Abstract
The selection of a solvent or a solvent system is a fundamental and a crucial step in spinning fibres using a selected process. Solvent selection determines the critical minimum polymer concentration and the critical minimum chain entanglement which allows the spinning of nanofibres rather than other hybrid morphologies such as beaded structures. Pressurised gyration, which simultaneously combines the use of gas pressure and rotation, is used as the processing and forming route for spinning fibres in this work. This study investigates 23 different solvents and solvent systems spread on a wide area of a Teas graph and able to dissolve the functional polymer polyethylene (terephthalate) (PET) and spin products by the application of pressurised gyration. The results are mapped on a Teas graph to identify the solubility–spinnability region. Based on this solubility–spinnability region, various solvents and binary solvent systems that allow the making of PET fibres are suggested. Scaling laws for the relationship between polymer concentration and specific viscosity are identified. The structural evolution in the fibres prepared is elucidated. For the first time, a mathematical model to scale fibre diameter with respect to flow properties and processing parameters encountered in pressurised gyration has been successfully developed.
Highlights
The rise in demand for nanofibrous structures across a wide range of industries demands innovative manufacturing methods⇑ Corresponding author.with mass production capabilities
Considering these facts, in this work we explored the solvent solubility and suitability to spin nanofibres from a polymer solution subjected to pressurised gyration
The solubility–spinnability map for PET based on solubility parameters for various solvents was developed on a Teas graph and the successful spinnability region of nanofibres produced by pressurised gyration was identified
Summary
The rise in demand for nanofibrous structures across a wide range of industries demands innovative manufacturing methods. It is this issue that has proved to be a major barrier to translational development; scale up using the currently available production techniques is extremely challenging. The current state-of-the-art technologies, (e.g. electrospinning, blowing and centrifugal spinning) cannot produce nanofibrous structures consistently, reliably, robustly and cost effectively [1].
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