Enhanced Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Electrospun PA-6 Nanofibers by Embedding Alumina and Tungsten Carbide Particles

Abstract

Electrospinning is a process in which solid fibers are prepared from polymer solution. In recent decades, studies have focused on improving the properties of electrospun nanofibers by exploring the possibilities of electrospinning different polymers. Two critical properties that have been studied in relation to this technique are thermal stability and mechanical properties. In this study, polyamide-6 (PA-6) nanofibers were prepared by embedding combinations of alumina and tungsten carbide particles. The morphology of the resulting hybrid nanofibers was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric (TGA) techniques, and tensile tests were performed to evaluate their mechanical properties. The results showed that the sample containing tungsten carbide with a weight ratio of 4:10 had the highest melting standard enthalpy. The analysis also revealed that hybrid fibers containing equal ratios of alumina and tungsten carbide, each with a weight ratio of 2:10, had higher degradation temperatures and melting enthalpy compared to other nanofibers. Tensile testing showed that nanofibrous mats containing tungsten carbide had higher Young’s modulus, PA-6 fibers.