Effect of Heat Treatment on the Mechanical Properties of Electrospun Polymeric Nanofibrous Membranes

Abstract:

Controlling nanomaterials' morphology and molecular structures offers many advantages, such as tunable material properties, lightweight, and high surface-to-volume ratio. Studies have focused on electrospinning as one of the most effective methods in fabricating nanofibrous materials and have closely considered various post-fabrication techniques to improve mechanical properties. This work investigates the effect of constrained heating at 100°C, 110°C and 120°C on the morphology, the static and dynamic mechanical properties, and crystallization properties of electrospun Poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) nanofibrous membranes. Constrained heating of PVA nanofibrous membranes at 120°C has the best overall improvement. As compared to unheated samples, the Young’s modulus is multiplied by more than 3, the tensile strength increases more than 75%. At the same time, the fiber diameter decreases from 282.4 nm to 222.2 nm, and the degree of crystallinity and crystallite size increases by more than 10% and about 75%, respectively. This change in molecular structure and the increase in mechanical properties suggest that constrained heating should be further explored to diversify load bearing applications.

• Periodical: Solid State Phenomena (Volume 372)
• Pages: 93-98
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-G4StGa
• Online since: July 2025
• Authors: Zheng Hao Lau, Ai Bao Chai*, Kim Yeow Tshai, Shiau Ying Ch'ng, Erwan Verron, Seong Chun Koay
• Keywords: Electrospinning, Heat Treatment, Mechanical Properties, Nanofibers, Poly(vinyl) Alcohol

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