Nanofiber Technology & different techniques. Eliminating the use of solvent MEK. Suitable solvents with different Techniques to produce nanofiber coatings. Applications of nanofiber technology. Market analysis and startup project team build up for the same.

1. NANOFIBER PRODUCTION
Project Management
SS 2018

2. What is a NanoFibre ?
 A fibre with a thickness or diameter of
few nanometres (less than one micron).
 Diameter Scale : 10-1000 nm.
(One Nm =1*10^-9 Meter.)
 It is Difficult to see
nano fibres with
naked eyes.

3. Why Nanofibres ?
 Because as the material acquires the
nano-stage of atoms it shows very
interesting properties.
 Properties are:
1. Large Surface to Volume Ratio.
2. Porous Structure.
3. Improved physical, mechanical,
chemical properties. (e.g. stiffness and
tensile strength).
4. Flexibility in surface functionalities.

4. Production Technique.
 There are several different techniques
to produce nanofibres.
◦ But the most common and versatile
technique used to produce nanofibres on
large scale is :
ELECTROSPINNING

5. Electro Spinning

6. Electro Spinning
 The electro spinning process uses high voltage to
create an electric field between a droplet of polymer
solution at the tip of a needle and an collector plate.
 One electrode of the voltage source is placed into the
solution and the other is connected to the collector.
 A droplet of the polymer solution then forms at the tip of
the capillary, creating a point known as the “Taylor
cone.”
 When the electrostatic force overcomes the surface
tension of the drop, a charged, continuous jet of
solution is ejected from the cone.
 The charged jets of polymer solution move towards a
collector, solvent rapidly evaporates and non-woven
fibre mat is collected on the collector.

7. Electro Spinning
Factors Influencing Electro
spinning :
•Polymer Solution Properties
and dissolvable sorts
(solvents used) .
•Voltage Setup.
•Distance Between two
Electrodes .
•Viscosity and polymer
molecular weight.

8. Current Situation in my Company
?
 Production of nanofiber coating with
flammable and toxic solvent
methylethylketone (MEK).
 Prohibition of the solvent from 1
January 2019.
So, being a project manager I need to
find other alternative solvents or
process to produce nano-fibre coating
.

9. Swot Analysis for R&D
Department.
Strengths:
• Have a variety of different polymers
available.
• Can Develop different production
techniques.
•Research oriented on the final use of
nanofibre coatings.
Weaknesses:
• Difficult to prepare polymer
solution without solvent.
• The new technique must be
Industrial scale.
• Must have properties of
nanofibre coating similar to
electro spinning.
Opportunities:
• Create a new nanofiber coating
which is not dangerous and
replaces MEK use.
• Multi-use Nanofiber coating.
• Unique Production Technique .
• Beneficial for the Company.
Threats:
• Long time research.
• Huge amount of funds.
• Privacy.
• Many Failure Trials.

10. Industrial Analysis of Electro-
spinning.
 In sixteen century, electro spraying was discovered and a
experimental model of electro spinning was setup in 1887.
 In the early 1990s several research groups demonstrated
that many organic polymers could be electro spun
into nanofibres.
 After that it was a boom in industry of electro-spinning and it
became more popular in different areas where nano-fibres
could be used.
 Electro spinning is the most adopted technique for mass
production of nanofibers.
 It is a simple, easy and versatile process to produce
nanofibres and control their shape.

11. Nanofibre Market Sales -
Report•The global nanofibers
market demand:
 1008 tons in 2015(past)
8886 tons
in2024(expected)
 Growth of 27.7% CAGR
from 2016 to 2024.
• Cellulose nanofibers
are estimated to witness
the fastest growth over
the next eight years.
•Electronics segment is
to emerge as fastest
growing end-use
segment by 2024.
•Asia Pacific is expected to emerge
as the fastest growing regional
market on account of significant
product demand in China, Japan,
India, and other South-East Asian
countries.

12. Swot Analysis for Alternate possibilities
for nanofiber coating production.
Strengths:
• Wide Choice of Material Selection.
• Production technique related to
End –product.
• Cost Effective production technology
• Support of production and R&D
departments.
Weaknesses:
• Manufacturing & Resources
cost may be high.
• The new technique must give
same properties as Electro
spinning.
• Limitation to Nano fibre
diameter.
Opportunities:
• Better efficiency .
• Alternative method to harmful
MEK.
• More Profit to Company.
Threats:
• Restriction to new material can
also occur in future.
• New Coating may not be
accepted by the regular
customer.

13. Alternative materials/processes for nonofibre
production to eliminate the use of solvent
MEK.
 By Electrospinning-
(Using different solvent).
 Nylon nanofibers with solvent Formic Acid.
 Polystyrene solution with DMF
(dimethylformamide).
 Polyamide with Formic Acid as Solvent.
 Polyacrylonitrile with DMF solvent.
 Bio-polymers like Keratin with Formic acid
as Solvent.
Polystyrene with THF (Tetrahydrofuran).

14. Alternative materials/processes for nonofibre
production to eliminate the use of solvent
MEK.
 Melt Blowing using thermoplastic
polyurethane.
 Splitting Bi-component Strands- “Islands
in the sea” Technology.
 Solution Blow Spinning with polymer
solution of polylactic acid and solvents
like chloroform.
 Force Spinning Technology – Centrifugal
Spinning.
 Combination of Force & Electrospinning
.

15. Alternative materials/processes for nonofibre
production to eliminate the use of solvent
MEK.
 Some other Laboratory Production
techniques are:
Drawing.
 Template Synthesis.
 Phase Separation.
 Self- Assembly.

16. Alternative 1
 Electro spinning with Polystyrene
Solution with DMF solvent.
 Less Flammable.
 High Dipole moment – Higher ES.
 Linear polymeric chains – High
Electrospinnability.
 Electrospinning of DMF is 53% - excellent.
 Polystyrene can be re-produced from its
end products like CDs, lap covers.

17. Alternative II
 MELT BLOWING

18. Alternative II
 MELT BLOWING
 A molten polymer is extruded through the orifice of a
die.
The fibres are formed by the elongation of the
polymer streams coming out of the orifice by air-drag.
Fibres are collected on the surface of a suitable
collector in the form of a web.
The average fibre diameter mainly depends on the
throughput rate, melt viscosity, melt temperature, air
temperature and air velocity.

19. Alternative II
 MELT BLOWING
In melt blowing, the
sudden cooling of the
fibre as it leaves the
die can prevent the
formation of
nanofibres.
 This can be
improved by
providing hot air flow
in the same direction
of the polymer around
the die.

20. Alternative II
 MELT BLOWING
 Single Step Process.
 Solvent Free Process.
 High production Rate .
 Any modification can be
done.
 Special type of orifice or die.
Production rate can be
compensated by increasing the
density of holes in spinneret.
Thermo-plastic polyurethane
can used to produce nano-

21. Alternative III
 Bicomponent Spinning (ISLAND IN SEA ).
It is a two step process that involves spinning two polymers
through the spinning die (which forms the bicomponent fibre
with island-in-sea (IIS), side-by-side, sheath-core, citrus or
segmented-pie structure) and the removal of one polymer.

22. Alternative III
 After the production of
Island in sea structure , the
subsequent removal of sea is
reported for production of
Nanofibers by splitting
methodology.
Bicomponent fibres are split
with the help of the high
forces of air or water jets.
 Narrow Diameter range can
be achieved – Controlled dia.
Bicomponents can be split
to form nanofibers of
>300nm.
• Bicomponent Spinning (ISLAND IN SEA )

23. Alternative IV
Force Spinning – Centrifugal spinning.

24. Phase Actual
Define: July 13th
Measure: August 13th
Analyze: October 13th
Improve: December 13th
Control: January 1st
1st Process Step Position Person Title % of Time
Last Process Step Team Leader Yash Project Manager 20%
Sponsor Fabiyan Boss 5%
In Scope: Team Members Essa and Harry R&D Team 35%
Out of Scope: Team Member Adi Design 15%
Team Member John Production 15%
Team Member Sakshi Marketing 10%
Legal Restiction: Prohibition of the solvent MEK from 1 January 2019 for
production of Nanofibre Coating.
Find a better solvent to produce nanofibre production to eliminate the use of
MEK or find a new technique to produce Nano fiber .The New Technique can
be cost effective and also at same time can earn more benefits or profits to
the company.
Project Charter
Nanofibre Coating Production.
Problem Statement Business Case & Benefits
Goal Statement Timeline
To produce nanofibre coating without MEK solvent latest by 13 December
2018.
Planned Completion Date
New production machinary, Many Production Trials
Scope In/Out Team Members
Different solvents or materials or Processes .
Produce Nanofibre Coating.
Availability of different resoures, co-operation of R&D
department .

25. Define
Measure
Analyse
Six Sigma Project Overview.
Nanofibre Production.
Improv
e
Control
ObjectivesActivities
•Problem:
Prohibition of
MEK.
• Find
alternatives.
• Project
Team.
• Details of
new
possibilities.
• Major Tasks
– R&D team.
• Discuss
Budget &
Time.
•Analysis of
current
electrospinni
ng process
and
resources.
• Different
solvents
available
and process
parameter.
• R&D
analysis.
• Finalise
the different
solvents.
• Different
technologie
s available.
• Cost
Analysis –
New
Production.
• New
Machinery
analysis.
• New pro-
-duction
trials
• Properties
of the Nano
fibres.
• Any other
recommend
ations.
• Finalise the
end product
use .
• Cost
Analysis of
Production.
•Documentat
ions.
• Marketing of
newly
produced
nanofibres
coating.
• Initial
investments
and profit
returns.
•Customer
Satisfaction
and
Feedbacks.
• Further
Improvement
s.
• Project End.
People
Sponsors, PT. Project team.
1 MONTH 3 MONTHS. 3 MONTHS

26. WORK BREAKDOWN
STRUCTURE
R&D
New solvents.
New
Technologies.
Design.
End-Product
aspects.
Research
Evaluation.
Production
Pre-
production
Trails.
New
Techniques
Evaluation.
Project
Management.
Budget &
Profit
Analysis.
Time &
Resource
Management.
Marketing.
Marketing
Strategy
&Plan.
Customer
Feedback.
Nanofibre
Production.

27. Profit and Investment Analysis
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
INVESTMENT
PROFIT
• Investment in terms of new machinery and work place.
• Return of Investment can be achieved in 3-4 Years.

28. Applications :
NANO
FIBRE
S
Cosmetic
skin masks
•Skin
cleansing
•skin healing
•Skin therapy
Filter media
•Liquid filtration
•Gas filtration
•Molecule filtration
Military protective
clothing
•Minimum impedance to air
•Efficiency in trapping
aerosol particles
•Anti-bio-chemical gases
Nanosensors
•Thermal sensors
•Piezoelectric sensor
•Biochemical sensor
•Fluorescence optical
Chemical sensor
Medical Field
•Drug delivery carrier
•Hemostatic devices
•Wound dressing
Tissue engineering scaffolding
•Porous membrane for skin
•Tubular shape for blood vessels and nerve
regeneration
•Three dimensional scaffolds for bone and
cartilage regeneration
Other electronic applications
•Micro/nano electronic devices
•Electronic dissipation
•LCD devices.
•Ultra- lightweigt spacecraft
materials.
Material reinforcement
•Higher fracture toughness
•Higher delamination resistance

29. Nanofibres in Filter Medium.
 Nanofibers can improve the
performance of filter media’s ability to
remove particulates from air streams.
 Higher initial and ongoing efficiency.
 Lower pressure drop across the
filtration media saves energy
 Longer filter life.
 Flexibility in filter configuration to help
solve problems.

30. Nanofibres in Filter Medium.
Clean Nanofiber Layer Filter
Surface-Loaded Nanofiber Layer Filter

31. Nanofibres In Medical Field.

32. Nanofibres In Medical Field.

33. Nanofibres in Tissue
Engineering.

34. Nanofibres in Drug Delivery.

35. References
 Nano Web by John Wertz & Immo Schnieders.
 Nanofibers for High Efficiency Filtration (Prakash Khude*Department of Textile
Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India).
 Polymeric nanofibers production (Eva Košťáková ,KNT, FT, TUL).
 The Influence of Solvent Properties and Functionality on the Electrospinnability of
Polystyrene Nanofibers (Cattaleeya Pattamaprom,*1 Walaiporn Hongrojjanawiwat,1
Piyawit Koombhongse,*2 Pitt Supaphol,3Teeradech Jarusuwannapoo,3 Ratthapol
Rangkupan4).
 Electrospun Nanofiber Coating of Fiber Materials (John H. Glenn Research Center,
Cleveland, Ohio) .
 Nanofibers in medical applications (Ing. Marcela Munzarová Elmarco s.r.o.).
 TISSUE ENGINEERING: Part A Volume 15, Number 2, 2009 ª Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
 Nanofibers and nanotechnology in Textiles Edited by P. J. Brown and K. Stevens
 Effect of Solvent on The Physical and Morphological Properties of Poly(Lactic Acid)
Nanofibers Obtained by Solution Blow Spinning (Juliano Oliveira, Glaúcia Silveira
Brichi, José Manoel Marconcini, PhD,)
 Effects of processing parameters on morphology of electro spun polystyrene nanofibers
Article in Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering · June 2011.
 Nanofibers New Developments in Filtration Dr. Andreas Seeberger Mike Harriman.
 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/am404156k
 https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/nanofibers-market
 http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0040517511424524