Electrospinning and stabilization of fully hydrolyzed poly(vinyl alcohol) fibers
Abstract
Fully (99+ %) hydrolyzed poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was electrospun from water using Triton X-100 surfactant to lower the surface tension. The diameter of the electrospun PVA fibers ranged from 100 to 700 nm. Treatment of the PVA fiber mats with methanol for 8 h stabilized the fibers against disintegration in contact with water. In addition, the mats showed increased mechanical strength due to increased crystallinity following post-spinning treatment with methanol. We suggest that methanol treatment serves to increase the degree of crystallinity, and hence the number of physical cross-links in the electrospun PVA fibers. This may occur by removal of residual water within the fibers by the alcohol, allowing PVA - water hydrogen bonding to be replaced by intermolecular polymer hydrogen bonding resulting in additional crystallization. Potential applications of electrospun PVA include filters, precursors to graphitic fibers, and biomedical materials.
Publication Title
Chemistry of Materials
Recommended Citation
Yao, L., Haas, T., Guiseppi-Elie, A., Bowlin, G., Simpson, D., & Wnek, G. (2003). Electrospinning and stabilization of fully hydrolyzed poly(vinyl alcohol) fibers. Chemistry of Materials, 15 (9), 1860-1864. https://doi.org/10.1021/cm0210795
