Fabrication of thermoset polymer nanofibers by co-electrospinning of uniform core-shell structures

Abstract

Continuous nanofibers consisting of a thermosetic polymer are described. The fibers were obtained using a two-fluid coaxial electrospinning technique. The type of coaxial electrospinning developed in this research is unique, in that the core structure is fabricated from a 100% volume fraction oligomer liquid encapsulated within a polymer shell, instead of a polymer dissolved in organic/aqueous solvents, as is customarily used. The core mass is subsequently polymerized by UV radiation. Post-spinning dissolving of the polymer shell yields defect-free thermosetic polymer nanofibers that have uniform morphology and diameter (50–800 nm). These nanofibers exhibit superior mechanical properties in comparison to those observed in the material bulk form.