from an environmentally friendly methanesulfonate iron plating bath containing colloidal TiO2 particles.