Product Code: ICAL06_1503

Production of Biofibers by Laser Spinning
Authors:
Antonio Riveiro, Universidade de Vigo; Vigo Spain
Felix Quintero, Universidade de Vigo; Vigo Spain
Juan Pou, Universidade de Vigo; Vigo Spain
Adrian Mann, Rutgers State University; Piscataway NJ USA
Fernando Lusquiños, Universidade de Vigo; Vigo Spain
Presented at ICALEO 2006

A new technique called laser spinning is presented in this work. This technique was employed for the synthesis of bioactive fibres. The technique is based in the laser melting of a glass plate under atmospheric conditions at room temperature. A high pressure gas jet is employed to assist the process. The glass plate was previously prepared by the traditional method of glass melting. This technique yields a great quantity of free-standing fibres with diameters ranging from tens of nanometres up to tens of microns in a short processing time. The resulting product was analyzed by means of a Field Emission SEM equipped with EDS in order to characterize their morphology and composition whereas Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). These fibres may be used as scaffolds for tissue engineering or as reinforcement in polymeric matrix composites that can be used as bone substitutes.