Wnek, G. E. | Engineering Papers

NASA NTRS2000

Electric Field-Mediated Processing of Polymers

Significant opportunities exist for the processing of polymers (homopolymers and blends) using electric fields. We suggest that a broad range of properties can be achieved using a relatively small number of polymers, with electric fields providing the ability to tailor properties via the control of shape, morphology, and orientation. Specific attention is given to electrospinning, but we note that electroaerosol formation and field-modulated film casting represent additional processing options.

Wnek, G. E.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Electric field-mediated processing of polymer blend solutions

Multiphase polymer blends in which the minor phases are oriented in a desired direction may demonstrate unique optical, electrical, and mechanical properties. While morphology development in shear fields was studied extensively, little work has focused on effects of electric fields on phase structure. The use of electric fields for blend morphology modulation with particular attention given to solvent casting of blends in d.c. fields was explored. Both homopolymer blends (average phase sizes of several microns) and diblock copolymer/homopolymer blends (average phase sizes of hundreds of Angstroms) were investigated. Summarized are important observations and conclusions.

Wnek, G. E.↗