Features of the Behavior of a Polymer Solution Jet in Electrospinning

Using the numerical analysis of the force balance equation and the rheological equation of the model of finitely extensible chains, the dynamics of a charged jet during the electrospinning of a polymer solution and the orientation of macromolecules in the jet are studied. In fairly weak electric fields, the jet always remains rectilinear, while in strong fields the straight section of the jet has a finite length, after which the motion of the jet becomes unstable. This behavior is due to the competition between inertial and viscoelastic forces, with viscoelasticity dominating in strong fields. It is found that polymer chains in the jet are strongly stretched along the flow direction.