High throughput electrospinning of polymer melts and concentrated solutions

PHYS 451

Joshua L Manasco, josh.manasco@gmail.com1, Carl D. Saquing, cdsaquin@ncsu.edu1, Sachin Talwar, stalwar@unity.ncsu.edu1, Juan P. Hinestroza, jh433@cornell.edu2, and Saad A Khan, khan@eos.ncsu.edu1. (1) Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, 911 Partners Way, Raleigh, NC 27606, (2) Department of Fiber Science and Apparel Design, Cornell University, 242 Martha Van Rensselaer Hall, Ithaca, NY 14850
Typically electrospinning involves the use of low concentration polymer solutions making it a low yield, solvent intensive process that is not commercially viable. Spinning at higher concentrations is not an attractive alternative owing to the linear relationship between fiber diameter and concentration which results in micron-sized fibers at high polymer concentrations. In order to overcome these issues, we modulate the viscosity of both highly concentrated polymer solutions and neat polymer melts of biocompatible poly(caprolactone) and poly(ethylene oxide) by spinning at elevated temperatures, bridging the gap between low concentration electrospinning and the neat polymer. Submicron diameter fibers were produced from the concentrated solutions as well as polymer melts, allowing for a higher yield process without sacrificing submicron fiber diameter. This provides an avenue for producing nanofibers commercially for systems that require expensive or noxious solvents. A simple model is developed in order to better understand the effects of the temperature-modulated electrospinning parameters.
 

PHYS Poster Session - Nanostructured Materials and Nanophotonics
7:30 PM-10:00 PM, Wednesday, April 9, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Physical Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008