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Individual Electrospun Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Nanofiber Wetting using AFM

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2012

Shuangwu Li  and
Asa H. Barber
Shuangwu Li
Affiliation:
Department of Materials, Queen Mary College, University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, United Kingdom.
Asa H. Barber
Affiliation:
Department of Materials, Queen Mary College, University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, United Kingdom.
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Abstract

The surface of polymer nanofibers plays a significant role in many applications thus measurement of their surface properties is essential but challenging due to their relatively small size. This study details AFM wetting tests for individual electrospun Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) nanofibers in order to measure their polar and dispersive surface free energy components. Individual electrospun PVA nanofibers have been immersed and removed from three different low vapor pressure liquids using AFM. The polymer nanofiber-liquid interactions can be monitored by AFM and accurate measurements of contact angle between liquids and the nanofiber surface can be made. These wetting data were used to produce Owens-Wendt plot giving the dispersive and polar components of the nanofiber surface. Results are compared with bulk polymer films to conclude how the surface properties of electrospun polymer nanofibers are different from bulk polymer material.

Keywords

nanoscalepolymerfiber
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1424: Symposium SS – Properties and Processes at the Nanoscale Nanomechanics of Material Behavior , 2012 , mrsf11-1424-ss07-08
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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References

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