Use of inter-fibril spaces among electrospun fibrils as ion-fixation and nano-crystallization

Abstract

When solution of a polymer with some inorganic ions is electrospun, the polymer fibrils will be elongated within the spinning direction and those ions are held in the inter-fibril spaces. When those electrospun fibers are calcined, ceramic fibers will be obtained. The present study has attempted to employ such spaces formed in polyvinyl alcohol) (PVA) as nano- or micro-reactor spaces for precipitation of nano-crystalline particles. Exposing the spun PVA mats to ammonia vapor fixed metal ions in the form of hydroxide and, induced apatitic calcium phosphate crystallites when the precursor solution involved calcium and hydrogen orthophosphate ions.</p