THE SCHOOL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Under the provisions of the regulations for the degree

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

on Friday, September 27, 2019

1:00 PM
in MoSE 1201A

will be held the

DISSERTATION PROPOSAL DEFENSE

for

Elena Ewaldz

"Influence of Particles and their Interactions in Electrospinning Ultrafine Fibers"

Committee Members:

Prof. Blair Brettmann, Advisor, CHBE/MSE

Prof. Mary Lynn Realff, MSE

Prof. Karl Jacob, MSE/ME

Prof. Donggang Yao, MSE

Prof. Saad Bhalma, CHBE

Abstract:

A significant research focus in the textile industry is to expand the functionality of electrospun ultrafine fibers for more commercial applications. Many of these applications require a wider range of materials to be used including functional materials. Currently there are many constraints as to what materials are able to be electrospun; therefore, there is a push to incorporate more functional materials, frequently insoluble particles. Understanding how particles behave with a polymer through electrospinning allows for control over the molecular interactions between additives and polymers when designing a product.

This proposal outlines the development of functional ultrafine fibers by exploiting the use of molecular interactions. Ultrafine fibers have interesting properties including a high surface area to volume ratio, high porosity, molecular orientation of the polymer chains, and, when made into a nonwoven mat, low density and high porosity. Electrospinning is a common way of producing ultrafine fibers but has many challenges especially in what materials can used. Understanding how various additives affect polymer solutions and electrospinning parameters helps us rationally design ultrafine fiber products.

The first aim of this research is to develop ultrafine fibers with high loadings of non-functional particles that do not interact with the polymer matrix. This allows for the understanding of the limits of particle loadings in electrospinning. The next aim is addresses how functionalized, interacting particles and molecules affect processing parameters and fiber formation. Results of this study will help expand the materials able to be electrospun. The final aim is to develop pharmaceutical products and thermoelectric products using functional molecules and particles, showing that more functional and active products are able to be made from ultrafine fibers.

The overall aim of this research is to expand the functionality of ultrafine fibers and broaden potential applications, by studying molecular interactions between various solution components including polymers, molecules, particles, and solvents used for electrospinning. This will allow for creation of more functional ultrafine fibers.