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Electrospinning is a unique technique for preparing submicron and micron polymer fibers. A wide range of controllable parameters (applied voltage, spinning solution flow rate, distance from collector to needle tip, etc.) allows the fabrication of fibers with the properties required for a specific application. Different electrospinning formats (bubble electrospinning, needleless electrospinning, AC electrospinning) are applied for the large-scale production of polymer membranes. Due to the flexibility of this technique, membranes based on a wide range of polymers can be fabricated: biodegradable polyesters, piezoelectric polymers, biopolymers (proteins, polysaccharides), etc. Electrospun polymer membranes are widely used in biomedical engineering, filtration technology, soft robotics, energy harvesting, biosensors, etc. due to their high connected porosity and specific surface area. The different requirements for membranes in different fields lead to the need to optimize the electrospinning parameters to provide suitable membrane properties (e.g., morphological or mechanical). Therefore, the optimization of the electrospinning mechanism is a relevant task.
The main point of this paper
Characteristics of PAEK:
PAEK is a class of high-performance polymers with strength close to that of metals, high melting temperature and excellent chemical stability.
The high thermal and chemical stability of PAEK makes it difficult to process, but its insolubility in common organic solvents makes it potential for application in the field of nanofiltration.
PEEK and PEKK are widely used in implants and tissue engineering due to their high biocompatibility.
Electrospinning technology:
Electrospinning is a technology for preparing polymer fibers from a solution under the action of an external electric field, which is widely used in many fields from filtration technology to tissue engineering.
By changing the needle shape, the coaxial non-mixed jet can be controlled to prepare fibers of various structures, such as hollow fibers, side-by-side fibers, multi-core-shell fibers, etc.
Preparation of PAEK-based electrospinning membranes:
Electrospinning is mainly achieved by chemically modifying the solubility of PAEK in common organic solvents.
For example, by sulfonating PEEK or chloromethylating PEEK to improve its solubility in specific solvents, an electrospinning membrane is prepared.
Effect of electrospinning parameters:
Electrospinning parameters (applied voltage, spinning solution flow rate, collector-to-tip distance) have a significant impact on membrane properties, but the optimization of these parameters has not been fully studied.
Application of PAEK in solar cell technology:
Coaxial electrospinning technology shows great potential in solar cell technology, especially in improving photovoltaic device performance and efficiency.
Effect of electrospinning parameters:
The effects of parameters such as the distance from the collector to the needle tip, applied voltage, spinning solution flow rate and polymer concentration in the spinning solution on the morphology, crystal structure, chemical stability and biocompatibility of PEKK membranes were studied.
Preparation of PEKK membranes:
In the spinning solution of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane-2-ol (HFP), the minimum concentration of PEKK was 4 wt%, and the applied voltage to provide defect-free fibers was 20 kV.
The average diameter of the prepared membranes ranged from 0.76±0.29 to 1.46±0.60 μm, and the porosity ranged from 87±1 to 92±1%.
Chemical structure and crystal structure:
The electrospinning process had no effect on the chemical structure of PEKK macromolecules, and the prepared PEKK film was amorphous.
Physical and chemical properties:
The prepared membranes have high Young's modulus (above 150 MPa) and elongation exceeding 170%, and are stable in strong alkaline and acid solutions.
Biocompatibility:
Biocompatible with mouse embryonic fibroblasts.
Recycling:
This study also explores the recycling of PEKK FDM printing waste, increasing its relevance in the field of polymer waste recycling.
This paper demonstrates the feasibility of preparing polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) based high performance fibrous membranes by electrospinning technology. The membranes were prepared from PEKK fdm printing waste as raw material. Using the examined regime, PEKK fibers with diameters ranging from submicron to micron can be fabricated.
Regardless of the electrospinning method, PEKK is amorphous and the elongation of the membrane is higher than 170%. Moreover, the prepared PEKK membranes are biocompatible and chemically stable under harsh acid and alkaline conditions.
Therefore, the preparation of PEKK membranes by electrospinning technology is considered to be an effective method to recycle PEKK fdm printing waste into materials with potential for industrial and biomedical applications. Moreover, the obtained results will provide a background for further studies on the preparation of PEKK membranes with customized properties.
