Preparation of core-shell and hollow fibers using layer by layer (LbL) self-assembly of polyelectrolytes on electrospun submicrometer-scale silica fibers

Herein, fabrication of hollow fibers made of polyelectrolyte multilayers is reported. Silica submicrometer-scale fibers were fabricated by electrospinning and layer by layer deposition of polyelectrolytes were performed to coat silica fibers with polyelectrolyte multilayers, which were prepared by consecutive deposition of poly(ethyleneimine) and poly(styrene sulfonate sodium salt)/sodium dodecyl sulfate onto the surface of the silica fibers. In order to obtain hollow fibers, the core removal was carried out by introducing the core-shell fibers to a hydrofluoric acid solution. The hollow fibers were stable in hydrofluoric acid solution and displayed pH-dependent structural changes. SEM microscopy indicated the formation of the glass fibers and the fibers coated with polyelectrolyte multilayers (Silica—polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEM) fibers). The diameter of the core-shell fibers was increased after layer-by-layer coating. ATR-FTIR was performed for characterization of the glass fibers before and after layer-by-layer coating as well as after selective core removal. IR spectrum of the Silica-PEM fibers indicates C-H stretching modes of saturated hydrocarbons, confirming multilayers formation. Core removal was also confirmed by IR spectroscopy as Si-O-Si band disappears for the IR spectrum of the fibers after core-removal.     

Degradation behaviors of electrospun fibrous composites of hydroxyapatite and chemically modified poly(dl-lactide)

It is essential to individually tailor the biodegradability of electrospun fibers and their composites to meet the requirements of specific application. Electrospun poly(dl-lactide) (PDLLA) fibers grafted with functional groups were obtained to induce in situ mineralization of hydroxyapatite (HA), and HA/PDLLA composites were fabricated through hot-pressing of mineralized fibers after layer-by-layer deposition. The degradation behaviors during up to 1 year incubation were clarified for functionalized PDLLA fibers, mineralized HA/PDLLA fibers and hot-pressed composites. The carboxyl and amino groups of electrospun fibers indicated enhancement and alleviation of the autocatalysis effect on the polyester hydrolysis, respectively. The distribution of HA within fiber matrices led quick and strong water absorption, and caused neutralization of the weak acid environment and alleviation of the autocatalysis effect. Due to the location of mineralized HA on the surface of functionalized fibers, significant HA loss and preferential removal of amorphous and low-crystalline apatitic phase were determined during the degradation process. The hot-pressed composites indicated dense structure, small pore size and fusion on the fiber surface, leading significantly lower degradation rate than electrospun fibers and mineralized fibers. Higher degradation rate of matrix polymers and HA loss were shown for hot-pressed composites from mineralized fibers than those from blend electrospun HA/PDLLA fibers. The obtained results should provide solid basis for further applications of functionalized PDLLA fibers, mineralized fibers and fibrous composites in biomedical areas.     

Synthesis of TiC-C fiber from titanium isopropoxide treated phenolic resin fiber

Precursor fibers for titanium carbide-carbon fibers were synthesized by reacting phenolic resin fibers with titanium isopropoxide (TIP). In this system, titanium oxide gel coated fiber was prepared by hydrolyzing TIP infiltrated resin fiber. The precursor fibers obtained after the hydrolysis were converted into titanium oxide-carbon fibers (TiO₂-C fibers) by pyrolysis at 1273 K. The TiO₂-C fibers were converted into titanium carbide-carbon fibers (TiC-C fibers) by heat treatment at 1373–1973 K. The mechanisms of the conversion from TiO₂-C fibers to TiC-C fibers were characterized by TGA.     

The effect of water immersion on the thermal degradation of cotton fibers

The decomposition behavior of cotton fibers is examined using thermogravimetric analysis. The effect of the test parameters on the thermal degradation of raw cotton fibers is determined. Focus is given to the influence of water immersion on the thermal behavior of cotton fibers. For less mature fibers a clear difference is noted between the degradation profiles of the water-immersed and untreated samples. On the contrary, only a small change is noted on the degradation profile for more mature fibers after water immersion. The maturity and variations in water-soluble content of the fiber are found to be important factors influencing the thermal behavior of raw cotton fibers. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) is used to underpin the effect of water immersion on cotton fibers. This improved understanding for the role of maturity and water soluble constituents in thermal degradation of cotton fibers may lead to develop routes that improve thermal stability and smoldering characteristics of cotton fibers as relevant for future applications.     

酚醛基电纺纤维的制备和分散形态研究

用电纺技术制备了酚醛纤维及碳纤维.用合成的甲阶酚醛(A-stage resol)和聚乙烯醇(PVA)在不同配比下进行电纺,然后经150℃固化处理1h,制得酚醛(PF)纤维.将PF和PVA质量比为1∶2的酚醛纤维在不同的温度下进行热处理,得到的纤维直径均小于200nm.用场发射扫描电镜(FESEM)观察并比较了纤维的直径和分散形态.用红外光谱(IR)证实了,在600℃下热处理后的酚醛纤维为碳纤维,分散形态最为理想.     

Dynamic moisture sorption behavior of cotton fibers with natural brown pigments

The moisture sorption behavior of white and naturally colored cotton fibers is studied by dynamic vapor sorption. Dark brown and brown fibers show a higher sorption capacity compared to beige and white fibers. The differences in sorption capacity are found to be related to the maturity and crystallinity index of the fibers. All fibers exhibited sorption hysteresis to varying degrees throughout the full relative humidity range. The variations in hysteresis behavior are mainly attributed to the differences in crystallinity index of the fibers. In addition the monolayer and polylayer moisture content is analyzed using the Hailwood Horrobin model. Monolayer sorption is most closely related to the crystallinity index and, to a lower extent, maturity of the fibers. For beige and white fibers monolayer sorption remains almost constant, whereas for darker fibers it shows a substantial increase with increasing color difference. In contrast, polylayer sorption shows a general increasing trend over the whole studied color spectrum. Also a noticeable relationship was found between the total hysteresis and the monolayer sorption. Yet such relation was less evident for polylayer sorption. This study contributes to the better understanding of the dynamic moisture sorption behavior of white and naturally colored cotton fibers. This improved understanding is important for optimal application of naturally colored cotton fibers in novel materials.     

Electroactive electrospun polyaniline/poly[(L-lactide)-co-(ε-caprolactone)] fibers for control of neural cell function

Blends of PAni and PLCL are electrospun to prepare uniform fibers for the development of electrically conductive, engineered nerve grafts. PC12 cell viability is significantly higher on RPACL fibers than on PLCL-only fibers, and the electrical conductivity of the fibers affects the differentiation of PC12 cells; the number of cells positively-stained and their expression level are significantly higher on RPACL fibers. PC12 cell bodies display an oriented morphology with outgrowing neurites. On RPACL fibers, the expression level of paxillin, cdc-42, and rac is positively affected and proteins including RhoA and ERK exist as more activated state. These results suggest that electroactive fibers may hold promise as a guidance scaffold for neuronal tissue engineering.     

Facile extraction,processing and characterization of biorenewable sisal fibers for multifunctional applications

Synthetic fibers based materials have replaced most of the traditional metallic/ceramic materials for a number of applications owing to their enormous properties such as light weight, specific strength and modulus to name a few. Unfortunately, the traditional synthetic fibers are not desired from the health and environmental point of view. So, in this work, we have carried out the isolation, processing and characterization of cellulosic sisal fibers. These fibers were extracted for the first time by a simple and new unique mechanical extraction technique without affecting the quality of fibers. Subsequently these cellulosic sisal fibers were thoroughly characterized for their physicochemical, microstructure and mechanical properties. These fibers were then converted into fine textured sisal textile yarn made out of 3–6 sisal fibers in continuous operation and used for the preparation of new green materials. Different properties of fine textured sisal textile and the impact of sisal fine textile on the physical, microstructural, thermal and mechanical characteristics of the green materials were studied and discussed in detail.     

An evoluted bio-based 2,5-furandicarboxylate copolyester fiber from poly(ethylene terephthalate)

A series of bio-based poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEFT) fibers was prepared via the industrially feasible melt-spinning and hot-drawing process. The effect of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) content on the fibers properties was studied using differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, sound velocity, tensile, and boiling water shrinkage tests. It was found that the PEFT fibers showed comparable or superior tenacity to the PET fibers under the same conditions, especially the PEFT-4 fibers exhibited the highest tenacity (2.3, 2.9 cN/dtex for the drawn PET and PEFT-4 fibers prepared at the same take-up speed of 2500 m/min and a fixed draw ratio of 1.6). Moreover, the boiling water shrinkage of the PEFT fibers was quite close to that of the PET fibers under the same conditions, showing that the PEFT fibers were comparable to the PET fibers in heat resistance. The results indicated that the bio-based PEFT fibers would be a feasible alternative for the PET fibers, in terms of sustainability, processability, and mechanical properties. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 58, 320–329     

Working principle and application of photocatalytic optical fibers for the degradation and conversion of gaseous pollutants

Photocatalytic optical fibers are promising for the degradation of gaseous and volatile pollutants in air due to their high specific surface area, high light utilization efficiency, easy regeneration, and sustainability. In particular, photocatalytic optical fibers have proven highly useful for the removal and conversion of different kinds of air pollutants in air. However, these fibers suffer from low photocatalytic degradation efficiencies. In this review, we have focused on introducing photocatalytic quartz optical fibers and photocatalytic plastic optical fibers for the degradation and transformation of gas-phase air pollutants. The principle of photocatalytic optical fibers and main methods for improving their photocatalytic and light utilization efficiencies based on semiconductor photocatalytic coatings are summarized. Moreover, the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic rate equation was summarized to analyze the photocatalytic reduction of gaseous pollutants. Finally, an outlook on the future of photocatalytic optical fibers toward the removal and conversion of gaseous air pollutants is discussed.     

Sisal chemically modified with lignins: Correlation between fibers and phenolic composites properties

Sisal fibers have been chemically modified by reaction with lignins, extracted from sugarcane bagasse and Pinus-type wood and then hydroxymethylated, to increase adhesion in resol-type phenolic thermoset matrices. Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) results showed that acidic sites predominate for unmodified/modified sisal fibers and for phenolic thermoset, indicating that the phenolic matrix has properties that favor the interaction with sisal fibers. The IGC results also showed that the phenolic thermoset has a dispersive component closer to those of the modified fibers suggesting that thermoset interactions with the less polar modified fibers are favored. Surface SEM images of the modified fibers showed that the fiber bundle deaggregation increased after the treatment, making the interfibrillar structure less dense in comparison with that of unmodified fibers, which increased the contact area and encouraged microbial biodegradation in simulated soil. Water diffusion was observed to be faster for composites reinforced with modified fibers, since the phenolic resin penetrated better into modified fibers, thereby blocking water passage through their channels. Overall, composites' properties showed that modified fibers promote a significant reduction in the hydrophilic character, and consequently of the reinforced composite without a major effect on impact strength and with increased storage modulus.     

Electrochemical Properties of Different Carbon‐Fiber Microelectrodes Using Fast‐Scan Cyclic Voltammetry

In this study, fast‐scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) was used to compare responses to neurochemicals of various carbon fibers, with different conductivities and carbon precursors. Pitch‐based P‐25 and P‐55 fibers were compared to polyacrylonitrile‐based T‐650 and HM fibers. Highly conductive fibers such as P‐55s or HMs have larger background charging currents than lower conductivity fibers. Using a standard waveform, PAN‐based fibers and less conductive fibers experience faster kinetics. With a more positive switching potential, higher conductivity fibers show faster kinetics for catecholamines and larger oxidation peak currents for anions such as ascorbic acid and 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC). Conductivity was found to have the greatest impact on fiber performance, but the nature of its effect depends on the waveform used and the analyte detected.     

Highly porous solid-phase microextraction fiber coating based on poly(ethylene glycol)-modified ormosils synthesized by sol-gel technology

The preparation and characteristics of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibers coated with Carbowax 20M ormosil (organically modified silica) are described here. Raw fused silica fibers were coated with Carbowax 20M-modified silica using sol-gel process. Scanning electron micrographs of fibers revealed a highly porous, sponge-like coating with an average thickness of (8 +/- 1) microm. The sol-gel Carbowax fibers were compared to commercial fibers coated with 100 microm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and 65 microm Carbowax-divinylbenzene (DVB). Shorter equilibrium times were possible with the sol-gel Carbowax fiber: for headspace extraction of the test analytes, they ranged from less than 3 min for benzene to 15 min for o-xylene. Extraction efficiencies of the sol-gel Carbowax fiber were superior to those of conventional fibers: for o-xylene, the extracted masses were 230 and 540% of that obtained with 100 microm PDMS and 65 microm Carbowax-DVB fibers, respectively.     

Microscopic Evaluation of Acid-Etched Optical Fibers

Abstract

Optical and scanning electron microscopy were used to examine the changes in the surface morphology of optical fibers as a result of acid etching. The resulting surface modifications are modeled and the resulting structures are considered as alternatives to conventional fibers for chemical sensor development. Hydrofluoric acid (HF) etching has been performed on the tips of flat-end graded index fibers, and spherical-end graded and step index fibers. The acid treatment caused the formation of a cone-shaped hollow in the center of graded index fiber tips. This structure provides a surface area enhancement of up to 5.3-fold over untreated fibers. In addition, this cone-shaped cavity provides a sub-nanoliter reservoir in which reagent can be held at the sensing tip of the fiber. Spherical-end fibers provide surface area increases of up to 35-fold compared to flat-end fibers. With spherical-end step index fibers, HF etches the cladding, but not the core, thereby providing an even greater surface area for reagent immobilization. The potential utility of these acid etched fibers for the development of fiber-optic chemical sensors (FOCS) is discussed.     

聚碳硅烷纤维的热交联研究

在无氧的情况下对PCS纤维进行热交联时 ,发现在热交联前纤维必须有一个最低的预氧化程度 ,然后通过PCS纤维自身热交联实现预氧化 ,这样可降低纤维 1 3的氧含量 ,制备性能优良的SiC纤维 .研究了低预氧化PCS纤维热交联反应的机理 ,并对引入氧在热交联中所起的作用进行了分析 .研究结果表明 ,PCS纤维能够进行热交联处理所需的最低预氧化程度为纤维氧增重 9% ;热交联的过程主要是消耗了PCS中的SiH键 ,生成SiCH2 Si键 ,形成分子间交联 ;引入的少量氧预氧化时生成SiOH键 ,热交联中发生脱水反应生成SiOSi键 ,在纤维表层形成保护层 ,保证了纤维的热交联顺利进行     

Sol–gel synthesis of porous titania fibers by electro-spinning for water purification

In this study, porous ceramic fibers were prepared by the sol–gel-assisted electro-spinning process using colloidal dispersion of complex fluids for the application of phtotocatalysts. First, polystyrene nanospheres were synthesized by dispersion polymerization as sacrificial templates for porous fibers. Then, the mixture of polyvinylpyrrolidone and the ceramic precursor with the polymeric nanospheres was prepared as the spinning solution and self-organized by electro-spinning, followed by calcination of the electrospun composite fibers. The morphologies of the porous fibers could be controlled according to the size of the templates and the amount of the ceramic precursor. The nano-structure of the pores in the fibrous materials could also be adjusted as open or closed cavities with various potential applications. As a demonstrative application, the macroporous titania fibers could be utilized as photocatalysts for the removal of organic dyes dissolved in water. A better photocatalytic activity of the macroporous fibers with 700-nm pore diameter was observed compared to the result of nonporous titania fibers due to the increased porosity. Collectively, the macroporous ceramic fibers were found to be efficient functional materials to prepare the unique nano-structured materials other than simple nonporous fibers.     

Effect of γ-ray radiation on the polyacrylonitrile based carbon fibers

To investigate the effect of γ-ray radiation on the microstructural and mechanical properties of carbon fibers, carbon fibers were irradiated by ⁶⁰Co source. The interlayer spacing d₀₀₂ of carbon fibers decreased after irradiation. The Young’s modulus and density of the fibers increased with increasing dose. The tensile strength of fibers was found to increase at low dose and decrease at high dose. Additionally, Compton scattering effect caused by γ-ray is proposed to be responsible for the structural and mechanical changes of fibers. The results indicated that γ-ray irradiation was an effective method for improving the mechanical properties and graphitization degree of polyacrylonitrile based carbon fibers.     

Birefringence,compliance, and viscoelasticity of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers

The experimental relation between birefringence and dynamic compliance has been determined for a wide range of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers. This relation is explained by two complementary versions of the series aggregate model. The classical series aggregate model provides a satisfactory interpretation of the data for the low-oriented fibers. A model developed earlier for aramid fibers explains the data for the well-oriented fibers. By monitoring the dynamic compliance during creep and stress relaxation of well-oriented fibers it is shown that these phenomena are caused by shear relaxation, resulting in a progressive contraction of the chain orientation distribution.     

Effects of diameter and surface area of electrospun nanocomposite fibers on electromagnetic interference shielding

The effects of variation in average diameter and surface area of nanocomposite fibers on electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) fibers were investigated in this paper. The EMI shielding effectiveness of electrospun nanocomposite fibers were measured in the X-band frequency range 8.2–12.4 GHz. The electrical conductivity and EMI shielding behaviors of the nanocomposite fibers were reported as function of average diameter and surface area of MWCNTs/PVP nanocomposite fibers. The electrical conductivity measurements demonstrate using thinner nanocomposite fibers results in a lower limit of electrical resistivity, better electrical conductivity performance. The EMI shielding efficiency of thinner nanocomposite fibers increased up to 42 dB. The EMI shielding data for MWCNTs/PVP nanocomposite fibers with various average diameter and surface area showed that absorption was the major shielding mechanism and reflection was the secondary shielding mechanism. It can be related to higher specific surface area of thinner electrospun MWCNTs/PVP nanocomposite fibers that means more surface area for radiative scatter and absorption leading to higher EMI shielding performance.     

Grafting of wheat straw fibers with poly (ε‐caprolactone) via ring‐opening polymerization for poly(lactic acid) reinforcement

The use of natural materials has grown in the last years in the plastics industry. Natural lignocellulose fibers derived from agricultural waste present potential to be used as a replacement for glass fibers for polymer reinforcement, leading to lower CO₂ footprint products. This work focuses on the modification of the cellulose fibers in order to improve the compatibility with poly(lactic acid) (PLA). The scoured wheat straw fibers were grafted with polycaprolactone (PCL) through ring opening polymerization. Thermal stability of the wheat straw fibers improved after chemical modifications enabling higher processing temperatures. Flexural and tensile moduli were improved by 23% and 15%, respectively, compared with neat PLA, using 20 wt% modified fibers. An improvement of 20% in the impact strength was obtained using PCL grafted fibers because of entanglements and molecular interactions between PCL grafted on the wheat straw fibers and PLA molecules. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.