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Electrospinning of ultra‐thin polymer fibers
Author(s) -
Jaeger Raimund,
Bergshoef Michel M.,
Batlle Cristina Martín I.,
Schönherr Holger,
Julius Vancso G.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.19981270119
Subject(s) - electrospinning , materials science , polymer , chemical engineering , aqueous solution , cellulose acetate , morphology (biology) , solvent , nanofiber , polymer chemistry , dissolution , composite material , cellulose , chemistry , organic chemistry , biology , engineering , genetics
The electrospinning technique was used to spin ultra‐thin fibers from several polymer/solvent systems. The diameter of the electrospun fibers ranged from 16 nm to 2 μm. The morphology of these fibers was investigated with an atomic force microscope (AFM) and an optical microscope. Polyethylene oxide) (PEO) dissolved in water or chloroform was studied in greater detail. PEO fibers spun from aqueous solution show a “beads on a string” morphology. An AFM study showed that the surface of these fibers is highly ordered. The “beads on a string” morphology can be avoided if PEO is spun from solution in chloroform; the resulting fibers show a lamellar morphology. Polyvinylalcohol (PVA) dissolved in water and cellulose acetate dissolved in acetone were additional polymer/solvent systems which were investigated. Furthermore, the electrospinning process was studied: different experimental lay‐outs were tested, electrostatic fields were simulated, and voltage ‐ current characteristics of the electrospinning process were recorded.