Functional Cross‐Linked Electrospun Polyvinyl Alcohol Membranes and Their Potential Applications

Abstract

range of applications. [1][2][3] It is a suitable polymer for the novice electrospinning to produce nanofibers as it is inexpensive, nontoxic, and water soluble. However, due to its water solubility, it needs to be stabilized, for example, by cross-linking to enable its practical application in waterbased environments to be realized. There are several studies demonstrating cross-linking of electrospun PVA membranes and their water stabilization. [4][5][6][7][8][9] Three major cross-linking methods have been described in the literature but each of these methods has its own problems in scaling up and cross-linking efficiency.(i) Immersion of electrospun membranes into an organic solvent (ii) Exposure of electrospun membranes to reagent vapor (iii) Addition of a cross-linker/catalyst to electrospinning solutionsThe first approach involving the use of an organic solvent is the simplest approach. Solvents such as Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a water soluble polymer that requires further treatment to be stabilized before it can be used in aqueous environments. Electrospun PVA is cross-linked by incorporating cross-linking agents directly into the electrospinning solution followed by post-electrospinning thermal treatments to attain stability in aqueous environments. Previously published works on post-treatments include glutaraldehyde vapor exposure or soaking in organic solvents such as ethanol. However, these treatments incur lots of difficulties and hazards especially in scale production. In this study, with a view of imminent scale-up production required, fabricating electrospun cross-linked PVA is investigated without using catalysts, toxic vapor exposure, or solvent treatment. To produce cross-linked electrospun PVA membranes, citric acid, maleic acid, and polyacrylic acid are, respectively, added to PVA solution prior to electrospinning. Two potential applications are examined; the first is to use the membranes as produced for metal uptake in aqueous systems. The second application is for ammonia adsorption after decorating the membranes with a metal organic framework, copper benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (HKUST-1).

Preparation of pH-Indicative and Flame-Retardant Nanocomposite Films for Smart Packaging Applications

“…NCFs with 15% loading of nanoclay reached an acceptable swelling level of 52%, which is much lower than those reported for PVA/chitosan/HNTs NCFs crosslinked with gluteraldehyde which exhibited 137% swelling with 5% loading of nanoclay [ 81 ]. Different research groups have reported the preparation of crosslinked PVA films using citric acid with concentrations in the range of 10–50 wt.% [ 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 ]. However, Brick et al reported that PVA films crosslinked with 40 wt.% citric acid, cured at 130 °C for 40 min, showed brittle behavior due to the excessive crosslinking density without any observed plastic deformation [ 85 ].…”

Effects of cellulose nanofibrils on the structure and properties of maleic anhydride crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) electrospun nanofibers

“…The use of a chemical crosslinking agent allows the formation of three-dimensional structure which can prevent the PVA dissolution in water, due to the further decrease in the hydroxyl groups [41]. Among the various crosslinking chemical agents, maleic anhydride (MA) is one of the most effective crosslinking agents to be used for the enhancement of the electrospun PVA stability [42,43]. The objectives of this work were: (1) to produce composite membranes from PVA and CNFs by electrospinning technique; (2) to compare the individual and combined additivation effects of the polymeric matrix with a natural filler (CNFs) and a chemical crosslinking agent (MA) in the solution parameters (viscosity and electrical conductivity);…”

Mesoporous Poly(divinylbenzene) Fibers Based On Crosslinked Nanoparticles

“…It should be pointed out that the formation of crosslinked fibers is demanding, as most electrospinning processes usually require the polymer to be dissolved. Alternative strategies are based on the electrospinning of a linear polymer which is crosslinked during or after the fiber formation process …”

“…Alternative strategies are based on the electrospinning of a linear polymer which is crosslinked during or after the fiber formation process. [31][32][33][34][35][36][37] There are only few reports on the formation of fibers by electrospinning polymeric nanoparticles followed by the removal of the spin polymer. [26,[38][39][40][41][42][43][44] Stoiljkovic et al [26] were the first to produce stable polymer nanoparticle fibers consisting of polystyrene (PS) by electrospinning PS latex particles from an aqueous dispersion.…”