Influence of polycaprolactone/polyglycolide blended electrospun fibers on the morphology and mechanical properties of polycaprolactone

Polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyglycolide (PGA) are two biopolymers that have been used as in situ biomedical devices for various applications. The obstacle of creating a composite that captures the benefit of PCL's long degradation time, while acquiring the strength from PGA is overcoming the lack of surface adhesion between the two biopolymers for stress transfer to occur. This study investigates the use of miscible PCL‐PGA blended fibers, created by electrospinning, to increase the interfacial bonding of fibers to the PCL matrix of the polymer–polymer composite. The use of the blended fibers will thereby create the ability of load transfer from the long‐term PCL matrix to the stronger PCL‐PGA fiber reinforcement. The incorporation of the PCL‐PGA fibers was able to increase the tensile yield strength and Young's modulus over that of the bulk PCL, while decreasing the percent elongation at break. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40224.     

Effect of fiber size on structural and tensile properties of electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride fibers

We use electrospinning to obtain polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) fibers and demonstrate simultaneous improvements in β‐crystal microstructure and in tensile properties of fibers with reduction of their diameter. PVDF fibers with average diameters ranging from 70 to 400 nm are obtained by controlling the concentration of the polymer in the electrospinning solution. The amount of β‐crystals present is found to be greater for finer diameter fibers, yielding a maximum β‐phase fraction of 0.86 in the 70‐nm fibers. Moreover, the deformation behavior of the fibers reveals that the tensile modulus and strength improve with reductions in fiber size. Sharp increases in tensile properties are demonstrated when the size of the fibers is reduced below 175 nm. We attribute the enhanced concentration of β‐crystals and the tensile behavior of finer diameter fibers to the extensional forces experienced by the material during electrospinning. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1812–1817, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

静电纺丝抗菌聚氨酯纳米纤维的结构与性能

在聚氨酯/四氢呋喃-N,-二甲基甲酰胺(PU/THF-DMF)溶液中分别添加质量分数为5%的TiO_2-Ag,HM-98,三氯均二苯胺(TCC),4-氯-3,5-二甲基苯酚(PCMX),2,4,4'-三氯-2'-羟基二苯酚(DP 300),ε-聚赖氨酸(ε-PLYS)抗菌剂通过静电纺丝技术制备了PU抗菌纳米纤维,并对其性能和结构进行了研究。结果表明:含ε-PLYS,HM-98,TiO_2-Ag,DP300抗菌剂的抗菌PU纳米纤维对金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌的抗菌效果较为优良,抗菌率均达到了99.9%以上,TCC、PCMX抗菌剂的抗菌效果较差;添加HM-98抗菌剂降低了纺丝溶液的可纺性,但纤维直径有所下降;抗菌剂在PU中的分散性好。     

Mechanical properties of composites using ultrafine electrospun fibers

The objective of this research was to show the reinforcing effects of nanofibers in an epoxy matrix and in a rubber matrix using electrospun nanofibers of PBI (polybenzimidazole). The average diameter of the electrospun fibers was around 300 nanometers, which is less than one tenth the diameter and 1/100 the cross sectional area of ordinary reinforcing fibers. The ultrafine fibers provide a very high ratio of surface area to volume. The nanofibers toughened the brittle epoxy resin. The fracture toughness and the modulus of the nanofiber (15 wt%)-reinforced epoxy composite were both higher than for an epoxy composite made with PBI fibrids (17 wt%), which are whisker-like particles. In an elastomeric matrix, The Young's modulus and tear strength of the chopped nanofiber-reinforced styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) were higher than those of the pure SBR. Micrographs of the fracture surfaces were obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Numerical modeling of the dynamic tensile behavior of irregular fibers

Most fibers are irregular and are often subjected to rapid straining during mechanical processing and end‐use applications. In this article, the effect of fiber dimensional irregularities on the dynamic tensile behavior of irregular fibers was examined using the finite‐element method (FEM). Fiber dimensional irregularities are simulated with sine waves of different magnitude (10, 30, and 50% level of diameter variation). The tensile behavior of irregular fibers was examined at different strain rates (333, 3333, and 30,000%/s). The breaking load and breaking extension of irregular fibers at different strain rates were then calculated from the finite‐element model. The results indicate that strain rate has a significant effect on the dynamic tensile behavior of an irregular fiber, and that the position of the thinnest segment along the fiber significantly affects the simulation results. Under dynamic conditions, an irregular fiber does not necessarily break at the thinnest segment, which is different from the quasi‐static results. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 2855–2861, 2004     

Structural characterization and tensile properties of Borassus fruit fibers

The chemical and instrumental analysis of alkali‐treated Borassus fibers is carried out to explore the possibility of their use as reinforcement in green composites. The chemical analysis shows presence of α‐cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. This is further confirmed by FTIR and high‐resolution solid‐state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The influence of alkali treatment on morphology and mechanical properties is attempted by SEM and UTM techniques, respectively. The wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction analysis of the native and treated fibers shows that alkali treatment influences the crystallinity of the fibers. The efficacy of the Borassus fibers (native and treated) as a component of green composites is discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Studies on the electrospun submicron fibers of SIS and its mechanical properties

The submicron fibers were prepared via electrospinning the styrene–isoprene–styrene (SIS) triblock copolymer from a pure solvent of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and a mixed solvent of THF and N, N‐dimethylformamide (DMF). The addition of DMF to THF resulted in a beneficial effect on the fiber formation and the electrospinnability. The obtained results revealed that the fibers were only formed in a narrow solution concentration range of 8–15 wt %; the morphology, diameter, structure, and mechanical performance of as‐spun fibers from PS and SIS solutions were affected by the composition weight ratio and the solution properties; and those from the solution at the intermediate concentration of 10 wt % exhibited a maximum tensile strength and strain at break. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Enhanced piezoelectric properties of randomly oriented and aligned electrospun PVDF fibers by regulating the surface morphology

Harvesting energy has been attracting the attention of researchers in recent years. This work comprehensively reports the fabrication and characterization of poly(vinylidene fluoride) fiber webs with comparable diameters and diversified surface morphologies (wrinkled, smooth, and porous) based on randomly oriented and aligned fiber webs which are used as active layers to directly make a piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG). The results show that wrinkled fibers are preferable fiber webs for the PENG owing to their outstanding properties represented by high fibers friction, supreme β phase content (F[β]), and interior pores. Furthermore, we found that the electrical outputs of the PENG based on aligned fiber webs are higher than those based on randomly oriented fiber webs due to the increase in the friction area. The electrical outputs of the PENG based on the aligned wrinkled fiber webs are able to run microelectronic devices when it subjected to a mechanical impact. We believe that our study may inspire the research area for future energy harvesting applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47049.     

Modeling the tensile behavior of fiber bundles with irregular constituent fibers

In this article, the effect of fiber dimensional irregularities on the tensile behavior of fiber bundles is modeled with the finite element method. The fiber dimensional irregularities are simulated with sine waves of different magnitudes. The specific‐stress/strain curves of fiber bundles and their constituent single fibers are obtained and compared. The results indicate that fiber diameter irregularity along the fiber length has a significant effect on the tensile behavior of fiber bundles. For a bundle of uniform fibers of different diameters, all the constituent fibers will break simultaneously, regardless of the fiber diameter. Similarly, if fibers within a bundle have the same pattern and level of diameter irregularity along the fiber length, the fibers will break at the same time, also regardless of the difference in the average diameter of each fiber. In these cases, the specific‐stress/strain curve for the bundle overlaps with that of the constituent fibers. When a fiber bundle consists of single fibers with different levels of diameter irregularities, the specific‐stress/strain and load–elongation curves of the fiber bundle have a stepped or ladder shape. The fiber with the highest irregularity breaks first, even when the thinnest section of the fiber is still coarser than the diameter of a very thin but uniform fiber in the bundle. This study suggests that fiber diameter irregularity along the fiber length is a more important factor than the fiber diameter itself in determining the tensile behavior of a fiber bundle consisting of irregular fibers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 2664–2668, 2004     

Micromechanical properties and ductile behavior of electrospun polystyrene nanofibers

Using electrospinning technique polystyrene (PS) nanofibers in the thickness range from 150 to 800 nm have been produced. Electron microscope inspections reveal the relatively uniform thickness of the obtained fibers. The mechanical deformation mechanisms have been studied in tension tests using micro-tensile devices for a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a transmission electron microscope (TEM). A characteristic change in the deformation behavior from the typical craze formation of PS to a micro necking and cold drawing has been found with decreasing fiber thickness. There is a surprisingly sharp fiber thickness limit between both deformation types in the range of 220–225 nm: nanofibers thicker than ∼ 225 nm deform with formation of crazes, nanofibers thinner than ∼ 225 nm show necking and cold drawing. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Drawing and ultimate tensile properties of modified polyamide 6 fibers

The drawing and ultimate tensile properties of the modified PA 6 (MPA) fiber specimens prepared at varying drawing temperature were systematically investigated, wherein the MPA resins were prepared by reactive extrusion of PA 6 with the compatibilizer precursor (CP). At any fixed drawing temperature, the achievable draw ratio (D_ra) values of MPA as‐spun fiber specimens increase initially with increasing CP contents, and then approach a maximum value, as their CP contents are close to the 5 wt% optimum value. The maximum D_ra values obtained for MPA as‐spun fiber specimens prepared at the optimum CP content reach another maximum as their drawing temperatures approach the optimum drawing temperature at 120°C. The tensile and birefringence values of PA 6 and MPA fiber specimens improve consistently as their draw ratios increase. Similar to those found for their achievable drawing properties, the ultimate tensile and birefringence values of MPA fiber specimens approach a maximum value, as their CP contents and drawing temperatures approach the 5 wt% and 120°C optimum values, respectively. Investigations including Fourier transform infrared, melt shear viscosity, gel content, thermal and wide angle X‐ray diffraction experiments were performed on the MPA resin and/or fiber specimens to clarify the optimum CP content and possible deformation mechanisms accounting for the interesting drawing, birefringence, and ultimate tensile properties found for the MPA fiber specimens prepared in this study. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Structural properties and superhydrophobicity of electrospun polypropylene fibers from solution and melt

Isotactic polypropylene (iPP) has successfully been electrospun from both solution and melt using an elevated temperature setup. First, PP nanofibers with two different average diameters (0.8 μm and 9.6 μm) were obtained via electrospinning of iPP in decalin, and the effect of deformation and solidification on the morphological and structural features of the resulting fibers was studied. Secondly, melt electrospun PP fibers with two different average diameters were also fabricated to compare the structures with those of solution electrospun PP fibers. DSC and XRD results show that β form crystals which can increase the impact strength and toughness of electrospun fibers are present in sub-micron scale PP fibers from solution, while fibers from melt mostly show α form crystals. The annealed fibers have changed their morphological forms into α and γ crystal forms. Finally, it is observed that electrospun PP fiber webs both from solution and melt exhibit superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle about 151° which is substantially higher than those of a commercial PP non-woven web and a compression molded PP film, 104° and 112°, respectively. Such superior hydrophobicity was observed for all PP electrospun fibers and it was not altered by the processing scheme (solution or melt) or fiber diameter (sub-micron or micron). Enhanced hydrophobicity of electrospun PP fiber webs contribute to excellent barrier performance without losing permeability when they are applied to protective clothing.     

Formation of melt and solution spun polycaprolactone fibers by centrifugal spinning

Nano‐ and microfibers have a myriad of applications ranging from filtration, composites, energy harvesting, to tissue engineering and drug delivery. Electrospinning, the most common method to produce such fibers, has many limitations including low fiber output and solvent dependency. Centrifugal spinning is a new technique that uses centrifugal forces to form nano‐ and microfibers both from solution and the melt. In this work, the effect of melt temperature, collector distance, rotation speed, and concentration (for polymer solutions) of polycaprolactone were evaluated with respect to fiber morphology, diameter, alignment, and crystallinity. The fiber diameter generally decreased with increasing rotation speed and reduced concentration. Crystallinity for spun fibers decreased compared to the bulk polymer. Fiber alignment was improved with rotation speed for the melt‐spun fibers. The fiber mats were evaluated as tissue scaffolds with neuronal PC12 cells. The cells adhered and extended neurites along the fibers for both melt and solution‐spun scaffolds. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41269.     

Structure and tensile properties of Nanoclay–Polypropylene fibers produced by melt spinning

Nanocomposite fibers of polypropylene and montmorillonite‐based organoclay were produced by a melt‐spinning process, and their structures and mechanical properties were studied. The addition of nanoclay in polypropylene increased the rate of crystallization and altered the microstructures of the fibers. Increases in the crystal size and a reduction in the molecular orientation were observed in the nanoclay–polypropylene composite fibers. The tensile properties of nanoclay composite fibers were also studied, and decreases in the fiber modulus and tenacity and increases in the strain at break were observed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

The effect of solvent dielectric properties on the collection of oriented electrospun fibers

A simple approach to electrospinning has been developed that enables the collection of polymer, ceramic, and multiphase composite fibers, in quantity, with a high degree of spatial orientation. It has been demonstrated that a careful choice of solvent effectively eliminates the onset of the characteristic “bending” instability that is commonly associated with the electrospinning process. This allows collection of spatially oriented submicron electrospun fibers on a rotating drum without the need for elaborate mechanical or electrostatic manipulation of the electrospinning jet and/or collection target (Deitzel, J. M.; Kleinmeyer, J. D. et al. Polymer 2001, 42, 8163, Zussman, E.; Theron, A.; et al. Appl Phys Lett 2003, 82, 973, and Li, D. Wang, Y. L.; et al. Nano Lett 2003, 3, 1167). Fibers have been electrospun from a series of model polyethylene oxide/CHCl₃ solutions with a range of conductivities. The experimental data confirms theoretical predictions that the onset of the bending instability is a function of the available “free” charge in the solution, which in turn is strongly influenced by the dielectric constant of the solvent. The results show that fiber orientation becomes random as the conductivity increases, indicating the need for the surface charge density to exceed a critical threshold in order for the bending instability to initiate. This method has been experimentally demonstrated with other low-dielectric constant solvents and other common polymer, ceramic, and composite materials. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that fibers electrospun from these solutions can be mechanically drawn to submicron dimensions (∼ 200–500 nm) by controlling drum speed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

The tensile fatigue behavior of para-oriented aramid fibers and their fracture morphology

Samples of Fiber B and PRD 49 which were the forerunners of current Kevlar aramid fibers were subject to a limited number of tensile tests and tensile fatigue tests in order to determine their fracture morphology. The fibers were examined by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Both tensile and fatigue failure occurs by axial splitting, with the fatigue splits being much longer. Compressive effects in snap-back cause kink bands to form. The fatigue strength is only marginally less than the tensile strength.     

The interaction mechanism between microorganisms and substrate in the biodegradation of polycaprolactone

The present work concerns the interplay of the degradation mechanism and the nature of the interaction between microorganisms and substrate. The biodegradation of polycaprolactone films by a pure strain of microorganisms isolated from an industrial composting unit for household refuse was studied in minimal medium with the polymer as sole carbon source. In conditions where the polymer surface is colonized and a biofilm is formed (under a low stirring rate), polymer weight loss is limited, whereas total degradation is observed when stirring conditions prevent biofilm formation. In the first case, holes are observed in the degraded film and a polysaccharide responsible for microorganism adhesion was identified by FTIR. SEM observation of the polymer surface as a function of the degradation time suggests that the crystalline and amorphous phase are degraded at about the same rate in the first case, whereas the amorphous phase is preferentially degraded in the latter. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 1334–1340, 2002     

The electrospun polyhydroxybutyrate fibers reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals: Morphology and properties

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) has been used in the biomedical field. However, the poor mechanical properties of PHB have limited its application. Here, electrospun fibrous nanocomposite mats reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were fabricated by using PHB as polymeric matrix. The morphological, thermal, mechanical properties, as well as cytotoxicity were characterized. Increasing the concentration of CNCs caused a decrease in diameter of the electrospun fibers. Moreover, thermal analysis indicated that melting temperature of PHB/CNCs electrospun fibers were improved with the increased CNCs content. The addition of CNCs gradually enhanced the tensile strength till 8 wt % content followed by a gradual decrease at higher CNCs content (12–22 wt %) in tensile strength. The PHB/CNCs electrospun fibers were nontoxic to L‐929 and capable of supporting cell proliferation in all conditions. This study demonstrates that fibrous PHB/CNCs electrospun fibers are cytocompatible and potentially useful mechanical properties for biomedical application. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43273.     

Effects of heat treatment on tensile properties of diacetate fibers

Diacetate filaments were heat‐treated (without tension or with tension) under dry‐heat or wet‐heat environment, respectively. The effects of temperature, time, and tension on tensile properties of diacetate fibers after heat treatments were discussed. The results show that diacetate fibers present no obvious improvement on its tensile properties after dry‐heat treatments without tension. It was also found that during dry heat treatments with tension, the increase in tensile properties of fibers mainly depends on temperature and tension. Moreover, being dry‐heat treated with tension instant after wet‐heat treatment without tension, diacetate fibers exhibit a higher improvement on its tensile properties comparing with dry heat method with tension. The shrinking measurement for the fibers indicates different supermolecular structures were developed in the fiber before treatment and after treatment, which leads to the different extent in the improvement of tensile properties for the fibers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101:787–791, 2006