Paper Number
SM25 

Session
Polymers Solutions, Melts and Blends

Title
Spinnability and rheology of PEO solutions in water/acetonitrile mixtures via centrifugal force spinning

Presentation Date and Time
October 11, 2022 (Tuesday) 1:50

Track / Room
Track 2 / Sheraton 3

Authors (Click on name to view author profile)

  1. Slykas, Cheryl (University of Illinois at Chicago)
  2. Merchiers, Jorgo (Hasselt University, Institute for Materials Research)
  3. Martinez, Carina (University of Illinois Chicago, Department of Chemical Engineering)
  4. Edano, Louis (University of Illinois at Chicago)
  5. Hasan, Bader (University of Illinois at Chicago)
  6. Trada, Vihar (University of Illinois at Chicago)
  7. Reddy, Naveen (Hasselt University, Institute for Materials Research)
  8. Sharma, Vivek (University of Illinois Chicago, Department of Chemical Engineering)

Author and Affiliation Lines (in printed abstract book)
Cheryl Slykas1, Jorgo Merchiers2, Carina Martinez1, Louis Edano1, Bader Hasan1, Vihar Trada1, Naveen Reddy2 and Vivek Sharma1
1Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL; 2Institute for Materials Research, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium

Speaker / Presenter 
Slykas, Cheryl

Keywords
flow-induced instabilities; polymer solutions; rheometry techniques

Text of Abstract
Centrifugal force spinning has recently emerged as a highly promising alternative technique for the production of nonwoven, ultrafine fiber mats. Due to its high production rate and ability to utilize a wider range of solvents, it can provide a more technologically relevant fiber spinning technique than electrospinning. In this contribution, we investigate the influence of polymer concentration and solvent properties on the centrifugal spinning process and fiber morphology. We also correlate spinnability to the processing conditions and material properties using shear and extensional rheology carried out using torsional rheometry and dripping-onto-substrate (DoS) rheometry. We eventually find that increasing polymer concentration will allow for continuous fibers to form after a beaded fiber regime. We also find that fiber diameter is concentration-dependent, and that solvent choice and processing conditions affect the fiber morphology and mechanical properties of fiber mats.