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Study on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High Temperature Electrospun Polyethylene Fibers

Li, Qian
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1344014866

Abstract Details

2012, Master of Science, University of Akron, Mechanical Engineering.
It has been recognized for a long time that very strong and stiff materials can be prepared from polymers. Take polyethylene for example, the reported theoretical strength and modulus are 33 GPa and 440 GPa respectively if perfect extended polymer molecules are arranged parallel to fiber axis. Even such an idealized conformation cannot be obtained in practice; however gel-spun UHMWPE fibers, commercialized in the late 1970s, are characterized by a high Young's modulus, up to 265 GPa and a high tensile strength, up to 7.2 GPa. Electrospinning has evinced more interest recently due to its versatility and its ability to consistently produce fibers in the submicron range. However, electrospinning of polyethylene (PE) is challenging and only few reports have appeared on it up to date. It is because of its poor electrical conductivity and the lack of an appropriate solvent at room temperature. In the thesis, 15 wt. % -22 wt. % of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) is electrospun into fibers at high temperature. The fiber morphology, crystallinity, crystallite structure, thermal and tensile properties of electrospun fibers are evaluated as a function of concentration. It shows that the crystallinity increased from 28.7% to 50.4% by increasing the solution concentration from 15 wt. % to 22 wt. % And the increasing concentration and crystallinity result tensile modulus and strength enhancements of fibers. The mechanical properties of single fibers were also improved when incorporating graphene into fibers. In addition, a size effect is observed from the tensile behavior of electrospun single fibers. A significant increase in modulus and strength of the fibers is demonstrated when the size of the fiber decreased below 1 µm. Thus, it is demonstrated submicron size polyethylene fibers with high strength can be achieved by electrospinning.
Shing-Chung Wong, Dr. (Advisor)
Xiaosheng Gao, Dr. (Committee Member)
Todd Blackledge, Dr. (Committee Member)
90 p.
Mechanical Engineering

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Citations

  • Li, Q. (2012). Study on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High Temperature Electrospun Polyethylene Fibers [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1344014866

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Li, Qian. Study on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High Temperature Electrospun Polyethylene Fibers. 2012. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1344014866.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Li, Qian. "Study on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High Temperature Electrospun Polyethylene Fibers." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1344014866

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1344014866
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© 2012, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.