A study on mechano-electro-chemical behavior of chitosan/poly(propylene glycol) composite fibers

Chitosan (CS) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) composite fibers were prepare d via solution spinning. The fibers were then crosslinked with epichlorohyd rin (ECH) and glutaraldehyde (GA). Data indicated that the swelling behavio r of CS-PEG fibers exhibited pH sensitivity, and crosslinking could change the mechanical properties of fibers. Moreover, the mechano-electro-chemical (MEC) performance showed that the bending direction of fiber specimen woul d invert at a critical concentration of both of the crosslinking agents. i. e., in a 0.1% HCl aqueous solution under a de electric field, as the ECH co ncentration was more than 9.0 x 10(-3) M or GA concentration was more than 5.64 x 10(-4) M, the CS-PEG fibers bent to the cathode, while they bent to the anode if ECH or GA concentration was less than the above values respect ively. The mechanisms involve variation in the fixed charge density on the macromolecular network as well as difference in the mechanical properties o f the fibers. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.