Digital Image Analysis to Determine Diameters Distribution of Nanofibers

Abstract

The electrospinning technique may be considered a simple and convenient process to provide polymers and ceramic fibers with both solid and hollow interiors that are exceptionally long in length, uniform in diameter, varying within the interval of few nanometers to several microns, and diversified in composition. Despite the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) versatility and potencially, there is a serious problem in characterizing nanofibers, as this is not made automatically. This work discusses the problems regarding a method for automatic measurement in SEM images proposed in (2). The images colleted from the microscope were analyzed by imagery processing techniques for determining the diameters of the nanofibers; the main drawbacks of the method proposed will be argued and some solutions will be offered.