A facile fabrication of tunable submicro- or nanostructured polyethylene materials from cellulose ester blends

CELL 284

Dong Wang, dywang@ucdavis.edu, Textiles & Clothing, University of California, Davis, 129 Everson Hall, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA CA95616 and Gang Sun, gysun@ucdavis.edu, Department of Fiber and Polymer Science, University of California, Textiles and Clothing Division, 129 Everson Hall, Davis, CA 95616.
Polyethylene materials in various forms of spheres, fibers and films have been used for a wide range of applications. Submicro or nanostructuring of polyethylene materials can enable a significant decrease in dimensions and an increase in surface area to weight ratio of the materials, which can improve efficiency of filter materials, absorber materials and biomaterials. Due to the poor ability and high melt viscosity issues, however, the fabrication of submicro- or nanostructured PE materials is challenging. In this study, polyethylene materials can be prepared into micro- or submicrospheres or nanofibers via melt blending or extrusion of cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB)/LDPE melt blends and subsequent removal of the CAB matrix. The sizes of the PE spheres or fibers can be successfully controlled by varying the composition ratio and modifying the interface properties. The surface structures of the LDPE micro- or submicrospheres and nanofibers were analyzed using SEM, FTIR-ATR spectroscopy, DSC and torque rheometer. In addition, the crystalline structures of the LDPE nanofibers were characterized.
 

Nanotechnology: A Fiber Perspective
1:30 PM-4:50 PM, Thursday, April 10, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Rm. R09, Oral

Division of Cellulose & Renewable Materials

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