Ultrafine Solid State Polymerized PA66 Nanofibers Fabrication via Air-sealed Centrifuge Electrospinning (ASCES)

This study presents a method for the fabrication of ultrafine polymeric nanofibers utilizing centrifugal and electrostatic forces simultaneously. To reduce the diameter and variability of nanofibers produced from solid state polymerized PA66 (SSP PA66), a unique electro-centrifuge spinning device was designed using rotating nozzle and collector, whereas the fabrication process (spinning head) was skillfully sealed from ambient airflow. An electric field is applied between the nozzle containing the polymer solution and cylindrical collector. Due to centrifugal force, polymer solution is ejected from the nozzle tip and extended by centrifugal force as well as electrical force. The diameters of nanofibers were controlled by adjusting the selected affecting parameters such as solution concentration, rotational speed of spinning head, syringe content as well as applied voltage. With this new technique, nanofibers were electrospun from SSP PA66 solutions. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) results demonstrated that ASCES has the unique ability to produce high quality ultrafine nanofibers from SSP PA66 polymer. Well control of parameters was tended to produce the thinnest fibers with mean diameter of 63 nm.