Post Processing Strategies for the Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of ENMs (Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes): A Review
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COHMAS Laboratory, Physical Sciences and Engineering Division (PSE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
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MS&E Department, Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
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Mechanical Engineering Department, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia
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Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Membranes 2021, 11(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11010039
Received: 23 November 2020
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Revised: 10 December 2020
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Accepted: 14 December 2020
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Published: 5 January 2021
Electrospinning is a versatile technique which results in the formation of a fine web of fibers. The mechanical properties of electrospun fibers depend on the choice of solution constituents, processing parameters, environmental conditions, and collector design. Once electrospun, the fibrous web has little mechanical integrity and needs post fabrication treatments for enhancing its mechanical properties. The treatment strategies include both the chemical and physical techniques. The effect of these post fabrication treatments on the properties of electrospun membranes can be assessed through either conducting tests on extracted single fiber specimens or macro scale testing on membrane specimens. The latter scenario is more common in the literature due to its simplicity and low cost. In this review, a detailed literature survey of post fabrication strength enhancement strategies adopted for electrospun membranes has been presented. For optimum effect, enhancement strategies have to be implemented without significant loss to fiber morphology even though fiber diameters, porosity, and pore tortuosity are usually affected. A discussion of these treatments on fiber crystallinity, diameters, and mechanical properties has also been produced. The choice of a particular post fabrication strength enhancement strategy is dictated by the application area intended for the membrane system and permissible changes to the initial fibrous morphology.
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Keywords:
post-processing strategies; electrospinning; electrospun nanofibrous membrane; mechanical properties
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MDPI and ACS Style
Nauman, S.; Lubineau, G.; Alharbi, H.F. Post Processing Strategies for the Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of ENMs (Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes): A Review. Membranes 2021, 11, 39. https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11010039
AMA Style
Nauman S, Lubineau G, Alharbi HF. Post Processing Strategies for the Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of ENMs (Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes): A Review. Membranes. 2021; 11(1):39. https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11010039
Chicago/Turabian StyleNauman, Saad, Gilles Lubineau, and Hamad F. Alharbi. 2021. "Post Processing Strategies for the Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of ENMs (Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes): A Review" Membranes 11, no. 1: 39. https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11010039
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