Controlled Morphology and Mechanical Characterisation of Electrospun Cellulose Acetate Fibre Webs

Abstract

The purpose was to interpret the varying morphology of electrospun cellulose acetate (CA) fibres produced from single and binary solvent systems based on solubility parameters to identify processing conditions for the production of defect-free CA fibrous webs by electrospinning. The Hildebrand solubility parameter () and the radius of the sphere in the Hansen space ((−)) of acetone, acetic acid, water, N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), methanol, and chloroform were examined and discussed for the electrospinning of CA. The Hildebrand solubility parameter () of acetone and DMAc were found to be within an appropriate range for the dissolution of CA. The suitability of the binary solvent system of acetone: DMAc (2 : 1) for the continuous electrospinning of defectfree CA fibres was confirmed. Electrospun webs exhibited improved tensile strength and modulus after heat and alkali treatment (deacetylation) of the as-spun material, and no major fibre morphological degradation occurred during the deacetylation process.

Effects of an Acetic Acid and Acetone Mixture on the Characteristics and Scaffold–Cell Interaction of Electrospun Polycaprolactone Membranes

“…On the other hand, the erratic size of PCL-AC fibers could be attributed to the fact that solution clogging occurred at the needle tip, which was not seen for the PCL-7AA/3AC membranes. This was due to a higher evaporation rate of AC compared to AA, relative to the solution feeding rate [15]. The excessive amount of polymer accumulating at the needle tip resulted in the formation of an unstable Taylor cone and thus produced larger fibers in the PCL-AC membrane [8].…”

Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics in isotactic polypropylene/microcrystalline cellulose (II) composites

“…Aqueous (NaOH) solutions at a certain concentration may cause the transformation of native cellulose (I) into cellulose (II).The process of mercerization not only causes a substantial effect on morphological properties of cellulose but also results in changes in crystallinity, accessibility and orientation of cellulose fibers . On the other hand, the hydrophilic microcrystalline cellulose fibers are apt to agglomerate when the solvent evaporates, which is attributed to the polar surfaces of abundant hydroxyl groups, on this occasion, the obtained microcrystalline cellulose (II) slurry and iPP powders as the blocking agent are wet‐mixed uniformly followed by being dried in a vacuum oven, in order to prevent the occurrence of agglomeration during the drying process of MCC (II) by itself.…”

Oils and fats in texture modification

“…Electrospinning is the process of using electrostatic forces to distort a pendant droplet of polymer solution into fine fibers followed by deposition onto a grounded collector (Ghorani et al, 2013). The polymer in liquid phase is extruded from the needle tip at a constant rate by a syringe pump, forming a droplet at the tip.…”