ARS | Publication request: Controlled and high throughput fabrication of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) nanofibers via melt extrusion of immiscible blends

Submitted to: Journal of Materials Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 18, 2010
Publication Date: August 12, 2010
Repository URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254058410005869
Citation: Xue, C., Wang, D., Xiang, B., Chiou, B., Sun, G. 2010. Controlled and high throughput fabrication of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) nanofibers via melt extrusion of immiscible blends. Journal of Materials Chemistry. 124(1):48-51.

Interpretive Summary: Nanofibers have huge surface areas which makes them ideal candidates for use in a variety of products such as protective clothing, membranes for filtration, materials reinforcement, tissue repairing, and drug delivery. Nanofibers can be fabricated using a variety of techniques and resources. Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) or PTT is a polyester that has drawn renewed interest because of a recent breakthrough in low-cost production of its monomer component, 1,3-propanediol, from natural resources, making PTT a biobased polymer. We've extrusion processed PTT and cellulose acetate butyrate extrusion and have developed a controllable method of producing PTT nanofibers in diameters of less than 100 nm.

Technical Abstract: Immiscible blends of cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) and poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) were melt extruded through a two strand rod die. The extrudates were hot-drawn at the die exit at different draw ratios. PTT fibers were obtained by removal of the CAB matrix from the drawn extrudates, and the morphology evolution of the formed fibers was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. PTT nanofibers with an average diameter of 55 nm were produced by controlling the drawing ratio.