Electrospinnability of bionanocomposites with high nanocrystal loadings: The effect of nanocrystal surface characteristics

• Chitosan/PEO spinnability studied at high chitin and cellulose nanocrystal loading.
• Nanocrystal surface charge showed significant impact on dispersion and spinning.
• Viscosity and surface tension of spinning solutions impact the fiber properties.

This paper deals with the effect of solution properties and nanoparticle surface chemistry on the spinnability of a chitosan/polyethylene oxide (PEO) with high concentration (50 wt%) of chitin and cellulose nanocrystals and the properties of the resultant nanocomposite fibers/fiber mats. Electrospinning dispersions with cellulose nanocrystals having sulphate surface groups showed poor spinnability compared to chitin nanocrystals with amide and amino groups. Chitin nanocrystal based dispersions showed good spinnability and continuous fiber formation whereas cellulose nanocrystal system showed discontinuous fibers and branching. The viscosity and surface tension are shown to impact this behavior, but conductivity did not. Poor spinnability observed for cellulose nanocrystal based fibers was attributed to the coagulation of negatively charged cellulose nanocrystals and positively charged chitosan. The study showed that the nanocrystal surface charge and interactions with the chitosan/PEO matrix have a significant impact on the spinnability of bionanocomposites.

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