Recent advances in core/shell bicomponent fibers and nanofibers: A review

Abstract

There has been a steady progress in developing synthetic fibers in the past few years. Bicomponent fibers and nanofibers in a core/shell (C/S) configuration, including two dissimilar materials have presented unusual potential for use in many novel applications. These fibers can be produced using a variety of materials via different techniques i.e., coaxial melt spinning and electrospinning. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in C/S fibers and nanofibers' production. The first part has been assigned to the bicomponent fibers manufacturing technology, while production and applications of C/S nanofibers have been described in the second part.

Electrospun nanofiber interleaving in fiber reinforced composites—Recent trends

“…As the properties of these electrospun nanofiber reinforced composites can be affected by several factors such as fiber diameter, aspect ratio, alignment, amount, interfacial interactions, etc, interleaving them to fabricate composites has proven superior in improving impact resistance, delamination resistance, fatigue properties, flexure strength, damping characteristics, and even in creating self‐healing characteristics and so on . Bicomponent fibers and nanofibers in a core/shell (C/S) configuration, including two dissimilar materials, have presented unusual potential for use in many novel applications . Although these have a greater impact on the properties in which they are used, there also exist some barriers.…”

“…11 Bicomponent fibers and nanofibers in a core/shell (C/S) configuration, including two dissimilar materials, have presented unusual potential for use in many novel applications. 19 Although these have a greater impact on the properties in which they are used, there also exist some barriers. There has been no clear understanding of the interfacial interactions occurring during fabrication, and it remains an unexplored part.…”

Electrospun Poly(ε‐Caprolactone)/Silk Fibroin Coaxial Core‐Sheath Nanofibers Applied to Scaffolds and Drug Carriers

“…Sensini et al developed two NF scaffolds of PLA/collagen used for tendon reconstruction, which had a structure mimicking that of natural tendon and simultaneously provided adequate mechanical strength and stiffness . Among these composites, the coaxial NFs with core‐sheath structure are the most promising candidates for fabricating drug carriers and scaffolds in tissue engineering . It was reported that biochemical factors were able to be encapsulated into the inner core region while the outer polymeric shell can act as a barrier to provide a drug diffusion route for sustained release .…”

Controlling the Aspect Ratio of Supramolecular Fibers by Ultrasonication

“…In materials science, controlling the fiber diameter and length and as such the aspect ratio is of fundamental importance. Accordingly, polymer nanofibers with fiber diameters below 100 nm are a topic of high interest, because they feature several appealing characteristics compared to microfibers including a significantly larger surface‐to‐volume ratio and superior mechanical properties such as stiffness and tensile strength . These properties render polymer nanofibers as interesting candidates to be used as material in, for example, air and water filtration and biomedical applications including tissue engineering and drug delivery as well as composite reinforcement, polymer melt modifiers, and polymer foam nucleation agents .…”

“…Accordingly, polymer nanofibers with fiber diameters below 100 nm are a topic of high interest, because they feature several appealing characteristics compared to microfibers including a significantly larger surface‐to‐volume ratio and superior mechanical properties such as stiffness and tensile strength . These properties render polymer nanofibers as interesting candidates to be used as material in, for example, air and water filtration and biomedical applications including tissue engineering and drug delivery as well as composite reinforcement, polymer melt modifiers, and polymer foam nucleation agents . Typically, polymer micro and nanofibers with defined fiber diameters are fabricated by top‐down processes from melt or solution through nozzles such as melt blowing, centrifugal spinning, and electrospinning .…”