Effect of solution viscosity and needle diameter on fiber diameter of electrospun polycaprolactone.

Date

10-2009

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Emmanuel A Florido

Co-adviser

Juzzel Ian B. Zerrudo

Abstract

The effect of solution viscosity and needle diameter on fiber diameter of electrospun polycaprolactone was investigated. Five different viscosity solutions (1.07P, 1.63P, 2.75P, 4.14P, and 10.46P at about 24°C solution temperature) of pure polycaprolactone (PCL) dissolved in dichloromethane (DCM) were successfully electrospun with varying needle diameter (20G, 23G, and 25G) while other parameters were held constant. A 17 kV high-voltage power supply and a 15 cm tip-to-collector distance were used in the electrospinning process. The feedrate was not optimized due to instrument limitation. The experiment was conducted under room temperature at about 29°C. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis verified the composition of the fibers produced. The peaks observed from the infrared spectra showed bonds consistent with polycaprolactone structure. Nano-sized and micro-sized fibers are present on the samples as confirmed by scanning electron micrographs (SEM). In nano-sized fibers, the mean fiber diameter increases as solution viscosity increases. The mean fiber diameter decreases as needle diameter decreases. For micro-sized fibers, the effect of the two parameters on fiber diameter was not clearly observed. This can be attributed to uneven flow rate during electrospinning.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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