Effect of solvents on the morphology of electrospun atactic polystyrene

• Published in: Polymers & polymer composites 2006-01, Vol.14 (8), p.755-765
• Main Authors: Shin, Dong Soo, Lee, Se Geun, Lyoo, Won Seok
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Fibers and threads; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymers; Solvents; Technology of polymers; Viscosity
• ISSN: 0967-3911; 1478-2391
• DOI: 10.1177/096739110601400801

Samples of Atactic polystyrene (a-PS) were dissolved in tetrahydrofuran, N, N-dimethylformamide and chloroform with tetrahydrofuran and N, N-dimethylformamide as co-solvents and eclectrospun to identify precisely the effect of solvent properties like viscosity and boiling point on the morphologies of the ectrospun polymers. The forms of bean, bead-to-fiber, and fiber were prepared and their stable formation conditions were established through a series of electrospinning experiments under various processing conditions. At low concentrations of a-PS solution in tetrahydrofuran and chloroform, half hollow spheres and collapsed spheres were obtained whereas "apple" type spheres, resembling apples, were obtained in N, N-dimethylformamide. In contrast, web composed of uniform microfibers were prepared at higher concentrations. These results were attributed mostly to differences in evaporation rates and in the viscosities of the solvent and the solutions. In conclusion, it is possible to obtain a-PS webs having various fine morphologies by controlling the processing parameters during electrospinning. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]