Abstract
Melt-electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers were fabricated by using NaCl as an additive. The size and morphology of the PCL fibers could be controlled by varying the concentration of the additive. The smallest size of the fibers (2.67 ± 0.57) µm was found in the sample with 8 wt% NaCl, which was an order of magnitude smaller than the PCL fibers without the additive. The melt-electrospun fibers were characterized using the differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. Interestingly, a trace of NaCl was not found in any melt-electrospun fiber. The remaining PCL after melt-electrospinning was evaporated by annealing, and the NaCl residual was found in the glass syringe. The result confirmed that the NaCl additive was not ejected from the glass syringe in the melt-electrospinning process. Instead, the NaCl additive changed the viscosity and the polarization of the molten polymer. Two parameters are crucial in determining the size and morphology of the electrospun fibers. The higher NaCl concentration could lead to higher polarization of the polymer melt and thus a stronger electrostatic force, but it could also result in an exceedingly high viscosity for melt-electrospinning. In addition, the absence of NaCl in the melt-electrospun PCL fibers is advantageous. The fibers need not be cleaned to remove additives and can be directly exploited in applications, such as tissue engineering or wound dressing.
Highlights
Micro/nano fibers possess several amazing properties, such as a high surface-to-volume ratio, high porosity, and flexibility [1]
The surface morphologies of the melt-electrospun PCL fibers are shown in Figure 2, along with histograms for the fiber size and distribution
The continuous fibers with a smooth surface were found in the melt-electrospun PCL fibers without the additive, but a relatively large fiber (22.95 ± 9.10 μm) size was observed
Summary
Micro/nano fibers possess several amazing properties, such as a high surface-to-volume ratio, high porosity, and flexibility [1]. Electrospinning is one of the techniques for fabricating micro/nano fibers via electrostatic force. This process can be divided into two sub-techniques: solution-electrospinning and melt-electrospinning [2]. The major challenges of solution-electrospinning are the potential environmental pollution from the solvent accumulation and the residual solvent in the fibers [5]. These drawbacks are the main obstacles for the mass production or utilization of such fibers in biomedical applications. Melt-electrospinning is an eco-friendly process that can fabricate non-toxic fibers from molten polymers
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
