ABSTRACT:The solubility parameters of polylactide (PLA), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and various disperse dyes calculated according to the group contribution method were used to explain the low sorption of some disperse dyes on PLA but the high sorption of the same dyes on PET. It was found that the dyes with high sorption on PLA tended to have solubility parameters near that of PLA, which has a lower solubility parameter than that of PET. It was also found that the solubility parameter, which was calculated based on cohesive energy and molar volume at 25°C, was more appropriate for explaining dyeings at lower temperature, 100 and 110°C, than those at higher temperature, 130°C. Based on the finding that dyes with solubility parameters near that of PLA tend to have high sorption on PLA, general structures for disperse dye that may have high sorption on PLA were proposed.
BACKGROUND: Some of the problems with electrospun zein fiber are that it has very low tenacities in the dry and wet states and that mats of the fiber become films when immersed in water. The fibers are therefore unusable for various applications despite their good biocompatibility and biodegradability. This research was conducted to overcome these problems by electrospinning novel fibers containing various concentrations of zein, citric acid (CA) and sodium hypophosphite monohydrate (SHP) and by crosslinking the zein with CA and with SHP serving as a catalyst.
RESULTS:The CA-crosslinked electrospun zein fiber has as much as 10-fold greater wet tenacity and 15-fold greater dry tenacity than regular electrospun zein fiber. The average diameter of these fibers is 451 nm, which is the smallest diameter ever reported for zein-based electrospun fiber. A mat of this fiber retains its fibrous structure when immersed in water, and the fiber retains about 70% of its tenacity after 16 days at 50 • C and 90% relative humidity.
CONCLUSION:The high dry and wet tenacities, good water stability and small diameter of the novel CAcrosslinked electrospun zein fiber make it attractive for biomedical and other applications that expose zein to water or that require high surface area.
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