Summary
Essential oils of clary sage and black pepper do more than add antibacterial activity to poly(lactic acid) fibres - they change the shape of the fibres themselves. This study traces why: the chemical composition of each oil is determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy, and the evaporation rate measured. Because the oil evaporates alongside the solvent during spinning, its volatility governs how the jet solidifies, and therefore the morphology of the resulting fibre.
Authors & Affiliations
Linari Electrospinning Systems
Linari Engineering electrospinning system
The fibres were produced on a Linari Engineering S.r.l. system (Pisa, Italy) generating 12 kV, with the ground electrode connected to an aluminium collector. Working with volatile additives is where control of the local atmosphere matters most - see our range of systems.