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Cover Image, Volume 131, Issue 19
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.41125
Subject(s) - peg ratio , ethylene glycol , nanofiber , polymer science , chemical engineering , cover (algebra) , materials science , volume (thermodynamics) , computer science , polymer chemistry , nanotechnology , physics , mechanical engineering , engineering , finance , quantum mechanics , economics
Controlling submicron pore architecture and the surface chemistry of smart textiles and filtration membranes is increasingly important. Fibers with hydrophilic surfaces that are also water insoluble are desired in moisture wicking fabrics. In this study, Larissa M. Buttaro, Erin Drufva, and Margaret W. Frey electrospin poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and PLA‐b‐PEG copolymers to create biocompatible, biodegradable, and hydrophilic yet water insoluble fibers. Tuning the thermoelectric parameters of the apparatus and the chemical properties of the dopes improves the amount of PEG in the fibers compared to prior work. However, instead of the expected increased wicking rates, wicking decreases due to PEG crystallization within the PLA. The cover features a SEM image of a control PLA nanofiber membrane. DOI: 10.1002/app.41030