Developing porous fibers by electrocentrifuge spinning system

Abstract

In this study, polysulfone fibers with various surface morphologies were developed using electrocentrifuge spinning system. The effects of a number of parameters, including the solvent system, spinning system angular velocity, and relative humidity, on the fiber morphology were studied using field emission scanning electron microscopy, porosimetry [Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET)], and contact angle test. The results showed that the fibers prepared from the acetone/dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent system had higher micro/nano roughness than those fabricated from the tetrahydrofuran/DMF solvent system, that is to say, the higher the vapor pressure of the solvent, the higher the surface roughness. The acetone/DMF system created fibers that had internal porosity. Also, the relative humidity had a significant effect on providing micro/nano roughness, so that increasing the relative humidity led to an increase in the surface roughness. The increase in the angular velocity caused to stretch the micro/nano patterns and increase the fiber diameter. The results of the BET confirmed the microscopic observations. With the increase in the relative humidity and the use of the acetone/DMF system, porosity, and specific surface area of the fiber increased. X‐ray diffraction analysis was also performed and it was found that the presence of moisture did not affect the crystallinity of the fibers. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47513.