A study of rheological limitations in rotary jet spinning of polymer nanofibers through modeling and experimentation

Journal article (2020)

Authors

James J. Rogalski Queen Mary University of London
L. Botto Energy Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering , Queen Mary University of London
Cees W.M. Bastiaansen Eindhoven University of Technology, Queen Mary University of London
Ton Peijs University of Warwick
Research Group
Energy Technology (Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2020 James J. Rogalski, L. Botto, Cees W.M. Bastiaansen, Ton Peijs
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/app.48963
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Published Date

2020

Language

English

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Faculty

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Department

Process and Energy

Research Group

Energy Technology

Abstract

The recently popularized method of rotary jet spinning (RJS) or centrifugal spinning is investigated to evaluate the rheological limitations of polymer solutions and melts to optimal spinnability. The influence of Newtonian or non-Newtonian behavior of the polymer on spinnability is discussed. We observe that highly viscous polymers tend to block the die channels within a rotary jet spinneret and therefore suggest the use of relatively low Newtonian viscosities of between 1 and 10 Pa s for optimal fiber production. Computational fluid dynamics simulations are used in conjunction with experimental data to establish important processing parameters, such as typical shear rates in the device and optimal polymer melt or solution viscosities. A theoretical model for RJS is compared to measured fiber diameters. The comparison shows that although fiber diameters can be estimated very roughly in the case of polymer solutions, the prediction of fiber diameter in the case of polymer melts require further modeling work.

Files

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- Embargo expired in 17-07-2020