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Electrospinning Superhydrophobic Fibers Using Surface Segregating End-Functionalized Polymer Additives

Hardman, S.J.; Muhamad-Sarih, N.; Riggs, H.J.; Thompson, R.L.; Rigby, J.; Bergius, W.NA.; Hutchings, L.R.

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Authors

S.J. Hardman

N. Muhamad-Sarih

H.J. Riggs

R.L. Thompson

J. Rigby

W.NA. Bergius



Abstract

We describe here a facile route for the in situ modification of the surface properties of fibers produced by electrospinning polystyrene containing small quantities of compatible polymer additives, end-functionalized with 1–3 fluoroalkyl groups. Such additives undergo spontaneous surface segregation during the electrospinning process, resulting in fibers with low surface energy, fluorine-rich, superhydrophobic surfaces. Surface properties were analyzed using static contact angle measurements (with water as the contact fluid) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We report the effect of a number of parameters on the surface properties of the resulting polystyrene fibers including the molecular weight and concentration of functionalized additive, the number of fluoroalkyl groups, the effect of annealing, and spinning solvent. The majority of the fibers were successfully produced using THF as the spinning solvent and fibers with a contact angle of ∼150° were attainable. However, preliminary investigations using a blend of polystyrene and 4 wt % of such an additive, end-functionalized with 3 C8F17 groups in a mixed solvent of DMF/THF (3:1 v/v), resulted in a mat of fibers with a superhydrophobic surface and a contact angle of 158°.

Citation

Hardman, S., Muhamad-Sarih, N., Riggs, H., Thompson, R., Rigby, J., Bergius, W., & Hutchings, L. (2011). Electrospinning Superhydrophobic Fibers Using Surface Segregating End-Functionalized Polymer Additives. Macromolecules, 44(16), 6461-6470. https://doi.org/10.1021/ma200852z

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Aug 23, 2011
Deposit Date Feb 2, 2012
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Macromolecules
Print ISSN 0024-9297
Electronic ISSN 1520-5835
Publisher American Chemical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 44
Issue 16
Pages 6461-6470
DOI https://doi.org/10.1021/ma200852z

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Copyright Statement
This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Macromolecules, copyright © 2011 American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ma200852z.





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