Electrohydrodynamic processing of polymer solutions: from complex formulations to induced degradation

Promovendus/a: Robin Koekoekx

Promotor(en): Prof. dr. Christian Clasen, Prof. dr. Guy Van den Mooter

Electrohydrodynamics, the study of the dynamics of electrically charged fluids, has captivated the minds of great scientists for centuries. It is only in the last couple of decades that researches thoroughly realized the immense potential of this phenomenon in regards to manufacturing processes for the production of complex nano- and microscale particles and fibers. The amount of scientific studies concerning the resulting techniques, often referred to as electrospraying and electrospinning for the creation of particles and fibers respectively, have sky-rocketed due to the enormous amount of viable applications in a multitude of different industries, including the pharmaceutical, biomedical, energy and food industry to name a few.

This PhD dissertation is rooted in this emerging wave of research interest for this subject, where the objective is to garner a better understanding of the interplay between the distinct but interrelated process parameters and formulation properties to achieve the desired intricate products. The combination of these investigations have resulted in an expansive perspective on the manufacturing technique, effectively illustrating its fascinating potential and flexibility, while on the other hand revealing various difficulties and possible complications.