DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF HIGH VOLTAGE GENERATOR FOR ELECTROSPINNING OF NANO FIBRES

O. P. Gbenebor; E.I. Akpan, R.A. Atoba S.O. Adeosun, S.A. Olaleye, O. O. Tai E.A. Igogori, O.B. Alamu, A. K. Awori

O. P. Gbenebor
E.I. Akpan, R.A. Atoba S.O. Adeosun, S.A. Olaleye, O. O. Tai E.A. Igogori, O.B. Alamu, A. K. Awori

Keywords: High Voltage Generator, Electrospinning, Polymer Melt Solution, Tensile Strength, Water Absorption

Abstract

This work develops a high voltage generator (50kV) to power polymer melt solution to produce nano fibre. The performance of this single unit high voltage system was evaluated through electrospinning of polylactide (PLA) melt solutions of 0.09, 0.11, 0.13 and 0.14 g/ml concentrations. Composite samples were also produced by reinforcing 0.1 g/ml PLA melt with 20wt. % palm kernel shell particles (PKS). Tensile, fluid absorption (at 32 and 70^oC) and morphological evaluations were carried out on unreinforced electrospun PLA and electrospun PLA/PKS composites. The reinforcement (PKS) provides a stiffening effect on the matrix (PLA) as the composite displays the highest magnitude of Youngs modulus (150MPa). The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 3MPa of the nano composite is higher than other unreinforced PLA nano fibres except for fibres from 0.14g/ml PLA melt (3.5MPa). The water absorption rate of fibres increases with medium temperature and increase in concentration of PLA melt decreases the fibre size.

Author Biographies

O. P. Gbenebor

Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering,

University of Lagos, Nigeria

Institut fur Verbundwerkstoffe GmbH, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Lagos, Nigeria.

Central Research Laboratory, University of Lagos, Nigeria.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Covenant University Ota,

Ogun State, Nigeria.

E.I. Akpan, R.A. Atoba S.O. Adeosun, S.A. Olaleye, O. O. Tai E.A. Igogori, O.B. Alamu, A. K. Awori