Date of Award
5-16-2024
Publication Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.Sc.
Department
Mechanical, Automotive, and Materials Engineering
Keywords
coaxial fibres;Electrospinning;Face masks;Filtration;PAN;PVDF-HFP
Supervisor
Reza Riahi
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
This thesis presents a detailed investigation into the fabrication of electrospun nanofibres, focusing on their application in high-efficiency face masks and the exploration of coaxial electrospinning to understand how various parameters affect the morphology of core-shell fibres. The study begins with the optimization of electrospinning parameters for producing uniform polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) fibres, identifying a 1:1 dimethylformamide (DMF): Acetone ratio as optimal for achieving consistent fibre diameters and morphologies. This foundational work informs the subsequent development of fibrous mats, with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealing the impact of solvent ratios on fibre diameter and distribution. Filtration tests demonstrate that while beaded fibres are traditionally seen as less desirable, they exhibit good filtration capabilities with significantly reduced pressure drops, challenging conventional views and suggesting potential for specific applications. Further, the thesis delves into coaxial electrospinning experiments, aiming to produce fibres with core-shell structures by manipulating electrospinning parameters such as solvent ratios, polymer concentrations, and applied voltages. Firstly, by finding working polymer solutions to create uniform fibres of each core and shell solution, then combining them to observe if the interaction between the solutions affects the final fibre. SEM analysis confirms the successful creation of core-shell fibres, highlighting the nuanced effects of these parameters on fibre morphology. A wide range of core-shell ratios are fabricated as well as core-shell fibres with multiple cores.
Recommended Citation
Gajewski, Grzegorz, "A Comprehensive Study on Electrospun Fibres: Application in High-Efficiency Face Masks and Coaxial Fibre Morphology Exploration" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 9476.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/9476