The role of sonication of polyethyleneoxide solutions containing magnetic nanoparticles on morphology of nanofibrous mats

Abstract

Properties of the resulting polymer nanofibers are often tailored by sonication technique applied prior or past an electrospinning process. The aim of this contribution is to evaluate morphology of nanofibrous mats formed by poly(ethylene oxide) with distributed magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) (about 20 nm in diameter) in dependence on time of sonication of the used polymer solutions. The solutions were exposed to sonication (intensity 200W, frequency 24 kHz) for 10, 30, and 60 minutes. It was shown that rheological characteristics (viscosity, storage and loss moduli) strongly depend on time of sonication (particularly phase angle) in contrast to electric conductivity and surface tension. For analysis of homogeneous distribution of MNP in polymer solution, the rheological measurements were carried out also in presence of external magnetic field. Magnetorheological efficiency (a relation of corresponding viscosities) was determined for 80, 170, and 255 mT. Consequently, changed rheological characteristics participate significantly in the process of electrospinning and resulting quality of the obtained nanofibrous mats. Qualitative changes were described by means of scanning electron microscopy (variance of mean diameter of nanofibers), transmission electron microscopy (distribution of MNP within nanofibrous mats). Static magnetic properties were determined by a vibration sample magnetometer. It was shown that even distribution of MNP in the mats can be achieved by mere sonication process without application of external magnetic field during an electrospinning process. However, time of sonication generates a degree of embedding of MNP into individual nanofibers.