Amarakoon, Manul;
(2025)
Advancing Pressure Spinning Polymeric Fibre
Manufacture for Enhanced Performance and
Sustainability.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
This thesis presents a comprehensive investigation into the environmental impact, energy consumption and production efficiency of polymeric submicrometre fibre manufacturing, developing a sustainable approach aligned with the principles of Green Chemistry and Green Engineering. The research explores pressure spinning, a novel method using centrifugal force and applied gas pressure, establishing it as a viable alternative to conventional techniques. The study systematically optimises process parameters including applied gas pressure and polymer solution concentrations, using water-soluble Polyethylene Oxide (PEO) and Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to establish empirical relationships for efficient, sustainable manufacture. A major innovation is the successful production and characterisation of core-sheath fibres via pressure spinning, demonstrating the reproducible manufacture of dual-component fibres with high structural integrity for advanced applications like drug delivery and energy storage. A comparative lifecycle assessment (LCA) focusing on the manufacturing phase demonstrated that pressure spinning can reduce energy consumption by up to several orders of magnitude compared to traditional methods and exhibits a markedly reduced dependency on hazardous solvents. Furthermore, analysis of previously neglected variables, vessel geometry (60 mm and 75 mm) and collector distance (100 mm to 200 mm), found that wider vessels and greater collector distances enhance fibre uniformity, orientation and production efficiency with no additional energy consumption. Ultimately, this thesis provides a roadmap for translating laboratory-scale innovation into scalable industrial practice, establishing pressure spinning as a transformative, green technology that mitigates environmental harm and promotes the circular economy.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | Advancing Pressure Spinning Polymeric Fibre Manufacture for Enhanced Performance and Sustainability |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2025. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Engineering Science Faculty Office |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10216825 |
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