Electrospinning Applications Air Filtration and Superhydrophobic Materials

Authors

Negar Ghochaghi, VCUFollow
Adetoun Taiwo, VCUFollow

Files

Abstract

Electrospinning is a widely applicable technique that generates non-woven fibers in the micro and nano range. In this project two of its applications are highlighted namely filtration media and enhancement of wettability. The first project demonstrates that electrospinning can be used to produce new fiber filtration media with controlled microstructure. The bimodal and unimodal orthogonal and random filters were made and characterized against their filtration efficiency and pressure drop. Figure of Merit (FOM) was also calculated and discussed. It is shown that the FOM increases when the electrospun fibers are arranged into alternating layers of aligned course and fine fibers.

Secondly, surfaces were prepared by electrospinning thin, aligned polystyrene fibers onto a piezoelectric unimorph substrate. Results showed electric field induced changes in substrate curvature, which produced corresponding changes in surface wettability. From experiments, an average change in water contact angle of 7.2° ± 1.2° with 90% confidence was observed in ~2μm diameter fiber coatings electrospun for 5 minutes with applied electric field. In addition, fiber coatings electrospun with equivalent deposition showed average electric field induced changes in WCA of 2.5° ± 0.92° for lower diameter fibers (~1μm) and 3.5° ± 1.37° for higher diameter fibers (~2μm) with 90% confidence.

Publication Date

2014

Keywords

Electrospinning, Air Filtration, Superhydrophobic Material

Disciplines

Chemical Engineering | Engineering Physics | Membrane Science | Nanoscience and Nanotechnology | Other Chemical Engineering | Other Engineering Science and Materials | Other Mechanical Engineering | Polymer and Organic Materials | Polymer Science

Faculty Advisor/Mentor

Dr. Gary C. Tepper