Fabrication and Characterization of Rotary Forcespun Styrofoam Fibers

Abstract

Styrofoam fibers have been fabricated using a rotary forcespinning route. The fibers were produced by utilizing the centrifugal force derived from the high-speed motor. Styrofoam was dissolved in d-limonene at the concentration of 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 wt%, then the solution was subjected to the rotary forcespinning at a rotational speed of 12,000 rpm. The effect of concentration on fibers' morphology was studied. SEM images showed that the fibers produced had a straight and smooth surface with no beads. The diameter of the fibers ranged from 600 nm to 3 μm. The solution concentration parameter is important in fiber formation. An increase in the concentration of the solution increased the diameter of the fibers. The analysis of FTIR spectra suggested that FTIR peaks of styrofoam fibers had the same peaks like those in the styrofoam bulk and there was no peak of d-limonene detected in the samples, which indicates the solvent has evaporated. XRD analysis showed that the styrofoam fibers had an amorphous structure. The use of rotary forcespinning to produce the fibers has shown a good quality fiber, a high production rate, and relatively inexpensive for mass-scale production.