During electrospinning, a polymer solution becomes an electrically driven jet as
it travels to a grounded plate. While the behavior of pressure-driven liquid jets has been
extensively studied in fluid mechanics, none of the characteristics of fluid jet break up
have been applied to electrospinning. Calculating Weber number can describe what type
of breakup occurs as the polymer jet travels to the plate, which could also predict the
surface morphology of electrospun fibers. Polyethylene oxide (PEO) solution was
electrospun at different voltages to test whether the morphology of the electrospun fibers
can be predicted through calculating Weber number. While the continuing research of
electrospinning is important, the subject of electrospinning can be used as a course to
teach students engineering principals over a semester. Due to the vast interdisciplinary
subjects associated with electrospinning, teaching the subject as a course will give
students an understanding of critical thinking skills as well as first hand accounts of
research. Four weight percent PEO solution was electrospun at a range of testing
parameters until the desired results were achieved, beaded or non-beaded fibers. The
Weber numbers were calculated and compared to the electrospun material created.
Analyzing the surface morphology revealed a beaded to non-beaded trend in nanofibers
corresponding to high-to-low Weber numbers. The same trend continued for higher
weight percents of PEO solutions electrospun.
The course will have many learning objectives the instructor is expected to have
the students achieve, building the objectives to help the students become better
researchers and to learn the material. Splitting the course into three five week sections
will help students understand each component of the electrospinning process, as well as
fundamental engineering equations and theories. The students at the end of the semester
should be able to recreate the electrospinning process on their own and create nanofibers
of varying sizes. The course should also excite students about pursuing more advanced
degrees in scientific fields.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:tamu.edu/oai:repository.tamu.edu:1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2998 |
| Date | 15 May 2009 |
| Creators | Call, Christopher Calvin |
| Contributors | Schwartz, Christian J. |
| Source Sets | Texas A and M University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Book, Thesis, Electronic Thesis, text |
| Format | electronic, application/pdf, born digital |
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