A Water-Soluble Epoxy-Based Green Crosslinking System for Stabilizing PVA Nanofibers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Green Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Growing demand for environmentally friendly production methods.
• Current reliance on organic solvents for stabilizing water-based nanofibers.
• Need for sustainable crosslinking agents in nanofiber fabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a green approach for fabricating water-resistant polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers.
• To utilize a water-based epoxy compound as an eco-friendly crosslinker.
• To investigate the role of crosslinker dispersion in enhancing nanofiber properties.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers using a water-based epoxy crosslinker (N¹, N⁶-bis(oxiran-2-ylmethyl) hexane-1,6-diamine, EH).
• Development of an EH/sodium carbonate/sodium bicarbonate (CBS) solution system for improved PVA aggregation and EH dispersion.
• Comparative analysis of crosslinking performance between the water-based epoxy and a conventional water-based blocked isocyanate (BI).

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication of water-resistant PVA nanofibers using the green EH crosslinker.
• The EH/CBS system effectively dispersed PVA aggregates and the crosslinker, enhancing solution stability.
• Uniform crosslinker dispersion was identified as crucial for improved spinning solution stability and nanofiber water resistance.

Conclusions:

• A novel, green strategy for stabilizing water-based nanofibers has been established.
• The water-based epoxy crosslinker offers a sustainable alternative to organic solvent-based agents.
• This method provides a pathway for producing stable, water-resistant nanofibers with environmental benefits.