The HSP-101 syringe pump is ideal for electrospinning
Hello! This is Masagaki, and lately, the air has become so dry that every time I get out of the car, I get zapped by static electricity, which is honestly a little scary.
Come to think of it, I’ve never once worried about getting an electric shock while using NANON in the lab.
(Although, during lab training, there was that challenge of touching the operating NANON spinneret to experience its high level of safety…)
When researching nanofiber applications, I often come across statements about electrospinning systems, mentioning that their principles are simple and that they allow for relatively easy production of nanofibers.
Some of our customers have purchased our high-voltage power supplies and are using their own custom-built electrospinning systems.
■ Spinning with a simple electrospinning system
Due to the simplicity of the principle of electrospinning systems, many researchers have attempted to generate nanofibers in their own systems.
The NANON we always use is certainly not scary, even when outputting 30kV. Plus, it’s so convenient with automated preparation processes and features that handle tasks on behalf of the user—just like it says in the catalog! But how much of a difference does it actually make in practice?
So this time, we tried spinning nanofibers using our high-voltage power supply and simple equipment!
Materials Used:
・Cardboard collector covered with aluminum foil
・Syringe pump
(from another manufacturer)
・Our High Voltage Power Supply
・Alligator clips, high voltage cable, ground wire
PEO solution was set in a syringe and a syringe needle was connected with an alligator clip. High voltage (15 kV) was applied to attempt spinning.
■ Spinning Challenges and Troubles
Output: 15kV! I hope it doesn’t come flying toward me… The grounding wire is connected, but it’s exposed, which makes it a bit nerve-wracking.
I cautiously approached to observe the jet.
At first, the jet didn’t fly straight and veered off to the side.
Following the advice of Researcher Nogami, we attached aluminum foil around the needle in a shape resembling a parabolic antenna. As a result, the jet oriented itself toward the collector, and we successfully spun fibers onto the aluminum foil of the collector.
But！！
Later during the same experiment, a syringe pump made by another company malfunctioned under the influence of electric discharge!
Syringe pumps made by other companies were not designed exclusively for electrospinning, and this trouble seemed to occur due to insulation defects.
■ Peace of mind you can’t get with other companies’ products: HSP-101 Features
Through this experiment, we realized how important it is to have a dedicated syringe pump for electrospinning. Our HSP-101 syringe pump can prevent such problems for the following reasons.
1. Breakage-resistant high-voltage design
The HSP-101 is designed to withstand the harsh environment of electrospinning without breaking. Unlike other companies’ products, HSP-101 can withstand even insulation failure or electrical discharge, thus greatly reducing the frequency of repair or replacement.
2. High safety due to dedicated design
Designed exclusively for electrospinning, the product can be used safely in experiments that handle high voltages. The combination of high durability and safety is a major attraction.
3. High cost performance
A single purchase enables stable operation for a long period of time, leading to long-term cost savings.
Using this every day might be quite challenging… And if we were to spin a different material, it seems like it would take a lot of time again to find the optimal conditions.
■ Results
In electrospinning, choosing the right equipment is the key to success. In this experiment, we had trouble using a general-purpose syringe pump, but our HSP-101 syringe pump solves these problems and allows you to work on nanofiber fabrication with peace of mind.
If you have had trouble with other companies’ products or if you are looking for durability and safety, please try the HSP-101! For more information, please click here.
Please feel free to contact us!
