Abstract
The reinforcement potential of reactive liquid crystals or reactive mesogens (RMs) in electrospun fibers was investigated through the blending of two types of RMs (RM257 and RM82) with two types of thermoplastics; polyamide 6 (PA6) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Polymer/RM blends were electrospun from solution into nanofibers followed by UV-radiation induced photo-polymerization in order to cross-link the RMs. The phase behaviour of the polymer/RM blends was investigated using optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Mechanical tests of the electrospun nanofibers showed the biggest improvement in mechanical properties for the PA6/RM257 system containing 33 wt% RMs, with a 20% increase in tensile strength and 150% increase in Young's modulus compared to pure PA6 nanofibers. The work potentially provides a new route towards designed nanofibers with oriented microstructures, ultimately leading to a methodology for creating high performance electrospun nanofibers.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 642-651 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | European Polymer Journal |
| Volume | 84 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Nov 2016 |
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Keywords
- Electrospinning
- Liquid crystals
- Mechanical properties
- Nanofibers
- Phase separation
- Reactive mesogens
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Electrospinning of reactive mesogens. / Yao, J.; Picot, O.T.; Hughes-Brittain, N.F.; Bastiaansen, C.W.M.; Peijs, T.
In: European Polymer Journal, Vol. 84, 01.11.2016, p. 642-651.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Electrospinning of reactive mesogens
AU - Yao, J.
AU - Picot, O.T.
AU - Hughes-Brittain, N.F.
AU - Bastiaansen, C.W.M.
AU - Peijs, T.
PY - 2016/11/1
Y1 - 2016/11/1
N2 - The reinforcement potential of reactive liquid crystals or reactive mesogens (RMs) in electrospun fibers was investigated through the blending of two types of RMs (RM257 and RM82) with two types of thermoplastics; polyamide 6 (PA6) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Polymer/RM blends were electrospun from solution into nanofibers followed by UV-radiation induced photo-polymerization in order to cross-link the RMs. The phase behaviour of the polymer/RM blends was investigated using optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Mechanical tests of the electrospun nanofibers showed the biggest improvement in mechanical properties for the PA6/RM257 system containing 33 wt% RMs, with a 20% increase in tensile strength and 150% increase in Young's modulus compared to pure PA6 nanofibers. The work potentially provides a new route towards designed nanofibers with oriented microstructures, ultimately leading to a methodology for creating high performance electrospun nanofibers.
AB - The reinforcement potential of reactive liquid crystals or reactive mesogens (RMs) in electrospun fibers was investigated through the blending of two types of RMs (RM257 and RM82) with two types of thermoplastics; polyamide 6 (PA6) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Polymer/RM blends were electrospun from solution into nanofibers followed by UV-radiation induced photo-polymerization in order to cross-link the RMs. The phase behaviour of the polymer/RM blends was investigated using optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Mechanical tests of the electrospun nanofibers showed the biggest improvement in mechanical properties for the PA6/RM257 system containing 33 wt% RMs, with a 20% increase in tensile strength and 150% increase in Young's modulus compared to pure PA6 nanofibers. The work potentially provides a new route towards designed nanofibers with oriented microstructures, ultimately leading to a methodology for creating high performance electrospun nanofibers.
KW - Electrospinning
KW - Liquid crystals
KW - Mechanical properties
KW - Nanofibers
KW - Phase separation
KW - Reactive mesogens
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84991226649&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2016.08.037
DO - 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2016.08.037
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84991226649
VL - 84
SP - 642
EP - 651
JO - European Polymer Journal
JF - European Polymer Journal
SN - 0014-3057
ER -