Ultrafine porous fibers electrospun from cellulose triacetate

Ultrafine porous cellulose triacetate (CTA) fibers were prepared by electrospinning with methylene chloride (MC) and a mixed solvent of MC/ethanol (EtOH) and their intra- and inter-fiber pore structures was investigated. Ultrafine porous CTA fibers electrospun with MC had isolated circular shape pores with a narrow size distribution in the range of 50–100 nm. In the case of ultrafine CTA fibers electrospun with MC/EtOH (90 / 10 v/v), they had interconnected larger pores in the range of 200–500 nm. These porous structures were induced by phase separation resulting from the rapid evaporation of solvent during the electrospinning process. However, non-porous corrugated fibers were obtained from MC/EtOH (85 / 15 v/v) and MC/EtOH (80 / 20 v/v) due to their lower vapor pressure. The pore sizes in ultrafine CTA fibers electrospun with MC showed a bimodal distribution centered at ∼17 and ∼64 nm. CTA fibers electrospun with MC/EtOH (90 / 10 v/v) showed the greatest porosity due to their larger intra-fiber pores and fiber diameter.     

Fabrication of WO3 nanofibers by high voltage electrospinning

Mixtures of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mmol ammonium metatungstate hydrate (AMH), and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were electrospun by a + 20 kV direct voltage to synthesize fibers. Those of 0.5 mmol AMH were further calcined to have PVA removed and crystalline degree improved. At 500 °C and 2 h calcination, WO₃ nanofibers, including two main stretching modes, 3.24 eV direct energy gap, and 378 nm wavelength violet emission were detected. A possible formation mechanism of WO₃ nanofibers was proposed according to the experimental results.     

静电纺聚乳酸纳米纤维复合滤料的过滤性能研究

将聚乳酸颗粒加入到质量比为8:2的三氯甲烷与N-N-二甲基甲酰胺的混合溶剂中,室温下配置质量分数为10%的纺丝液,采用静电纺丝法制备了平均直径在620nm左右的聚乳酸纤维。以聚乳酸熔喷非织造布为基布,通过控制纺丝时间的不同得到了负载不同厚度纳米纤维层的可生物降解的复合过滤材料。通过对各试样的孔隙率、孔径及孔径分布、过滤效率的测试发现:随着纺丝时间的增加,复合材料孔隙率不断下降,孔径不断减小,纺丝3h时,孔径基本减小到原先的一半,且分布相对集中,大大地提高了普通过滤材料的过滤效率。     

Optimizing the mechanical properties of electrospun polycaprolactone and nanohydroxyapatite composite nanofibers

Interest in fabrication of nanofibers using electrospinning has recently increased due to the ability to produce fibers with controlled structures, orientations, and dimensions. Tensile properties of electrospun fibers have not been widely investigated due to the difficulties in handling nanofibers and measuring low load for deformation. In this study, the effects of process parameters on the mechanical properties of electrospun composite nanofibers of polycaprolactone and nanohydroxyapatite were experimentally investigated. Response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to design the experiments at the settings of solution concentration, voltage, spinning distance and flow rate. Mechanical properties of the electrospun fibers were correlated with these variables using a third order polynomial function. It was found that polymer concentration, voltage and spinning distance were the most effective parameters. The predicted mechanical properties were in good agreement with the experimental results.     

Preparation of poly(vinyl alcohol)/tin glycolate composite fibers by combined sol–gel/electrospinning techniques and their conversion to ultrafine tin oxide fibers

Ultrafine composite fibers made from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/tin glycolate — a moisture-stable tin oxide containing compound — were prepared by a combined sol–gel processing and electrospinning technique. These fibers were subsequently converted to ultrafine tin oxide fibers by calcination treatment, with the aim of producing tin oxide fiber with a high surface area-to-mass ratio and a high specific conductivity value. The acidity of spinning solution plays an important role to the morphology and size of the obtained fibers. The average diameters of the obtained composite fibers were in the range of 87–166 nm. It was found that the ultrafine tin oxide fiber showed the high conductivity value of 1.59 × 10³ S cm^?1 at calcinations temperature of 600 °C, and the BET surface area was in a range of 71 and 275 m² g^?1. Moreover, the effect of calcinations temperature on the phase and the size of the tin oxide fibers were investigated in this study.     

静电纺丝法制备小口径胶原-聚乳酸人工血管

以聚乳酸(PLA)和胶原(Col)为原料,通过静电纺丝法制备了小口径(d=3.0mm)Col-PLA人工血管。采用扫描电镜、孔径分析仪和万能拉力机对Col-PLA人工血管的外层纤维形貌、孔径和拉伸性能进行了表征,测定了人工血管的管壁厚度及爆破强度。研究了纺丝电压、纺丝液质量分数、PLA与Col质量比对人工血管结构及性能的影响。结果表明:随纺丝电压的增加,纤维排列由杂乱变为规整,最佳的纺丝电压为15~20kV之间;当纺丝液质量分数增大时,Col-PLA人工血管的纤维直径增大,孔径及孔隙率均变小,拉伸强度和爆破强度提高;随PLA与Col质量比提高,人工血管的内层管壁厚度减少,外层管壁厚度增加,使拉伸强度和爆破强度提高,PLA与Col质量比分别为70∶30和90∶10时,制得人工血管力学强度能够满足使用要求。     

Template assisted synthesis of porous nanofibrous cellulose membranes for tissue engineering

Porous, nanofibrous bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes were produced by the bacterium Acetobacter xylinum. The bacterium was cultivated in an appropriate culture medium under static conditions. In situ pore formation was attained through the use of pin templates with diameters varying from 60 to 300 μm composed of polyestirene (ϕ = 300 μm) or optical fibers (ϕ = 60 μm), which were placed on culture medium with the pins immersed in the liquid. Cellulose biosynthesis occurred around the pins leaving tiny pores on the cellulose membrane. After removal of the template the biofilm was dried at 50 °C/24 h. Physico-chemical properties of BC membranes, like degree of crystallinity, swelling and tensile strength were not significantly altered after pore formation. Microstructure evaluation revealed that the film matrix is composed of long nanofibers isotropically distributed on its surface. Round-shaped pores with diameters varying between 60 and 300 μm, depending on the pin template used, were formed in the cellulose membranes. These pores exhibited no border failures that could start crack propagation along the film surface. Microporous membranes could be useful for applications in repairing tissues, which require high oxygenation rates or wound contracture delay.     

Uniaxially aligned electrospun fibers for advanced nanocomposites based on a model PVOH-epoxy system

This work demonstrates the potential of aligned electrospun fibers as the sole reinforcement in nanocomposite materials. Poly(vinyl alcohol) and epoxy resin were selected as a model system and the effect of electrospun fiber loading on polymer properties was examined in conjunction with two manufacturing methods. A proprietary electrospinning technology for production of uniaxially aligned electrospun fiber arrays was used. A conventional wet lay-up fabrication method is compared against a novel, hybrid electrospinning–electrospraying approach. The structure and thermomechanical properties of resulting composite materials were examined using scanning electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and tensile testing. The results demonstrate that using aligned electrospun fibers significantly enhances material properties compared to unreinforced resin, especially when manufactured using the hybrid electrospinning–electrospraying method. For example, tensile strength of such a material containing only 0.13 vol% of fiber was increased by ∼700%, and Young’s modulus by ∼250%, with concomitant increase in ductility.     

Preparation of silica fibers and non-woven cloth by electrospinning

Silica fibers, which can potentially be used as filters and media for catalysts immobilization, were successfully spun via electrospinning process with precursor prepared through the sol–gel synthesis. Spinnable sols can be obtained only when the molar ratio of water to TEOS is less than 2 which is consistent with the retrospective results derived for other spinning methods. It was confirmed for the first time that the reaction time can be drastically reduced by introducing humidified air, controlled by KCl saturated aqueous solution, during sol–gel process. The size of obtained silica fibers is about 4.5 μm and has a certain degree of flexibility and mechanical strength. Although the specific surface area of as spun fiber was 7.7 m²/g, which is apparently small comparing to generic silica, treatment by boiling water only for 5 min could increase the specific surface area to be about 500 m²/g.     

Studies on the processing of nickel base porous wicks for capillary pumped loop for thermal management of spacecrafts

Nickel base sintered porous wicks have potential application as capillary structure in two-phase heat transfer loops of a heat dissipation system, like capillary pumped loop (CPL) and loop heat pipe (LHP). A porous wick is located inside the evaporator of the CPL system and it transports working fluid in the loop by capillary action.In the present work, experimental trials were carried out to achieve porous wick having high porosity with interconnected pores of average size less than 5 μm, higher aspect ratio (L/D >10) and permeability better than 10 m-Darcy (10^?14 m²). A carbonyl nickel powder (2–7 μm) was used as raw material. Loose carbonyl nickel powders (2–7 μm) were sintered in graphite mould under hydrogen atmosphere at different temperatures in order to optimize porosity, pore size and permeability of the sintered wick. For mechanical and physical properties characterization, samples were cut from sintered rod using EDM wire cut to avoid pore closure. Profile making on the sintered rod is also done by wire EDM. Microstructural characterization as well as the effect of W-EDM on the surface pores was done using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Surface profile making through W-EDM had shown encouraging result. After optimization of process parameters cylindrical wick (L/D ratio: 10) with porosity of 64%, average pore size of 5 μm and a permeability of 70 m-Darcy could be realized.The present paper explain the details of processing of cylindrical shaped porous wicks through sintering technique and effect of EDM on surface pores characteristic.     

静电纺丝制备多孔醋酸纤维素超细纤维

采用静电纺丝法制备了大量尺寸为60 nm～750 nm椭圆形多孔醋酸纤维素(CA)纤维.利用扫描电镜(SEM)表征了纤维及孔的形态和大小,液氮吸附法(BET)测定了纤维的比表面积.探讨了溶刑种类、溶剂配比和溶液浓度对多孔CA纤维的影响.通过调节纺丝溶液性质和纺丝参数,CA纤维表面多孔大小和分布密度是可调控的.成孔机理是...     

动态线性电极静电纺PVA纳米纤维的可纺性

为了解决传统针式静电纺针头易堵塞不易产业化的问题,采用铜丝动态线性电极静电纺丝技术对PVA纳米纤维的可纺性进行研究。利用扫描电子显微镜研究了PVA溶液浓度、电压和纺丝距离对PVA纤维形貌及直径分布的影响。结果表明:随PVA溶液浓度降低,溶液粘度和电导率减小,纤维直径及其分布变小。且随纺丝距离增大,纤维直径变细,纤维形貌变好。当PVA浓度为10%(质量分数),电压80 kV,距离30 cm时,可制备出形貌良好的纳米纤维,其直径为433 nm,产量高达 6.8 g/h ;当PVA浓度为5%(质量分数),电压80 kV,距离30 cm, 可纺最细纤维直径为96 nm。本研究可为未来PVA静电纺纳米纤维膜的规模化制备提供参考。     

Synthesis of organic–inorganic hybrid azobenzene materials for the preparation of nanofibers by electrospinning

The new photochromic hybrid materials containing different mole fractions of highly photoactive 4-[(E)-[4-[ethyl(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]phenyl]azo]-N-(4-methylpyrimidin-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide (SMERe) were prepared by a low temperature sol–gel process. The guest–host systems with triethoxyphenylsilane matrix were obtained. These materials were used to form thin transparent films by a spin-coating technique. Then the ability of thin hybrid films to reversible trans–cis photoisomerization under illumination was investigated using ellipsometry and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The reversible changes of refractive index of the films under illumination were in the range of 0.005–0.056. The maximum absorption of these materials was located at 462–486 nm. Moreover, the organic–inorganic azobenzene materials were used to form nanofibers by electrospinning using various parameters of the process. The microstructure of electrospun fibers depended on sols properties (e.g. concentration and viscosity of the sols) and process conditions (e.g. the applied voltage, temperature or type of the collector) at ambient conditions. The morphology of obtained nanofibers was analyzed by an optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In most instances, the beadless fibers were obtained. The wettability of the surface of electrospun fibers deposited on glass substrates was investigated.     

聚-DL/L-丙交酯(30DL/70L)纳米纤维的电纺研究

对生物可吸收聚-DL/L-丙交酯(30DL/70L)体系进行了静电纺丝.研究了聚-DL/L-丙交酯(30DL/70L)的浓度,加料速度,电压,喷头与接收体之间的距离等因素对纤维形态的影响,制备出纳米纤维膜,并用扫描电镜(SEM)等对纤维膜进行表征.结果表明,电纺溶液浓度和溶剂对纤维直径影响比较明显,减小电纺溶液浓度和采用复合溶剂CHCl3/DMF可得到更细的纳米纤维;一定范围内适当的增加电压、减小距离和减小加料速度有利于减小纤维直径.在聚-DL/L-丙交酯(30DL/70L)浓度为5g/100mL溶剂、加料速度1mL/h、喷头与接收体之间的距离6cm、电压15kV电纺条件下,可制备直径50nm左右的聚-DL/L-丙交酯(30DL/70L)纳米纤维膜.     

Hybrid analogs for the production of porous calcium phosphate scaffolds

A polymer–inorganic sol mixture has been used to develop interconnected and highly porous calcium phosphate networks. The inorganic sol was developed by reacting triethyl phosphite and calcium nitrate. The sol was directly added to an aqueous solution of PVA with molecular weights between 40,500 and 155,000 g/mol. This mixture was electrospun at a voltage of 20 kV to produce fibers, whose diameter was less than 1 μm. This electrospun structure was calcined at 600 °C obtain to a highly interconnected sub-micron fibrous network (fiber size ∼ 200 nm) of calcium phosphate. The crystal size is on the order of 30 nm. Micropores could be introduced in each of the fibers by controlling the polymer molecular weight and the sol volume fraction. Such structures can have many potential uses in the repair and treatment of bone defects and in drug delivery.     

聚乳酸/亚硝酸盐发色纤维包装的制备及其释放行为

目的 通过静电纺丝技术制备发色纤维材料,为冷鲜肉护色提供理论基础。方法 利用静电纺丝技术将可生物降解的PLA和具有良好发色作用的NaNO2混合以制备发色纤维。研究不同工艺参数对纤维形貌的影响,根据SEM结果选取纤维形貌的最佳条件,并添加NaNO2制备发色纤维。采用FT-IR及静态接触角对制备纤维的组分和亲水性进行分析,并测试纤维的释放性能。结果 随着收集距离、电纺速度的增加,PLA纤维的平均直径会降低;随着电压的增加,聚乳酸纤维的平均直径先增加后降低。得到了适宜的纺丝工艺参数,电压为15 kV,纺丝速度为0.5 mL/h,接收距离为25 cm。随着NaNO2含量的增加,聚乳酸亚硝酸钠纤维的平均直径会降低;随着NaNO2的添加,对纤维亲水性影响不明显;当NaNO2含量增加时,释放时间会延长,该膜中NaNO2的释放速率则降低。结论 通过静电纺丝技术制得了聚乳酸亚硝酸钠发色纤维,其具有优秀的缓释效果,可以应用于肉及肉制品的发色包装。     

Characteristics and release property of polylactic acid/sodium monofluorophosphate microcapsules prepared by spray drying

Microcapsules composed of polylactic acid (PLA)/corrosion inhibitor sodium monofluorophosphate (MFP) were prepared by spray drying, and the effects of processing parameters on the morphology and encapsulation efficiency of the microcapsules were investigated. The results showed that low viscous PLA solution only resulted in porous microcapsules with low encapsulation efficiency, whereas filamentous substances were produced instead of microcapsules once PLA solution content exceeded 5%. When spray pressure exceeded 0.4 MPa, the microcapsule surface was wrinkled due to high evaporation rate of the atomized droplets. The spray pressure less than 0.3 MPa created larger atomized droplets and yielded the adhesive microcapsules with lower encapsulation efficiency. The optimal emulsion parameters were as follows: PLA concentration, 5%; water-oil ratio, 1:9; inlet air temperature, 50 °C; and spray pressure, 0.4 MPa. The resulting microcapsules exhibited a good sustained-release behavior in a simulated concrete pore solution.     

Preparation and photocatalytic activity of nanoporous zirconia electrospun fiber mats

Nanoporous zirconia electrospun fiber mats (NZEFM) have been prepared by an electrospinning process using nonionic F108 as a pore-forming agent. This nonaqueous synthesis route has been employed to fabricate a stable “building block” porous structure inside the nano-scale fibers. The mats composed of individual fibers proved to be robust after calcination at up to 450 °C or stirring in water. The photocatalytic activity of NZEFM is apparently higher than that of commercial zirconia powder for the degradation of methyl orange in aqueous solution. Moreover, amorphous NZEFM mixed with the tetragonal phase obtained at 450 °C proved to be more efficient than the monoclinic phase NZEFM obtained at 900 °C. Various dyes could be degraded by NZEFM under UV light irradiation. The highly photocatalytic activity of NZEFM could be attributed to its high specific surface area and nanoporous “building block” structure made up of stacked zirconia nanoparticles.     

Co-electrospun blends of PU and PEG as potential biocompatible scaffolds for small-diameter vascular tissue engineering

A small-diameter vascular graft (inner diameter 4 mm) was fabricated from polyurethane (PU) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) solutions by blend electrospinning technology. The fiber diameter decreased from 1023 ± 185 nm to 394 ± 106 nm with the increasing content of PEG in electrospinning solutions. The hybrid PU/PEG scaffolds showed randomly nanofibrous morphology, high porosity and well-interconnected porous structure. The hydrophilicity of these scaffolds had been improved significantly with the increasing contents of PEG. The mechanical properties of electrospun hybrid PU/PEG scaffolds were obviously different from that of PU scaffold, which was caused by plasticizing or hardening effect imparted by PEG composition. Under hydrated state, the hybrid PU/PEG scaffolds demonstrated low mechanical performance due to the hydrophilic property of materials. Compared with dry PU/PEG scaffolds with the same content of PEG, the tensile strength and elastic modulus of hydrated PU/PEG scaffolds decreased significantly, while the elongation at break increased. The hybrid PU/PEG scaffolds demonstrated a lower possibility of thrombi formation than blank PU scaffold in platelet adhesion test. The hemolysis assay illustrated that all scaffolds could act as blood contacting materials. To investigate further in vitro cytocompatibility, HUVECs were seeded on the scaffolds and cultured over 14 days. The cells could attach and proliferate well on the hybrid scaffolds than blank PU scaffold, and form a cell monolayer fully covering on the PU/PEG (80/20) hybrid scaffold surface. The results demonstrated that the electrospun hybrid PU/PEG tubular scaffolds possessed the special capacity with excellent hemocompatibility while simultaneously supporting extensive endothelialization with the 20 and 30% content of PEG in hybrid scaffolds.     

Carbon nanofibers produced from modified electrospun PAN/hydroxyapatite precursors as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

In the current study we have proposed a method to obtain a carbon/HAp bioactive nanofibrous scaffold. The modified carbon nanofibrous nonwoven' fabrics were obtained by the use of electrospinning and subsequent stabilization and carbonization processes. The modified with HAp powder nanofibrous PAN nonwovens were thermally stabilized using a multi-stage process in the temperature ranging from 100 °C to 300 °C in an oxidative environment and then carbonized at 1000 °C in argon atmosphere. The changes of properties of composite precursor membranes taking place during stabilization and carbonization processes were investigated using the methods of: DSC, TGA, FTIR, SEM, EDX, WAXD and mechanical tests. Bioactivity was determined by assessing the formation of crystalline apatite on the surface of membranes upon immersion in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF). The FTIR, SEM and WAXD investigation clearly prove that hydroxyapatite added to the electrospinning solution was present also in composites nanofibrous nonwovens after stabilization and carbonization process. It was found that due to HAp addition: the significant decrease of fibers average diameter occurs and that the average pore size for modified membranes is smaller than for the unmodified one. On the other hand it was shown that the ceramic additive protects fibers from mass reduction during the stabilization treatment. Finally a drastic increase of mineralization activity of nCF/HAp scaffolds as compared to their nCF counterparts has been proved.