Postprocesses in tubular electrospun nanofibers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Electrospinning rapidly forms polymer nanofibers, trapping solvent and creating nonequilibrium states in macromolecules.
• The rapid shell formation during coelectrospinning leads to a stretched state of polymer molecules, potentially causing anomalous fiber properties.
• Residual solvent within tubular nanofibers continues to evaporate post-spinning, influencing fiber evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the postprocessing phenomena in coelectrospun polymer nanofibers.
• To understand the relationship between solvent evaporation kinetics and fiber structural evolution.
• To identify conditions leading to macrostate modifications like radial buckling.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical modeling of solvent evaporation kinetics.
• Experimental observation of nanofiber evolution.
• Analysis of polymer macromolecule states and fiber micro/macrostates.

Main Results:

• A theoretical model for solvent evaporation kinetics shows good agreement with experimental data.
• The nonequilibrium state of macromolecules, stabilized by the solid matrix, explains anomalous nanofiber properties.
• Conditions for fiber shell instability, leading to radial buckling, were predicted.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully models solvent evaporation in coelectrospun nanofibers.
• Nonequilibrium states and residual solvent significantly impact nanofiber properties and structure.
• Radial buckling in tubular nanofibers can be predicted based on solvent evaporation and shell instability.