Maneuvering the internal porosity and surface morphology of electrospun polystyrene yarns by controlling the solvent and relative humidity.

ABSTRACT: This article presents a simple and reliable method for generating polystyrene (PS) yarns composed of bundles of nanofibrils by using a proper combination of solvent and relative humidity. We elucidated the mechanism responsible for the formation of this new morphology by systematically investigating the molecular interactions among the polymer, solvent(s), and water vapor. We demonstrated that vapor-induced phase separation played a pivotal role in generating the yarns with a unique structure. Furthermore, we discovered that the low vapor pressure of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) was critical to the evolution of pores in the interiors. On the contrary, the relatively high vapor pressure of tetrahydrofuran (THF) hindered the formation of interior pores but excelled in creating a rough surface

SUBMITTER: Lu P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3681866 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature