Spinnability and Rheology of PEO Solutions in Water/Acetonitrile Mixtures via Centrifugal Force Spinning

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.