Fibers, Beads and Beaded-fibers: Controlling the Morphology of Electrospun Mats for Different Concentrations of Poly(ethylene oxide) using Electrospinning

This study focus on the production of fibers, beads and beaded-fibers from aqueous solutions ofdifferent concentrations of Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) via electrospinning. Effect of PEOconcentration (3-5%) on the viscosity of the polymer solution and the morphology of electrospunmats (bead area%, fiber area%, bead to fiber ratio, average length and width of beads, number ofbeads, aspect ratio of beads, average diameter of fibers) were investigated.The increase in PEO concentration caused an increase in the viscosity of the polymer solution. As thePEO concentration increased, mainly fibers were formed, while the probability of bead formatondecreased. The obtained beads were also more elliptical. A critical high polymerconcentration/viscosity is required to form fibers. Below the critical concentration, the number ofbeads increases, while the size of beads decreases and more elliptical beads are formed.In conclusion, the percentage of fiber area, the length and width of the beads, and the average diameterof the fibers increase with increasing polymer concentration, while the precentage of bead area, thebead/fiber ratio, and the number of beads per micrometer decrease.As a result, it was found that PEO concentration and viscosity are parameters that significantly affectthe formation and size of fibers/beads/beaded fibers and their proportions and areas in mats. The morphology of the produced beads and/or fibers can be modified by changing the polymerconcentration and thus the solution viscosity.