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Generation of Core-Sheath Polymer Nanofibers by Pressurised Gyration.

Mahalingam, S; Huo, S; Homer-Vanniasinkam, S; Edirisinghe, M; (2020) Generation of Core-Sheath Polymer Nanofibers by Pressurised Gyration. Polymers , 12 (8) , Article 1709. 10.3390/polym12081709. Green open access

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Abstract

The ability to generate core-sheath bicomponent polymer nanofibers in a single-step with scale-up possibilities is demonstrated using pressurised gyration manufacturing. This is the first time that nanofiber containing more than one polymer having a core-sheath configuration has been generated in this way. Water-soluble polymers polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) are used as the core and sheath layers, respectively. Core-sheath nanofibers with a diameter in the range of 331 to 998 nm were spun using 15 wt % PEO and 15 wt % PVP polymer solutions. The forming parameters, working pressure and rotating speed, had a significant influence on the size, size distribution and the surface morphology of the nanofibers generated. Overall, fibre size decreased with increasing working pressure and rotating speed. The fibre size was normally distributed in all cases, with 0.2 MPa working pressure in particular showing narrower distribution. The fibre size distributions for 0.1 and 0.3 MPa working pressure were broader and a mean fibre size of 331 nm was obtained in the latter case. The fibre size was evenly distributed and narrower for rotating speeds of 2000 and 4000 RPMs. The distribution was broader for rotating speed of 6000 RPM with a mean value obtained at 430 nm. Continuous, smooth and bead-free fibre morphologies were obtained in each case. The fibre cross-section analysis using a focused ion beam machine showed a solid core surrounded by a sheath layer. Our findings demonstrate that the pressurised gyration could be used to produce core-sheath polymer nanofibers reliably and cost-effectively with scale-up possibilities (~4 kg h-1).

Type: Article
Title: Generation of Core-Sheath Polymer Nanofibers by Pressurised Gyration.
Location: Switzerland
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.3390/polym12081709
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12081709
Language: English
Additional information: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited
Keywords: Core, gyration, nanofiber, pressure, sheath
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Mechanical Engineering
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > London Centre for Nanotechnology
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10107715
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