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- Title
Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers Reinforced by Tannic Acid/Fe<sup>+++</sup> Complexes.
- Authors
Sousa, Ana M. M.; Thomas-Gahring, Audrey; Xuetong Fan; Jin, Tony; Tomasula, Peggy M.; LinShu Liu; Weiqiao Yang; Xihong Li
- Abstract
We report the successful preparation of reinforced electrospun nanofibers and fibrous mats of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) via a simple and inexpensive method using stable tannic acid (TA) and ferric ion (Fe+++) assemblies formed by solution mixing and pH adjustment. Changes in solution pH change the number of TA galloyl groups attached to the Fe+++ from one (pH < 2) to two (3 < pH < 6) to three (pH < 7.4) and affect the interactions between PVA and TA. At pH ~ 5.5, the morphology and fiber diameter size (FDS) examined by SEM are determinant for the mechanical properties of the fibrous mats and depend on the PVA content. At an optimal 8 wt % concentration, PVA becomes fully entangled and forms uniform nanofibers with smaller FDS (p < 0.05) and improved mechanical properties when compared to mats of PVA alone and of PVA with TA (p < 0.05). Changes in solution pH lead to beads formation, more irregular FDS and poorer mechanical properties (p < 0.05). The Fe+++ inclusion does not alter the oxidation activity of TA (p > 0.05) suggesting the potential of TA-Fe+++ assemblies to reinforce polymer nanofibers with high functionality for use in diverse applications including food, biomedical and pharmaceutical.
- Subjects
ELECTROSPINNING; NANOFIBERS; TANNINS; POLYVINYL alcohol; IRON ions; POLYMER blends
- Publication
Materials (1996-1944), 2016, Vol 9, Issue 9, p757
- ISSN
1996-1944
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/ma9090757