Electrospun Multiple-Chamber Nanostructure and Its Potential Self-Healing Applications

Abstract

To address the life span of materials in the process of daily use, new types of structural nanofibers, fabricated by multifluid electrospinning to encapsulate both epoxy resin and amine curing agent, were embedded into an epoxy matrix to provide it with self-healing ability. The nanofibers, which have a polyacrylonitrile sheath holding two separate cores, had an average diameter of 300 ± 140 nm with a uniform size distribution. The prepared fibers had a linear morphology with a clear three-chamber inner structure, as verified by scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope images. The two core sections were composed of epoxy and amine curing agents, respectively, as demonstrated under the synergistic characterization of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry. The TGA results disclosed that the core-shell nanofibers contained 9.06% triethylenetetramine and 20.71% cured epoxy. In the electrochemical corrosion experiment, self-healing coatings exhibited an effective anti-corrosion effect, unlike the composite without nanofibers. This complex nanostructure was proven to be an effective nanoreactor, which is useful to encapsulate reactive fluids. This engineering process by multiple-fluid electrospinning is the first time to prove that this special multiple-chamber structure has great potential in the field of self-healing.

Preparation and Characterization of Electrospun Double-layered Nanocomposites Membranes as a Carrier for Centella asiatica (L.)

“…In the coaxial electrospinning system, namely in modified coaxial electrospinning processes, different coaxial spinneret needles have been designed [ 15 ]. Furthermore, two needles side-by-side have been applied to produce nanofibers with Janus structures [ 14 , 16 , 17 ]. On the other hand, multiple-fluid systems with distinct spinneret arrangements like traditional and modified triaxial spinnerets and electrospun nanofibers with a common shell and two separate cores have been developed to ensure a sustained release of the incorporated agents [ 14 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ].…”

Electrospun Functional Nanofiber Membrane for Antibiotic Removal in Water: Review

“…The treated functional membrane must be hydrophilic to facilitate contact with antibiotics and other pollutants in water. Hence, the advantage of hydrophobic coatings such as epoxy resin [ 120 , 121 ] in water treatment is weakened considerably.…”

Nanofabrication of Janus Fibers through Side-by-Side Electrospinning - A Mini Review

“…Numerous publications have reported the "bottom-up" fabrication methods, by which molecules or building blocks are organized to gather into nanoproducts. One famous method of these bottom-up ways is molecular self-assembly, by which no additional energy is needed for the molecules to aggregate [7][8][9]. However, these bottom-up nanofabrication ways are often time-consuming and difficult to be scaled-up for possible industrial applications presently.…”