Preparation of fibers with nanoscaled morphologies: Electrospinning of polymer blends

The aim was to prepare fibers with diameters below the micrometer range cha racterized by specific bulk morphologies and surface topologies. Such mater ials are of interest for various applications including reinforcement, sens ors or filtration as well as the formation of functional tubes by the use o f fiber templates. We were able to manufacture highly structured submicrome ter fibers by electrospinning from ternary solutions using polylactide (PLA ) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as polymer model components. Co-continuous phase morphologies resulted from phase separation processes taking place d uring fiber formation. In a subsequent step, specific surface topologies or fine pores were generated by selective removal of one of the components.