Advances in Electrospun Nanofiber Yarns

In order to increase the application area of nanofibers,electrospun nanofiber yarns have drawn attention of many researchers around the globe.Once the production method of nanofiber yarn is mature enough to be universally accepted,many new gates of applications will open to the world.In this review,different electrospinning techniques of electrospun nanofiber yarns are divided into needle electrospinning and needleless electrospinning.Considering yarn twist as an important mechanism,needle electrospinning technique is further categorized into mechanical,electrical and field flow twisting methods.Moreover,parameters influencing the mechanical properties of electrospun nanofiber yarns are investigated.Methods of improving mechanical properties of nanofiber yarns are addressed,including hot-water-bath treatment,addition of carbon nanotubes(CNTs)and introducing regulators.Finally,applications of electrospun nanofiber yarns in different fields of smart textile and bioengineering are summed-up.In summary,challenges encountered in the industrialization of nanofiber yarns and future prospects are anticipated.