Epoxy Resin Nanofibers Prepared Using Electrospun Core/Sheath Nanofibers as Templates.

A strategy is described to prepare epoxy resin nanofibers by combining coaxial electrospinning and traditional hot-curing processes. Core/sheath nanofibers with diameters of 480 ± 80 nm are prepared at flow rates of 0.1 and 2 mL h⁻¹ for the core (20% w/v EP and 6% w/v curing agent in ethanol/acetone) and sheath (10% PVP in ethanol) fluids. After the curing of the nanofibers and selective removal of the sheath PVP, EP nanofibers with an average diameter of 210 ± 60 nm are obtained. ATR-FTIR analysis shows that the EP nanofibers display no obvious difference compared with an EP film cast from the core solution. The method presented allows to develop functional EP nanoproducts and to prepare heat-cured resin nanofibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]