Hostname: page-component-669899f699-7tmb6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-05-04T21:48:12.856Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Melt Electrospinning of Polycaprolactone (PCL) Ultrafine Fibers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Chitrabala Subramanian ,
Samuel C. Ugbolue ,
Steven B. Warner  and
Prabir K. Patra
Chitrabala Subramanian
Affiliation:
chitra2@gmail.com, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Department of Materials and Textiles, 02747, Massachusetts, United States
Samuel C. Ugbolue
Affiliation:
sugbolue@umassd.edu, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Department of Materials and Textiles, 02747, Massachusetts, United States
Steven B. Warner
Affiliation:
swarner@umassd.edu, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Department of Materials and Textiles, 02747, Massachusetts, United States
Prabir K. Patra
Affiliation:
prabir@rice.edu, Rice University, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science (MEMS), 77005, Texas, United States
Get access

Abstract

Electrospinning is a technique of producing nanofibers from polymer solution/melt solely under the influence of electrostatic forces. In this research, we investigated the formation of nanofibers by melt electrospinning polycaprolactone (PCL). The effect of process parameters such as molecular weight, applied voltage, and electrode separation on the fiber diameter was investigated. Controlling the process parameters could help increase the proportion of ultrafine fibers in the melt electrospun nonwoven mat. The velocity of the straight jets was in the range of 0.2-1 m/s. The melt electrospun fibers were characterized with respect to fiber diameter, distribution, mechanical properties and birefringence. Melt electrospun polycaprolactone fibers had a diameter distribution of the order of 5 -20 μm. The birefringence of the melt electrospun fibers increased with decrease in fiber diameter.

Keywords

polymerfibernanostructure
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1134: Symposium BB – Polymer-Based Smart Materials–Processes, Properties and Application , 2008 , 1134-BB08-18
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

REFERENCES:

1. Taylor, G.I., Proceedings of Royal Society London, Ser A 313, 453 (1969)Google Scholar
2. Kalayci, V.E., Patra, K.P., Kim, Y.K., Ugbolue, S.C. and Warner, S.B., Polymer 46, 7191 (2005)Google Scholar
3. Larrondo, L. and Manley, R.S., Journal of Polymer Science 19, 909 (1981)Google Scholar
4. Larrondo, L. and Manley, R.S., Journal of Polymer Science 19, 921 (1981)Google Scholar
5. Larrondo, L. and Manley, R.S., Journal of Polymer Science 19, 933 (1981)Google Scholar
6. Lysons, J.M., Ph.D. Thesis, Drexel University, 2004 Google Scholar
7. Rangkupan, R., M.S. Thesis, University of Akron, 2002 Google Scholar
8. Schwartz, P., Fiber Society, Book of Abstracts, May 2001 Google Scholar
9. Dalton, P.D., Calvet, J.L., Mourran, A., Klee, D. and Moller, M., Biotechnology Journal 1 (9), 998 (2006)Google Scholar
10. Khurana, H.S., Patra, P.K. and Warner, S.B., Polymer Preprints 44 (2), 67 (2003)Google Scholar
11. Joo, Y.L. and Zhou, H., U.S. Patent No. 7 083 854 (10 May 2005)Google Scholar
12. Zhou, H., Green, T.B. and Joo, Y.L., Polymer 47, 7497 (2006)Google Scholar
13. Ogata, N., Simada, N., Yamaguchi, S., Nakane, K. and Ogihara, T., Journal of Applied Polymer Science 105 (3), 1127 (2007)Google Scholar
14. Barnett, T.R., Applied Polymer Symposia 6, 51 (1967)Google Scholar
15. Warner, S.B., Perkins, C.A. and Abhiraman, A.S., INDA Jour. of Nonwoven Res. 2, 33 (1995)Google Scholar
16. Buer, A., Ugbolue, S.C. and Warner, S.B., Textile Research Journal 71(4), 323 (2001)Google Scholar
17. Warner, S.B., Fiber Science, (Prentice Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1995), p.131 Google Scholar