Induced viscoelastic in poly(etherimide) solutions and its effect in the production of nanofibers

CHED 319

Juan D Uribe, jdu4@cornell.edu1, Karmann C. Mills, kcm37@cornell.edu2, and Juan P. Hinestroza, jh433@cornell.edu2. (1) Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, 120 Olin Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, (2) Department of Fiber Science and Apparel Design, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
The viscoelastic properties of poly(etherimide) (PEI), dissolved in binary solutions of dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) were probed using dynamic rheology. The evolution of elasticity as a function of solvent composition and polymer concentration was mapped to the ability of the solutions to produce nanofibers via electrospinning. Discrepancies in the shear and complex viscosity were analyzed and related to resulting fiber morphology. A full factorial experimental design was implemented and the results may provide a new avenue for the production of nanofibers from rigid polymers.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Nanotechnology
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

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