Abstract: Fiber mats were obtained by using a modified rotary-jet spinning system, which allows a forced air flow produced
by an air compressor to interfere with the polymer jets. The main focus of current studies rely on the range of morphological
and dimensional characteristics of fibers that may be expected when using this new technical setup of a rotary-jet based
spinning system. In fact, this work represents a proof of concept study regarding the potential of an air flow modified rotaryjet
spinning for obtaining continuous fibers and nonwoven mats. The morphological examinations by scanning electron
microscopy were proved the efficiency of this technique on obtaining relative homogeneous fiber mats from different raw
compositions of pure and admixed, natural and synthetic polymers with different molecular masses and polydispersity
degrees, like gelatin, polyurethane, and poly (vinyl chloride). The feasibility of air flow rotary-jet spinning was also tested for
simultaneous independent deposition of mixed fiber mats from solutions of two polymers made in different solvents, and it
was found that by carefully selecting the ratio of polymers through spinnerets number, this technique could be successfully
used even in difficult solvent conditions otherwise incompatible with traditional spinning techniques. The distribution of fiber
diameters was varying between nanometer scales (100-700 nm) in the case of pure polyurethane and micrometer ranges (2-
12 μm) for gelatin-polyurethane mixed mats, which are convenient for various applications, from dressings and scaffolding
to different filter systems. Besides the already known advantages of rotary-jet versus electrospinning, the air flow allows the
control of solvent evaporation, extending the applicative range of this technique.
Keywords: Morphology, Fiber mats, Rotary-jet spinning, Centrifugal effect