Multi‐jet electrospinning of polystyrene/ polyamide 6 blend: thermal and mechanical properties

Introduction Electrospinning process is broadly used to obtain membrane-like webs with submicron to micron fibers (Li and Xia 2004). Electrospun nanofibers, with its large surface area and multiple pores, can be used to construct unique functional nanostructures for composites, filtration membranes, biomaterials, and breathable textile fabrics (Greiner and Wendorff 2007; Li and Xia 2004; Pham et al. 2006). Generally, an electrospinning setup consists of a high voltage source, container (usually syringe) for polymer solution, syringe pump, capillary nozzle, and grounded collector (Pham et al. 2006). When high electric voltage is applied, the surface tension of polymer solution is overcome by the applied electric field. Charged polymer solution forms into jet, forming a Taylor cone, then gets further stretched. Meanwhile, solvent from the polymer jet continuously evaporates and solidifies to form fiber webs on a collector (Reneker and Chun 1996). Abstract