Polymer Engineering Faculty Research

Title

Fiber Diameter Selection in Production of Nanofibers by Gas Jet Method

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

Spring 3-16-2014

Abstract

Gas jet fibers (GJF) process utilizes shear force of a gas jet in converting low viscosity polymer solutions into liquid jets (ACS Macro Letters, 1, 1032-1036, 2012). Simultaneous evaporation of the solvent and stretching of the liquid jet by the combined action of flapping and bending instabilities lead to polymer fibers with diameter as small as 40 nm at relatively high rates. This paper elaborates on the utility of GJF process in designing nanofibers from two immiscible polymers with specific focus on diameter selection. The experimental work considers polyvinylacetate (PVAc) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and their solutions in two mutually miscible solvent systems with different relative volatility. It is found that smallest diameter (~100 nm) bi-lobal and core-shell fibers are produced when two solvents with low volatility are chosen. The diameter selection is interpreted using the rates of mass transport, stretching of the liquid jet, and solubility data of the polymers.

Publication Title

Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society

Volume

247

Issue

26-PMSE

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