Electrostatically generated fibers of ethyl-cyanoethyl cellulose

Electrospinning was used to fabricate ethyl-cyanoethyl cellulose [(E-CE)C] fibers from tetrahydrofuran (THF) solutions. It was found that the solution jet is split or atomized during the flight to the grounded collector. Microcavities were detected on the surface of the fibers and these were attributed to the volatilization of the solvent (THF). The thinnest fibers generated had a diameter of about 250 nm. The crystallinity of the fibers varied with the voltage of the electrostatic field and it reached a maximum when the voltage of the electrostatic field was 50 kV.