A network of microfibers are fabricated with a core-shell construction from sustainable materials, where the core includes a phase-change material, such as coconut oil, and the shell includes a biomass, such as cellulose. The microfibers are made via a wet-wet electrospinning process utilizing a coaxial spinneret with an inner conduit and an outer conduit. The biomass and the phase-change material are coaxially extruded into a coagulation bath including a mixture of ethanol and water. The collected microfibers exhibit a beaded structure of PCM aggregates and biomass connecting regions between the aggregates and are effective to aid in the thermoregulation of the immediate environment surrounding the network. The microfibers are suitable for use in a variety of sustainable products such as wearable thermoregulating textiles, wall/ceiling panels, insulation, packaging material, and more.

The system for nano-coating a substrate (10) includes a housing (12) having an upper, dispensing chamber (18) in which electrospraying or electrospinning can occur, a lower storage chamber, and a wall (16) that separates the dispensing chamber (18) from the storage chamber. The dispensing chamber (18) includes first and second panels (24a), (24b) and a moveable collector (20) between the first and second panels (24a), (24b). Solution dispensing nozzles (26) are disposed in apertures (45) in the panels (24a), (24b), and extend from a front surface of each panel (24a), (24b). A plurality of solution supply tubes (54) extend from a rear surface of each panel (24a), (24b) to a pump (34) in the lower housing. Inner panel channels (52) are defined within each panel (24a), (24b) between the tubes (54) and the nozzles (26).

Systems, devices, and methods for electro spinning are provided. For example, a system includes a collector including load sensors attached thereto, the collector configured to receive an extruded polymer; and an electro spinning melt head assembly positioned above the collector and configured to extrude the polymer. The electro spinning melt head assembly and/or the collector is configured to move. The melt head assembly includes a syringe assembly and at least one heating element configured to supply heat to the syringe assembly. The syringe assembly includes: a syringe including a passage extending from a proximal end, the passage configured to receive the polymer, and a nozzle configured to allow polymer to pass therethrough.

According to an embodiment, an electrospinning apparatus includes: a transport roll; and a head unit. The transport roll is a roll that transports a substrate. The transport has a transport surface that is in contact with the substrate when transporting the substrate. The transport surface of the transport roll has a surface roughness Ra of 1.6 or less. The head unit ejects a raw material liquid of fiber toward the substrate transported by the transport roll to form a film of the fiber on the substrate.

The present disclosure relates to a fluid modification system having a container structure and a plurality of independent, ceramic elements. The ceramic elements may be arranged in random orientations and contained in the container structure, thus causing a fluid flow entering the container structure at any given cross-section location to flow over the surfaces of a first subplurality of the ceramic elements, and through the porous walls of a second subplurality of the ceramic elements, before exiting at a second location of the container structure. Each one of the ceramic elements has at least one of a nanofibrous or nanoporous microstructure to enable internal flow both through a wall structure thereof, and over and around the wall structure to affect performance.

The present disclosure relates to a modular fluid modification system having an outer container configured to permit a fluid flow there into at a first location, and to allow the fluid flow to exit the container at a second location spaced apart from the first location. A plurality of fluid contacting elements is housed in the outer container. The fluid contacting elements each form an independent filtering or reactor element. Each fluid contacting element includes a plurality of openings formed in a grid or lattice-like pattern.

According to one embodiment, a gripping tool includes a gripper. The gripper is flexible. A granular material is provided in an interior of the gripper. The gripping tool grips a workpiece by depressurizing the interior of the gripper in a state in which the gripper is caused to contact the workpiece. The gripper includes a first portion contacting the workpiece, a second portion opposing the first portion, and a fibrous membrane having a plurality of pores and being provided between the first portion and the second portion. A diameter of at least a portion of the pores is smaller than a diameter of the granular material. The granular material is provided between the fibrous membrane and the second portion.

A multi-laminar electrospun nanofiber scaffold for use in repairing a defect in a tissue substrate is provided. The scaffold includes a first layer formed by a first plurality of electrospun polymeric fibers, and a second layer formed by a second plurality of electrospun polymeric fibers. The second layer is combined with the first layer. A first portion of the scaffold includes a higher density of fibers than a second portion of the scaffold, and the first portion has a higher tensile strength than the second portion. The scaffold is configured to degrade via hydrolysis after at least one of a predetermined time or an environmental condition. The scaffold is configured to be applied to the tissue substrate containing the defect, and is sufficiently flexible to facilitate application of the scaffold to uneven surfaces of the tissue substrate, and to enable movement of the scaffold by the tissue substrate.

A three-dimensional electrospun nanofiber scaffold for use in repairing a defect in a tissue substrate is provided. The three-dimensional electrospun nanofiber scaffold includes a first layer formed by a first plurality of electrospun polymeric fibers and a second layer formed by a second plurality of electrospun polymeric fibers. The second layer is coupled to the first layer using a coupling process and includes a plurality of varying densities formed by the second plurality of electrospun polymeric fibers. The first and second layers are configured to degrade via hydrolysis after at least one of a predetermined time or an environmental condition. The three-dimensional electrospun nanofiber scaffold is configured to be applied to the tissue substrate containing the defect.

A vascular graft that includes a biodegradable polyester electrospun tubular core; a biodegradable polyester outer sheath surrounding the biodegradable polyester tubular core; and a biodegradable poly(lactide) copolymer adhesive composition (i) disposed between the polyester electrospun tubular core and the polyester outer sheath, (ii) disposed between the polyester electrospun tubular core and the polyester outer sheath and on an outer surface of the polyester outer sheath, (iii) or disposed on an outer surface of the polyester outer sheath.