Date Approved
6-30-2025
Embargo Period
6-30-2027
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. Mechanical Engineering
Department
Engineering
College
Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering
Advisor
Vincent Beachley, Ph.D.
Committee Member 1
Wei Xue, Ph.D.
Committee Member 2
Antonios Kontsos, Ph.D.
Disciplines
Engineering | Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
Centrifugal spinning is of particular interest because of its high nanofiber throughput rate, compared to other manufacturing processes. Centrifugal spinning can produce fibers in the nanoscale range with a range of polymers, such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyethylene oxide (PEO), and polycaprolactone (PCL). Improvements were made to a conventional orifice-based spinning head design used in our lab with PAN solutions. The internal geometry of the spinning head and the location of the exit orifice were modified, resulting in an increase in pressure at the exit orifice and a constant flow of polymer solution to the orifice. Nanofibers spun with these new designs exhibited smaller diameters and improved flight trajectory. Fibers created during the centrifugal spinning process collect at the same target height on the collection substrate. With a non-moving collection substrate, fibers stack on top of each other until a dense ring is formed, which is torn apart by air currents and the spinning head. A custom horizontally translating roll-to-roll collection substrate was created to eliminate the limitations of static collection substrates. A plate-based spinning device was investigated to facilitate compatibility with difficult-to-spin solutions and reduce potential for orifice clogs that hamper scalable manufacturing. The impact of viscosity, surface tension, and contact angle on quality fiber formation via plate-based centrifugal spinning was investigated. It was determined that the surface tension of a polymer solution, which is greatly impacted by the solvent(s) used and any additives present, must be sufficiently high for fiber formation to occur. Additionally, it was discovered that solutions with a wide range of viscosities can produce fibers. These solutions' contact angles fell into a narrow range between 65 and 90 degrees with the surfaces used for centrifugal spinning.
Recommended Citation
Sedar, Emmet, "Improved Production of Polymer Nanofibers Via High Speed Centrifugal Spinning" (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 3417.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/3417
