Broad poly(ethylene terephthalate) nanofiber sheet prepared by CO2 laser supersonic continuous multi-drawing. (9th March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Suzuki, Akihiro; Hosoi, Kazuya; Miyagi, Kouichi
• Is Part Of: Polymer. Volume 60(2015)
• Page Start: 252
• Page End: 259
• Publication Date: 2015-03-09
• Subjects: PET nanofiber sheet -- CO2 laser -- Supersonic multi-drawing; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2014.11.064
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3861

Abstract

Abstract: Long and broad poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) nanofiber sheets were fabricated by irradiation of PET fibers with a CO2 laser while drawing at supersonic velocities and continuously winding the nanofiber sheet onto a net conveyor operated at constant speed. A supersonic jet was generated by blowing air into a vacuum chamber through the fiber injection orifice. A new apparatus was developed to continuously produce broad nanofiber sheets, which was composed of a plate with eighty fiber injection orifices, a net conveyor to collect the nanofibers, a delivery roll for the isolating paper, and a take-up roll to wind the nanofiber sheet. When this apparatus equipped with an 80 zigzag orifice plate was operated at a laser power of 32.5 W, a chamber pressure of 20 kPa, a conveyor speed of 0.05 m min −1, and a take-up speed of 0.05 m min −1, a long nanofiber sheet approximately 35 cm wide and 50 μm thick could be prepared by collecting the nanofibers for 20 min. The nanofiber sheet is composed of nanofibers with an average fiber diameter of 480 nm. Continuous winding of the nanofiber sheet with this novel technique has enabled the mass production of PET nanofiber sheet. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Nanofiber sheet made by CO2 laser supersonic continuous multi-drawing (CLSCMD). Long and broad PET nanofiber sheet can be prepared continuously by CLSCMD. PET nanofiber sheet is composed of nanofiber with a fiber diameter of 480 nm. PET nanofiber obtained by CLSCMD has a draw ratio of 3 × 10 4 times and highly oriented. CLSCMD is a green process for the mass production of polymeric nanofiber sheets.