In this article, we have aimed to mechanically characterize the nylon 6 single nanofiber and nanofiber mats. We have started by providing a critical review of the developed mechanical characterization testing methods of single nanofiber. It has been found that the tensile test method provides information about the mechanical properties of the nanofiber such as tensile strength, elastic modulus and strain at break. We have carried out a tensile test for nanofiber/composite MWCNTs nanofiber mats to further characterize the effect of the MWCNTs filling fiber architecture. In addition, we have designed and implemented a novel simple laboratory set‐up for performing tensile test of single nanofibers. As a result, we have established the stress–strain curve for single nylon 6 nanofibers allowing us to define the tensile strength, axial tensile modulus and ultimate strain of this nanofiber. The compared values of the tensile strength, axial modulus and ultimate strain for nylon 6 nanofiber with those of conventional nylon 6 microfiber have indicated that some of the nylon 6 nanofiber molecule chains have not been oriented well along the nanofiber axis during electrospinning and through the alignment mechanism. Finally, we have explained how we can improve the mechanical properties of nylon 6 nanofibers and discussed how to overcome the tensile testing challenges of single nanofibers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1719–1731, 2010

The contact angles, wicking properties, scourability, and dyeability of wool and cotton fabrics are affected by low-temperature plasma treatments. After treatment, wool and cotton fabric specimens show increased hydrophilicity and improved scouring and dyeing processing by nearly 50%.

Following previous work [ Textile Research Journal, 74,751-756 (2004)], the mechanical and surface properties and handle of wool and cotton fabrics were measured using the KES-FB system after different stages of treatment. This investigation shows that the mechanical properties of wool and cotton changed remarkably after oxygen plasma treatment. There were no significantly observed differences between plasma treated and untreated fabrics after wet scouring and dyeing.

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Nonwoven electrospun nylon 6 nanofibers produced with formic acid under different concentrations have been examined. The effects of the solution properties, electric field, and spinneret-to-collection distance on the fiber uniformity, morphology, and average diameter have been established. The optimum polymer solution concentration (20 wt %), applied voltage (15 kV), and spinning distance (8 cm) have been found to make uniform nylon 6 fibers. A simple technique that can produce a bundle of aligned electrospun fibers suspended between two grounded disks is described. Alignment and stretching of the fibers are derived by the electrostatic interactions between the positive electrode on the spinneret and the grounded disks. The gap between the disks and the collection time have been varied to systematically study the degree of alignment and the density of the collected nylon 6 fibers. The number of the distributed fibers in the bundle can be controlled by the alteration of the deposition time, the voltage, and the width of the gap. Scanning electron microscopy images have indicated a greater degree of fiber alignment with increasing disk gaps and collection times. The article also provides a comprehensive review of the design of various mechanisms for nanofiber alignment.