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Nanoribbons fabricated by melt electrospinning

Polymer Journal volume 53, pages 493–503 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

This study focuses on using the multilayer melt electrospinning of polymers in combination with a delamination step to obtain nonwoven webs of ribbon-shaped flat fibers that are ~150 to 200 nm thick. A novel coextrusion system with layer multipliers is used to melt electrospin bicomponent cylindrical microfibers with diameters in the range of ~15–25 μm that have up to 257 alternating layers within each fiber prior to delamination. The diameter of the cylindrical fibers is dependent on the temperature, the flow rate of the polymers, and the die tip-to-collector distance. The fabricated bicomponent layered microfibers are subsequently delaminated using sonication or solvent rinsing to obtain flat nanoribbons whose thicknesses vary from 150 to 200 nm. After delamination, some of the flat nanoribbons are found to roll into cylindrical fibers with diameters ranging from 150 to 250 nm. This bicomponent approach uses a continuous melt extrusion process that can support higher throughputs compared to traditional solution electrospinning and can lead to the fabrication of high surface area nonwoven webs after proper delamination treatments.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by funding from the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS) at Virginia Tech. We are grateful for the support of Dr. R. Mahajan (ICTAS), 3 M Company, St. Paul, MN, and Westlake Chemical Corporation, TX for providing us with materials, Michael Vaught of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech for assistance in the machine shop. AD would like to acknowledge funding from the Adhesives and Sealants graduate research assistantship from the Macromolecules Innovation Institute (MII) at Virginia Tech. EGJ would like to acknowledge support from 3 M Company, St. Paul, MN. We would also like to acknowledge the valuable comments provided by the late Dr. G.L. Wilkes of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Virginia Tech.

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Author notes

  1. Naresh Budhavaram

    Present address: Lilly Technology Center-North Campus, 1223 West Morris St, Indianapolis, IN, 46221, USA

  2. Wade DePolo

    Present address: Reva Medical, 5751 Copley Drive, San Diego, CA, 92111, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Eugene G. Joseph, Naresh Budhavaram & Wade DePolo

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Eugene G. Joseph & Arit Das

  3. Macromolecules Innovation Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Arit Das

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  1. Eugene G. Joseph
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  2. Naresh Budhavaram
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Correspondence to Eugene G. Joseph.

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Joseph, E.G., Budhavaram, N., DePolo, W. et al. Nanoribbons fabricated by melt electrospinning. Polym J 53, 493–503 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-020-00446-y

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