Formation of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) Nano/Micro Fibers by Electrospinning Process Using Electrode with Tines

Abstract

Electrospinning is a process during which polymer fibers with a diameter in nano and micro range due to the action of an external electric field effected on a polymer solution or melt are produced. The aim of this study is to form thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) mats by electrospinning process. TPU solutions of 3 wt.% and 4 wt.% concentrations were prepared for the experiments. It was not possible during the tests to create any TPU fibers using plain cylindrical electrode, so two types of electrodes with tines were used in this study. TPU mats from microfibers, nanofibers and stick nanofibers were formed by electrospinning process at different applied voltage and solution concentrations. It was determined that the type of electrode has influence only on the structure of the electrospun TPU mats, but not on the diameter of formed fibers.http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ms.17.3.595

Keywords

• nanofiber
• electrospinning
• thermoplastic polyurethane