This work presents a method to produce conductive and auxetic composite membranes from a biobased and biodegradable matrix: polybutylene succinate (PBS). The conductivity was improved by the addition ...of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and the samples were produced via solution electrospinning. The membrane properties were shown to increase with increasing GNP concentration and the rotational speed of the collector. In particular, a membrane having 0.2% w/v GNP and fabricated at the highest collector speed (9.96 m/s) showed the highest electrical conductivity (1.56 × 10−4 S/m) while having a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) of −1.5 in tension. To complete the analysis, mechanical characterizations showed that the presence of GNP led to a substantial increase in Young's modulus (234%) and tensile strength (190%) compared to the neat PBS membrane produced under the same conditions. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed a slight crystallinity increase since GNP are acting as heterogeneous nucleating agents, while thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed an improved thermal stability for the GNP/PBS membranes. This unique combination of auxetic and conductive properties can be useful for a wide range of innovative applications such as electronic devices, smart textiles, biomaterials, and biomedical devices.
Highlights
Electrospinning was successful to produce polybutylene succinate (PBS) nanofibers.
A careful control of the processing conditions led to auxetic fiber mats.
Electrically conductive mats were produced by adding graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) to PBS.
The PBS mechanical properties were highly improved (200%) with low GNP content (0.2%).
PBS and GNP were mix in solution to produce electrically conductive nanofibers via electrospinning after optimization of the processing conditions.
Electrospinning is a simple and affordable method of producing nanofibers, offering a large specific surface area and highly porous structures with diameters ranging from nanometers to micrometers. ...This process relies on an electrostatic field, providing precise control over the fiber dimensions and morphologies through parameter optimization and the use of specialized spinnerets and collectors. The paper extensively covers the electrospinning process and parameters, shedding light on the factors influencing electrospinning. It addresses the morphological and structural aspects of electrospun fibers that are used in different applications. Additionally, this paper explores various polymeric and non-polymeric materials used in electrospinning. Furthermore, it investigates the incorporation of fillers during electrospinning, using an electric field to enhance properties and functionality. The review concludes by offering insights into upscaling electrospinning production.
This work presents a method to produce conductive and auxetic composite membranes from a biobased and biodegradable matrix: polybutylene succinate (PBS). The conductivity was improved by the addition ...of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and the samples were produced via solution electrospinning. The membrane properties were shown to increase with increasing GNP concentration and the rotational speed of the collector. In particular, a membrane having 0.2% w/v GNP and fabricated at the highest collector speed (9.96 m/s) showed the highest electrical conductivity (1.56 * 10.sup.-4 S/m) while having a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) of -1.5 in tension. To complete the analysis, mechanical characterizations showed that the presence of GNP led to a substantial increase in Young's modulus (234%) and tensile strength (190%) compared to the neat PBS membrane produced under the same conditions. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed a slight crystallinity increase since GNP are acting as heterogeneous nucleating agents, while thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed an improved thermal stability for the GNP/PBS membranes. This unique combination of auxetic and conductive properties can be useful for a wide range of innovative applications such as electronic devices, smart textiles, biomaterials, and biomedical devices.
The field of nanofiber research has been gradually shifting towards sustainable materials, but the main challenges include modifying their properties to fit specific needs and applications. In this ...study, ultrathin and porous biobased poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) membranes were fabricated using electrospinning. The neat PBS polymer was found to be very difficult to process, but defect-free nanofibers were generated by adding cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a surfactant. To determine the effect of CTAB on PBS membranes, extensive characterization of the newly developed material was performed, including morphology, wettability, water absorption, thermal, mechanical, and hydrolytic degradation properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that adding 0.04% w/v of CTAB produced smooth and beadless nanofibers with an average diameter of 380 nm. The presence of CTAB, as a surfactant, significantly improved the membrane porosity and generated higher hydrophilicity even when starting with an intrinsically hydrophobic material (original PBS). The result was a higher water absorption and hydrolytic degradation of the membrane. On the mechanical side, the surfactant highly improved the elongation at break from 51% for the neat PBS membrane to 192% for the PBS/CTAB membrane with 0.04% w/v CTAB. However, CTAB addition had a negligible effect on thermal stability and crystallinity. The results of this study showed that the high porosity and hydrophilicity of PBS/CTAB electrospun membranes, combined with their outstanding water absorption capacity, elasticity, and biodegradability, present a novel solution for enhancing the performance and functionality of biomaterials in various biomedical fields, especially in tissue engineering and wound dressing applications.
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•Polybutylene succinate (PBS) nanofibers were generated via solution electrospinning.•CTAB (surfactant) was needed to generate stable nanofibers.•Membranes with good wettability and excellent water absorbance were produced by combining PBS and CTAB.•Faster hydrolytic degradation was observed due to CTAB.
Herein, a simple and cost‐effective method (solution electrospinning) is used to produce auxetic biobased polybutylene succinate membranes. The effect of fiber morphology, orientation, and alignment ...is investigated on the mechanical properties of the resulting membranes with a focus on Poisson's ratio. The degree of orientation is controlled by increasing the speed of the collector (from 4.03 to 11.01 m s
−1
) during membrane fabrication. The results indicate that membranes with oriented fibers show a more auxetic behavior than those with randomly orientated fibers. In particular, samples with a high level of alignment and tested in the transverse direction present higher negative Poisson's ratios (down to −5.73) compared to samples tested in the parallel direction (Poisson's ratios down to −2.90). However, samples tested in the transverse direction show lower tensile properties with higher dissipated energy and damping factor. Therefore, the level of fiber orientation and the number of fibers in the transverse and parallel directions are the most important parameters controlling the mechanical properties of electrospun membranes.
