Melt electrospinning of low-density polyethylene having a low-melt flow index

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 114; no. 1; pp. 166 - 175
• Main Authors: Deng, Rongjian, Liu, Yong, Ding, Yumei, Xie, Pengcheng, Luo, Lu, Yang, Weimin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 05.10.2009; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Capillarity; Devices; DSC; Electrospinning; Exact sciences and technology; Fibers; Fibers and threads; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; LDPE; melt electrospinning; melt flow index; Melt spinning; Melts; Polyethylenes; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Spinning; Technology of polymers; thin fibers; Synthetic fiber; Electrospinning; melt flow index; Melt spinning; Crystallinity; Experimental study; Melt index; Property processing relationship; LDPE; Structure processing relationship; Low density ethylene polymer; DSC; Morphology; Olefin polymer; melt electrospinning; thin fibers; Diameter; Rheological properties
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.29864

Melt electrospinning is a cheaper, more environmentally friendly, and safer alternative to solution electrospinning. We have designed a novel melt spinning device which incorporates a reverse of the normal polarity, with the capillary grounded and the collector grid at positive potential. The apparatus is much simpler and more economical than conventional equipment because no syringe pump is required. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with a low-melt flow index of 2 g/10 min, which is not suitable for spinning using current commercial methods, was chosen to highlight the advantages of melt electrospinning in general, and our device in particular. The effects of varying the electrospinning parameters such as temperature, electrostatic field, spinning distance, and capillary inner diameter, have been studied. Although it was found that temperatures higher than normal processing temperatures had to be employed in our electrospinning system to reduce the viscosity of the polymer melt sufficiently, good quality fibers with smooth and even surfaces, most of which had diameters smaller than 15 μm, were electrospun successfully. It was observed that there was an optimum point for the spinning distance (14-15 cm) and the capillary inner diameter (0.4-0.6 mm) to get fine fiber.