Nanofiber Future Technologies Corporation is using technology developed by NanoStaticsTM.

High production scale manufacturing process capable of producing composite products engineered with nanomaterials. The NanoStatics electrohydrodynamic spinning (EHS) process (Patent Pending) allows the forming of nanofibers of various polymers, inorganic materials, and blends of materials onto a substrate in a continuous web in a highly controlled process at uniquely high production rates.

Electrohydrodynamic coating process can "spin" continuous organic, inorganic or particulate/polymer blend fibers with nanoscaled diameters, typically in the range of 50 - 500 nm. Electrospinning (ES) has been around for 20 years but has had limited commercial viability due to the low production rates of existing ES equipment, which impedes the prospect of using it for practical applications.

EHS process nanofiber coatings are typically applied at 0.25 to 0.75 grams per square meter and achieve equivalent or improved performance to most conventional coatings applied at 10 to 15 times higher weight. The EHS coating system can apply coatings and surfaces consistently in this range.

The process makes use of electrostatic and mechanical force to spin fibers from the tip of a fine orifice or spinneret. The spinneret is maintained at positive or negative charge by a DC power supply. When the electrostatic repelling force overcomes the surface tension force of the polymer solution, the liquid spills out of the spinneret and forms an extremely fine continuous filament. It has the misleading appearance of forming multiple filaments from one spinneret nozzle

The polymer is usually dissolved in suitable solvent and spun from solution.

Nanofibers in the range of 50-500 nm diameter can be achieved by choosing the appropriate polymer solvent system.

Coatings can be applied to paper, fabric, metals, glass, film. wood or any flexible or rigid surface at very high rates.

Maximum line speed is 50 meters per minute with water based or simple polymer - no solvents, treating non woven material.

With 0.2 grams per m² of nanofibers maximum line speed is 25 meters per minute.

Capacity of one line with 0.2 grams per square meter if operated 24/7 is 13,140,000.00 m²/year.

Width of the line is currently 1 meter later this year extends to 2 meters.

The highest temperature resistance of nanofiber coating we are capable to produce is 260C.

The thinnest layer is about 0.015 gsm and it will be about 250 nanometers thick.

We can control the fiber diameter (mean being average) to any target that performs the best from 90 nanometers to 1 micron (1000 nm) and anywhere in between.

Grease resistance applications details:

Fluoro chemicals have been shown to emit hazardous materials in their manufacturing process.  The governments are forcing the manufacturers to eliminate the hazards and this may eliminate use of fluoride based chemicals from the market, reduce their availability or raise their cost.  We are capable to formulate nanofibers to have grease resistance with the fiber chemistry as well as to provide a physical barrier to grease because of the small pores to omit use of fluoride based chemicals.

Some of the questions we have recently answered:

To what size of the particles our nanofibers can help to filter out water?

It is possible to create composite membranes with thick (50+ microns) layers of 150 nanometer fibers deposited on a filter media such as a 150 gram meltblown/spunbond material that would filter out .01 micron materials. The pressure required to allow flow through such a membrane would be relatively high.

Can water filters made from nanofibers be repeatedly washed and re-use with the same efficiency?

If the nanofiber is exposed to the washing, they would probably be destroyed after one or two cycles. If the nanofiber surface is protected by placing it between two other layers, it will not be damaged.

Can polymer based nanofibers be used for diesel fuel filters?

Yes, nylon based polymer is suitable for diesel fuel filters.

What MERV improvement can be achieved on average air filter?

The raw estimate is that at 0.06 gsm of fiber application on a 7 MERV filter will increase the rating to at least 11 or 12.