DOI

https://doi.org/10.25772/GMZ7-WK54

Defense Date

2009

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Mechanical Engineering

First Advisor

Gary Tepper

Abstract

In this thesis the production and filtration performance of electrospun nylon-4,6 nanofiber mats was experimentally studied. The average fiber diameter of nylon-4,6 fibers is controlled by altering the polymer concentration in solution. Adding small amount of pyridine to the electrospinning solution controlled fiber beading and other defects. These fibers were then deposited onto a wide variety of conductive and dielectric substrate materials. A corona ion source was used to eliminate surface charging effects observed at the surface of all substrates. The resulting fiber mats, uniform in size and distribution as verified by SEM imaging, are tested for filtration efficiency and pressure drop. A Figure of Merit (FOM) is calculated for each filter produced and compared to high-grade commercial filters.

Rights

© The Author

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

August 2009

Included in

Engineering Commons

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