“Mechanotropic” mechanism of electrospinning

Electrospinning from polymer solutions is widely used for manufacturing of nanofibrous materials. For a long time the mechanism of electrospinning was related to fast evaporation of solvent from thin liquid jets of polymer solution in high voltage electric field. We suggest for that process another mechanism – phase separation as a result of high speed stretching typical for electrospinning. Under elongation the solution undergoes phase separation and the solvent reveals on the surface of the fiber without its complete evaporation.