Sustainable nanofiber yarns

Divya Sree Kamireddi

doi:10.17918/00010869

This dissertation focuses on the development, optimization, and characterization of nanofiber yarns composed of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHx), a biodegradable biopolymer, fabricated using a conjugated electrospinning technique. The research explores various processing parameters, including solvent compositions, needle distance, and winder-to-funnel height and needle angle, to understand how these parameters affect nanoyarn diameter, nanofiber diameter, and yarn morphology. Applications of PHBHx are limited due to the polymer's high crystallinity which leads to brittle mechanical properties. To overcome these challenges, PHBHx is blended with polymers such as polycaprolactone (PCL), a semi-crystalline material that has demonstrated high ductility in its bulk form, greater than 1000 elongation at break. This dissertation investigates the incorporation of PCL into PHBHx nanoyarn using two methods: Method 1, where both syringes contained a solution blend of PHBHx and PCL, and Method 2, where one syringe contained PHBHx and the other contained PCL. By manipulating these variables, this study optimized nanoyarn properties for potential biomedical and textile applications. A comparative analysis of nanoyarns fabricated with different PCL ratios showed that a 5:5 solution blend demonstrated the highest tensile strength and elastic modulus while maintaining low porosity. This blend ratio yielded nanoyarns with improved mechanical properties possibly due to the molecular interactions between PHBHx and PCL, as well as a compact structure with minimal pore volume. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Nano-CT techniques were used to assess the chemical, structural, and internal morphology of the nanoyarns. This work contributes to the field of nanoyarn production by demonstrating how electrospinning parameters and material compositions can be optimized to produce continuous nanoyarns with desirable mechanical and structural properties. These findings have implications for the future development of sustainable nanofiber-based materials in medical and industrial applications.

Sustainable nanofiber yarns

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Sustainable nanofiber yarns

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