Thesis Abstract and Dissertation Abstracts
Shuangwu Li Phd Thesis: Surface Properties Of Electrospun Poymer Nanofibres
Abstract Category: Engineering
Course / Degree: PhD
Institution / University: Queen Mary, University of London, United Kingdom
Published in: 2010
Fibrous materials are used in a variety of applications due to their relatively high surface area to volume ratio as well as anisotropic behaviour. Electrospinning is a popular fabrication technique which produces polymer nanofibres with a potentially high molecular orientation. The surface of polymer fibres plays a significant role in many applications thus measurement of their surface properties is essential but challenging due to their relatively small size. In this thesis, ultrafine nanofibres have been produced by electrospinning with their nanofibre morphology controlled by varying different processing parameters. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) adhesion contact mechanics and individual nanofibre wetting measurements have been conducted to explore surface properties of the produced electrospun polymer fibres. Results using traditional Owens-Wendt plots applied to our nanomaterials show electrospun nanofibres have a higher dispersive surface free energy compared to bulk polymer film but a lower polar contribution, giving a total surface free energy in excess of bulk equivalents. Contact angle measurement and density measurements have carried out to show that how the surface free energy related to the molecular orietation and intermolecular distance.
A novel proposed model indicates that this nanofibre dispersive surface free energy is intimately linked to density of the polymer and ultimately the molecular spacing or orientation for the polymer chains. Comparisons are made with bulk polymer films to show that a high degree of molecular orientation is present at least at the surface of the polymer nanofibre. Structure investigations on electrospun fibres of polyvinyl alcohol using FTIR and XPS surface techniques explore how an increase in hydrogen bonds formed within nanofibres rather than on the fibre surface enhance this dispersive contribution but lowers the polar contribution. The wetting behaviour of electrospun fibre is extended to assemblies at length scales above individual fibres to highlight how superhydrophobic surfaces can be produced from nanofibre networks with defined spacings and geometries. This superhydrophobicity was adequately described by a Cassie-Baxter model modified to account for the fibrous geometry.
Dissertation Keywords/Search Tags:
nanofibre, surface energy, density, PC, film, draw ratio, SPM, Owens-Wendt, XPS, electrospinning, contact angle
This Dissertation Abstract may be cited as follows:
Shuangwu Li, Surface properties of electrospun polymer nanofibres, PhD-Thesis - Queen Mary, University of London, Jan. 2010
Submission Details: Dissertation Abstract submitted by Sophia Li from United Kingdom on 02-Jun-2011 17:56.
Abstract has been viewed 3106 times (since 7 Mar 2010).
Sophia Li Contact Details: Email: lishuangwu86@hotmail.com
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