Effect of Polymer Concentration, Rotational Speed, and Solvent Mixture on Fiber Formation Using Forcespinning®

Abstract

Polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers were produced using Forcespinning ® (FS). The effects of PCL concentration, solvent mixture, and the spinneret rotational speed on fiber formation were evaluated. The concentration of the polymer in the solvents was a critical determinant of the solution viscosity. Lower PCL concentrations resulted in low solution viscosities with a correspondingly low fiber production rate with many beads. Bead-free fibers with high production rate and uniform fiber diameter distribution were obtained from the optimum PCL concentration (i.e., 12.5 wt%) with tetrahydrofuran (THF) as the solvent. The addition of N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) to the THF solvent promoted the gradual formation of beads, split fibers, and generally affected the distribution of fiber diameters. The crystallinity of PCL fibers was also affected by the processing conditions, spinning speed, and solvent mixture.

Fabrication and characterization of centrifugally spun poly(acrylic acid) nanofibers

“…The 12 wt % PAA concentration was found to be optimal displaying the lowest amount of beaded fibers unlike the SEM image shown in Figure (c) for a 9 wt % PAA concentration where a significant amount of beads were formed after CF. As expected, lower polymer concentrations produced a smaller average fiber diameter as shown in Figure . The figure shows the average fiber diameter as a function of PAA concentration.…”

“…As expected, lower polymer concentrations produced a smaller average fiber diameter as shown in Figure 3. 21 The figure shows the average fiber diameter as a function of PAA concentration. The PAA nanofibers were centrifugally spun at a spinneret rotational speed of 6000 rpm.…”

“…This method permits the use of a larger number of polymers and composites solutions with higher concentrations to be utilized with a reduced production cost due to the use of less solvent, fast fiber production rate (1 g min −1 ) because there is no need to apply an electric field to stretch the fibers . Many polymer nanofibers such as: poly(ethylene oxide), polypropylene, polyvinylpyrrolidone, poly‐ l ‐lactic acid, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and PAN nanocomposites, poly(ε‐caprolactone), cellulose acetate, and poly(ethylene terephthalate) have been successfully produced by CFs for use in different applications such as energy storage, filtration, and tissue scaffolding. Polymer nanofibers have also been used for antimicrobial applications.…”

Fabrication and photochromic properties of Forcespinning® fibers based on spiropyran-doped poly(methyl methacrylate)

“…These factors are in agreement with published reports. [19][20][21][22] The morphology of the bers is evidently most strongly affected by the concentration of the polymer solution.…”

Developments in Pressurized Gyration for the Mass Production of Polymeric Fibers

“…Nozzle‐free methods of fiber production have been developed through centrifugal spinning, a voltage‐free technique that relies on centrifugal force to produce fine fibers which, like electrospinning, has a wide variety of applications—from energy storage to tissue engineering . Forcespinning, a type of centrifugal spinning, can produce nanoscale fibers through careful design of geometry and morphology of spinnerets .…”