Fundamental parameters affecting electrospinning of PAN nanofibers as uniaxially aligned fibers

Electrospinning with a collector consisting of two pieces of electrically conductive substrates separated by a gap has been used to prepare uniaxially aligned PAN nanofibers. Solution of 15 wt % of PAN/DMF was used tentatively for electrospinning. The effects of width of the gap and applied voltage on degree of alignment were investigated using image-processing technique by Fourier power spectrum method. The electrospinning conditions that gave the best alignment of nanofibers for 10-15 wt % solution concentrations were experimentally obtained. Bundles like multifilament yarns of uniaxially aligned nanofibers were prepared using a new simple method. After-treatments of these bundles were carried out in boiling water under tension. A comparison was made between the crystallinity and mechanical behavior of posttreated and untreated bundles. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.