Electrospun fiber mats from polymers having a low Tm, Tg, or molecular weight

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9816214-B2
Application number	US-201414328807-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2014
Priority date	Nov 10, 2009
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for forming non-woven fiber mats from polymers and monomers that are traditionally difficult to use for fiber formation are shown and described. Applicable techniques include electrospinning and other traditional fiber formation methods. Suitable polymers and monomers include those having low molecular weight, a low melting point, and/or a low glass transition temperature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for forming non-woven fiber mats comprising:
mixing a low molecular weight polymer or monomer precursor with a cross-linking agent to form a solution;
wherein the low molecular weight polymer precursor is selected from the group consisting of: Poly (propylene-fumarate)-co-(propylene maleate); (PPFcPM); Poly (Butylene-fumarate) (PBF); and Poly (Butylene-fumarate)-co(butylene maleate) (PBFcBM) or a combination of the above polymers;
forming a fiber from the solution by directing the solution through an electric field towards a target; and
directing a photon source at the fibers as they are formed and at the target so as to crosslink the solution in situ.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the low molecular weight polymer or monomer precursor has a low T m .

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the low molecular weight polymer or monomer precursor has a low T g .

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the low molecular weight polymer or monomer precursor has a molecular weight below 10,000.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the low molecular weight polymer or monomer precursor has a molecular weight below 6,000.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the low molecular weight polymer or monomer precursor is unmodified.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the combination of low molecular weight polymer precursors further comprises Poly (propylene-fumerate) (PPF).

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the low molecular weight polymer precursor is PPFcPM, and the method further comprises synthesizing the PPFcPM via step growth polycondensation reactions.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the solution is contained within a reservoir and the reservoir is shielded from the target such that photons from the photon source do not affect the contents of the reservoir.

10. A method comprising:
providing a system for forming non-woven fiber mats comprising:
a textile formation setup comprising a voltage supply, a reservoir and a target; and
a photon source positioned between the reservoir and the target and directed at the target, wherein the reservoir is shielded from the target such that photons from the photon source do not affect the contents of the reservoir;

placing a solution comprising a low molecular weight polymer or monomer precursor and a cross-linking agent in the reservoir; wherein the low molecular weight polymer precursor is selected from the group consisting of: Poly (propylene-fumarate)-co-(propylene maleate); (PPFcPM); Poly (Butylene-fumarate) (PBF); and Poly (Butylene-fumarate)-co(butylene maleate) (PBFcBM); or a combination of the above polymers;
producing a photon field with the photon source; and
directing the solution through the photon source and towards a target so as to crosslink the solution in situ.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the solution consists of the low molecular weight polymer or monomer precursor and a cross-linking agent.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the combination of low molecular weight polymer precursors further comprises Poly (propylene-fumerate) (PPF).

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the low molecular weight polymer or monomer precursor has a molecular weight below 10,000.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the low molecular weight polymer or monomer precursor has a molecular weight below 6,000.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein low molecular weight polymer or monomer precursor has a low T m and/or a low T g .

16. The method of claim 7 wherein the low molecular weight polymer precursor comprises PPF and the method further comprises synthesizing the PPF via step growth polycondensation reactions.

Assignees

• Dirk Elizabeth L
• Dirk Shawn
• Cicotte Kirsten
• Stc Unm

Inventors

• Dirk Elizabeth L
• Dirk Shawn
• Cicotte Kirsten

Classifications

• D04H1/728 Primary

  by electro-spinning {(electro-spinning methods and apparatus D01D5/0007)} · CPC title

• D04H1/4326

  Condensation or reaction polymers · CPC title

• D01D5/0007

  Electro-spinning (non-woven fabrics produced by electro-spinning D04H1/728) · CPC title

• D01D5/003

  the material being a polymer solution or dispersion (D01D5/0053 takes precedence) · CPC title

• D01D5/38

  Formation of filaments, threads, or the like during polymerisation · CPC title