Mechanical reinforcement of continuous flow spun polyelectrolyte complex fibres
RIS ID
26316
Abstract
A simple continuous flow wet-spinning method to achieve mechanical reinforcement of the two oppositely charged biopolymers chitosan and gellan gum is described. The mechanical properties of these biopolymers are influenced by the order of addition. Using a facile method for mechanical reinforcement of gellan gum/chitosan fibers resulted in increases in Young's modulus, tensile strength, and toughness. Spinning gellan gum into chitosan resulted in the strongest fibers. We show that our fibers can provide a mechanical alternative for bio-fibers without the need of cross-linking. It is demonstrated that the fibers become ionically conducting in the presence of water vapor.
Grant Number
ARC/FF0669110
Grant Number
ARC/DP0987503
Publication Details
Granero, Alberto J., Razal, J. M., Wallace, G. G. and in het Panhuis, M. H. (2009). Mechanical reinforcement of continuous flow spun polyelectrolyte complex fibres. Macromolecular Bioscience, 9 354-360.