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Effects of varying melt flow rates on laser melt‐electrospinning of low‐density polyethylene nanofibers
Author(s) -
Zakaria Mohammad,
Shibahara Kanta,
Bhuiyan Anamul Hoque,
Nakane Koji
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.50282
Subject(s) - low density polyethylene , materials science , microfiber , composite material , melt spinning , melt flow index , electrospinning , nanofiber , polyethylene , fiber , spinning , copolymer , polymer
Abstract The ultimate functionality and applicability of polymeric nanofibers are mainly to subject on its diameter. This study explores the influence of melt flow rates (MFRs) of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) on the diameter of laser melt electrospun nanofibers. Ethylene‐vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer was added to the nonpolar LDPE as a spinning aid. After electrospinning, the EVOH was removed from LDPE/EVOH blend fiber by treating with isopropanol/water solution and LDPE nanofiber was obtained with a diameter of only 190 ± 85 nm for the highest MFR. A linear diameter reduction was observed for pure LDPE and EVOH removed LDPE fiber with the increase of MFR. However, a slight diameter increment was reported for the LDPE/EVOH blend fiber with higher MFR due to the improved melt viscosity of the component. A massive diameter decrement was found after EVOH removal from the blended fiber, resulting in the renovation of microfiber to a stable nanoscale dimension.