Name: measurement of dynamic force acted on water strider leg jumping upward by the pvdf film sensor
Uploaded: 2018-08-03T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Measurement of Dynamic Force Acted on Water Strider Leg Jumping Upward by the PVDF Film Sensor at JoVE.com

The authors thank the National Key Technology Research and Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (No. 2011BAK15B06) for their support.&#160;Thank Shuya Zhuang who is a master student from our laboratory for helping us complete the video shoot.

1. Observation of the Surface Structure on Water Strider Leg
<ol>
	<li>Collect water striders from local freshwater ponds using fishing landing net.</li>
	<li>Cut off at least 5 pairs of middle legs as experimental samples using scissors. Touch the bottom of the legs carefully, to prevent the surface contamination and the disrupting of microstructure in the front of legs.</li>
	<li>Dry the legs out in the air naturally.</li>
	<li>Observe the surface microstructure of legs using a scanning electron microscope with micro...

<ol>
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In this protocol, a dynamic force measurement system based on the PVDF film sensor was successfully devised, assembled, calibrated to measure the adhesion force away from the water surface. Among the whole steps, it was crucial that the adhesion force was measured at different speeds by lifting the leg from the water surface as this study focused on the remarkable characteristic of the quick maneuvering on the water. The results of departing experiment showed that the adhesion force decreased when the lifting speed incre...

In nature, water striders possess remarkable ability to jump or glide easily and rapidly on the water surface with the help of the slender and nonwetting legs1,2,3,4,5, but seldom move slowly, which is unlike the terrestrial insects. The hierarchical structure of water strider stabilizes the superhydrophobic state, which renders dramatic reduction in contact area and adhesion force between water and the leg6,7,8,9. However, the hydrodynamic advantages of the quick disengagement of water striders from water surface remain poorly interpreted10,11,12.
The process of jumping from the water surface is mainly divided into three stages13,14,15,16. At first, water striders push the water surface downward with the middle and rear legs to convert the biological energy into the surface energy of the water until sinking to the maximum depth, which enable the insect to initialize the jumping direction and determine the detaching velocity. Followed by the ascending stage, the insect is pushed upward by the capillary force of the curved water surface until reaching the maximum velocity. In the final disengagement stage, the water strider continues to rise up by inertia until breaking away from the water surface, but the velocity is largely reduced due to the adhesion force with the water, which has principal influence on the energy consumption of the water strider. Hence, this protocol is proposed to measure the adhesion force at different take-off velocities in the disengagement stage and explain the distinct characteristic of fast moving.
There have been many studies to explore the adhesion force of water striders when propelling from water surface. Lee &#38; Kim theoretically and experimentally confirmed that the adhesion force and energy required lifting the water strider&#39;s legs decreased dramatically when the contact angle increased to 160 degrees17. Pan Jen Wei designed a hydrostatic experiment to measure the adhesion force by the TriboScope System, which was found to be 1/5 of its weight 18. Kehchih Hwang analyzed the quasi-static process of the legs detaching from the water with a 2D model and found the superhydrophobicity of the legs played a significant role in reducing the adhesion force and energy dissipation19. However, the measurement of the adhesion force in previous studies was just in condition of a quasi-static process, which was unable to monitor the adhesion force changes during the fast jumping.
In this study, we designed a dynamic force measurement system using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film sensor and other adjuvant instrument. Compared with other piezoelectric materials, PVDF is more suitable for measuring the dynamic microforce with higher sensitivity20,21,22. By integrating the PVDF film sensor into the system, the real-time adhesion force could be detected and processed when the leg was pulling up from water surface23,24,25.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:559px;" width="559">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="32">
			<td height="32" style="height:32px;width:87px;">PVDF film sensor</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">TE Connectivity</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">DT1-028K/L</td>
			<td style="width:275px;">The PVDF film sensor is used to sense the dynamic contact force .</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="48">
			<td height="48" style="height:48px;width:87px;">Charge amplifier</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">Wuxi Shiao Technology co.,Ltd</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">YE5852B</td>
			<td style="width:275px;">The charge amplifier&#160;is an electronic current integrator that produces a voltage output proportional to the integrated value of the input</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="48">
			<td height="48" style="height:48px;width:87px;">Data acquisition device</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">National Instruments</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">USB-4431</td>
			<td style="width:275px;">The data acquisition device is used to read the voltage data.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="48">
			<td height="48" style="height:48px;width:87px;">Displacement stage</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">ZOLIXINSTRUMENTS CO.LTD</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">KSAV1010-ZF</td>
			<td style="width:275px;">KSAV1010/2030-ZF is a wedge vertical stage with high-resolution, high-stability and high-load.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="48">
			<td height="48" style="height:48px;width:87px;">CCD camera</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">Shenzhen Andonstar Tech Co., Ltd</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">digital microscope A1</td>
			<td style="width:275px;">Frame rate: 30 frames/sec;Focal distance: 5mm - 30mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:87px;">Computer</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">Lenovo</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">G480</td>
			<td style="width:275px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="32">
			<td height="32" style="height:33px;width:87px;">Servomotor</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">EMAX US Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">ES08MD</td>
			<td style="width:275px;">It&#39;s not bad this servo with speed varying from 0.10 sec/60&#176; / 4.8v to 0.08 sec/60&#176;/6.0v.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="48">
			<td height="48" style="height:48px;width:87px;">Mechanical Pipettes</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">Dragon Laboratory Instruments Limited</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">YE5K693181</td>
			<td style="width:275px;">The pipettes cover volume range of 0.1 &#956;l to 2.5 &#956;l</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

measurement of dynamic force acted on water strider leg jumping upward by the pvdf film sensor

This study aimed to make an explanation for the phenomenon in nature that water strider usually jumps or glides on the water surface easily but quickly, with its peak locomotion speed reaching 150 cm/s. First of all, we observed the microstructure and hierarchy of water strider legs using the scanning electron microscope. On the basis of the observed morphology of the legs, a theoretical model of the detachment from water surface was established, which explained water striders' capability to slide on water surface effortlessly in terms of energy reduction. Secondly, a dynamic force measurement system was devised using the PVDF film sensor with excellent sensitivity, which could detect the whole interaction process. Subsequently, a single leg in contact with water was pulled upward at different speeds, and the adhesion force was measured at the same time. The results of the departing experiment suggested a deep understanding of the fast jumping of water striders.

The relation between lifting speed and adhesion force is shown in Table 1. When the lifting speed increases from 0.01 m/s to 0.3 m/s, the adhesion force between the water surface and leg decreases dramatically from 0.10 to 0.03 . The results of the departing experiment showed that the peak adhesion force would decrease dramatically as the lifting speed increase, which indicated that the water striders may feel comfortable if they move quickly on water surface.
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Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Measurement of Dynamic Force Acted on Water Strider Leg Jumping Upward by the PVDF Film Sensor at JoVE.com

Measurement of Dynamic Force Acted on Water Strider Leg Jumping Upward by the PVDF Film Sensor

The protocol here is dedicated to investigating the free and quick maneuvering of water strider on water surface. The protocol includes observing the microstructure of legs and measuring the adhesion force when departing from water surface at different speeds.

This study aimed to make an explanation for the phenomenon in nature that water strider usually jumps or glides on the water surface easily but quickly, ...

This message can help answer key questions in the biology, robotics, and fluid dynamics field in understanding the single-cell manipulation tactile, stancing, and a job called lessons process"The men at Rare Tech offer this technique, is that the macrodynamic force can be married with high sensitivity, which can expedite the whole interaction process. The oldest measure can provide insight into the adhesion force between water striders and the water surface. It can also be supply to other systems such as DNA injection and gene therapy.integration or system assembly and software usage is critical, as it's difficult to display and process the voltage signal, or the PVDF film sensor in the computer. Assemble the dynamic force measurement system according to this schematic illustration shown in the text protocol. Fix one side of the PVDF film sensor with the electrodes to the high precise displacement stage, which is placed on the horizontal frame, leaving the other side hanging.This installation method of the PVDF film sensor helps improve the resolution of the environment for the dynamic macro force. Connect the PVDF film sensor to the charge amplifier, the charge amplifier to the data acquisition device, and the data acquisition device to the computer. Fix the camera to the frame.Adjust the camera's position and focus to film water and legs clearly. In order to roughly adjust the distance between the water strider legs and water, fix a high-precise displacement stage to the frame above the PVDF film sensor, whose separation from the PVDF film sensor is about 10 centimeters. To lift the water strider leg away from the water surface at a precise speed, fix the servomotor below the high-precise displacement stage.Prior to starting the calibration of the Dynamic Force Measurement System, download the lab view software and the hardware driver in the official website of National Instruments. Use the electrostatic force system to generate a micro-constant force acted on the free end of the PVDF film sensor, whose magnitude should be less than 0.5 micronewtons. Control the electrostatic force of the system by a voltage applied to the inner and outer electrodes of the parallel cylindrical capacitor.The force should act in a direction particular to the surface of the PVDF film, and the point O application is supposed to be as close as possible to the tip of the PVDF film sensor to increase sensitivity. Release the force in a short time to generate a step input. Read the voltage time signal in the computer using the LabView software, which helps read the output voltage signals of the PVDF film sensor.Open the demo of the continuous analog voltage measurement. Select the physical channel of the data acquisition device connected with the charge amplifier in the module of channel settings. Set the sample rate to 100, 000, and the number of of samples to 100, 000 in the module of time settings.Select the Log and Read'as the Logging Mode, and write the file path to store the voltage data in the module of Logging Settings. Also, select No trigger'in the module of Trigger Settings. Click the arrow-shaped button in the toolbar to sample the voltage signal.Analyze the voltage curve in which the peak voltage corresponds to force acted on the sensor. Repeat these steps at different force input, in which a series of voltage force points are gained. Determine the relationship about the peak output, voltage and standard force in the calibration result.To perform the measurement, first place a water drop on the free end of the PVDF film sensor using a mechanical micro-pipette. The location of the droplet should be close to the tip of the PVDF film sensor. Now, place a single leg to the servomotor below the high-precise displacement stage.Move the high-precise displacement stage downward until the leg contacts with the water surface. Monitor the distance between the leg and water surface by the camera system mounted on the left side of the sensor. Then, lift the leg away from the water surface at a constant speed through the servomotor.Calculate the force corresponding to each point of the voltage curve of the departing process as described in the text protocol. To measure adhesion force at different speeds, alter the lifting speed of the legs by the servomotor, and measure the adhesion force as before. Then plot the adhesion force versus lifting speed curve using the data gained from lifting the leg.Shown here is the real-time adhesion force measured by the PVDF film sensor in the departing experiment of the legs at a certain speed. The results of the departing experiment show that the adhesion force decreases dramatically from 0.10 micronewtons to 0.03 micronewtons, with an increase in lifting speed from 0.0 meters per second to 0.3 meters per second. When attempting this procedure, it's important to remember to change the glide of water strider to avoid them being wetted by water, which helps improve accuracy of this experiment.Generally, individuals new to this measure will struggle because PVDF film sensor may be influenced by the electromagnetic interference and the vibration in the environment. It's crucial that the adhesion force is measured at a different speed by lifting the leg from the water surface. As the study focuses on the remarkable characteristics of quicker maneuvering on the water.After its development, this technique paved the way for the researchers in the field of biology to explore the adhesion force of the water strider departing from the water surface in the Dynamic Force Measurement System.

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Engineering

The Preparation of Electrohydrodynamic Bridges from Polar Dielectric Liquids

Horizontal and vertical liquid bridges are simple and powerful tools for exploring the interaction of high intensity electric fields (8-20 kV/cm) and polar dielectric liquids. These bridges are unique from capillary bridges in that they exhibit extensibility beyond a few millimeters, have complex bi-directional mass transfer patterns, and emit non-Planck infrared radiation. A number of common solvents can form such bridges as well as low conductivity solutions and colloidal suspensions. The macroscopic behavior is governed by electrohydrodynamics and provides a means of studying fluid flow phenomena without the presence of rigid walls. Prior to the onset of a liquid bridge several important phenomena can be observed including advancing meniscus height (electrowetting), bulk fluid circulation (the Sumoto effect), and the ejection of charged droplets (electrospray). The interaction between surface, polarization, and displacement forces can be directly examined by varying applied voltage and bridge length. The electric field, assisted by gravity, stabilizes the liquid bridge against Rayleigh-Plateau instabilities. Construction of basic apparatus for both vertical and horizontal orientation along with operational examples, including thermographic images, for three liquids (e.g., water, DMSO, and glycerol) is presented.

Horizontal and vertical electrohydrodynamic liquid bridges are simple and powerful tools for exploring the interaction of high intensity electric fields and polar dielectric liquids. The construction of basic apparatus and operational examples, including thermographic images, for three liquids (e.g., water, DMSO, and glycerol) is presented.

Horizontal and vertical liquid bridges are simple and powerful tools for exploring the interaction of high intensity electric fields (8-20 kV/cm) and ...

Optical Trap Loading of Dielectric Microparticles In Air

We demonstrate a method to trap a selected dielectric microparticle in air using radiation pressure from a single-beam gradient optical trap. Randomly scattered dielectric microparticles adhered to a glass substrate are momentarily detached using ultrasonic vibrations generated by a piezoelectric transducer (PZT). Then, the optical beam focused on a selected particle lifts it up to the optical trap while the vibrationally excited microparticles fall back to the substrate. A particle may be trapped at the nominal focus of the trapping beam or at a position above the focus (referred to here as the levitation position) where gravity provides the restoring force. After the measurement, the trapped particle can be placed at a desired position on the substrate in a controlled manner. 
In this protocol, an experimental procedure for selective optical trap loading in air is outlined. First, the experimental setup is briefly introduced. Second, the design and fabrication of a PZT holder and a sample enclosure are illustrated in detail. The optical trap loading of a selected microparticle is then demonstrated with step-by-step instructions including sample preparation, launching into the trap, and use of electrostatic force to excite particle motion in the trap and measure charge. Finally, we present recorded particle trajectories of Brownian and ballistic motions of a trapped microparticle in air. These trajectories can be used to measure stiffness or to verify optical alignment through time domain and frequency domain analysis. Selective trap loading enables optical tweezers to track a particle and its changes over repeated trap loadings in a reversible manner, thereby enabling studies of particle-surface interaction.

A protocol for launching and stably trapping selected dielectric microparticles in air is presented.

We demonstrate a method to trap a selected dielectric microparticle in air using radiation pressure from a single-beam gradient optical trap. Randomly ...

Measurement of Quantum Interference in a Silicon Ring Resonator Photon Source

Silicon photonic chips have the potential to realize complex integrated quantum information processing circuits, including photon sources, qubit manipulation, and integrated single-photon detectors. Here, we present the key aspects of preparing and testing a silicon photonic quantum chip with an integrated photon source and two-photon interferometer. The most important aspect of an integrated quantum circuit is minimizing loss so that all of the generated photons are detected with the highest possible fidelity. Here, we describe how to perform low-loss edge coupling by using an ultra-high numerical aperture fiber to closely match the mode of the silicon waveguides. By using an optimized fusion splicing recipe, the UHNA fiber is seamlessly interfaced with a standard single-mode fiber. This low-loss coupling allows the measurement of high-fidelity photon production in an integrated silicon ring resonator and the subsequent two-photon interference of the produced photons in a closely integrated Mach-Zehnder interferometer. This paper describes the essential procedures for the preparation and characterization of high-performance and scalable silicon quantum photonic circuits.

Silicon photonic chips have the potential to realize complex integrated quantum systems. Presented here is a method for preparing and testing a silicon photonic chip for quantum measurements.

Silicon photonic chips have the potential to realize complex integrated quantum information processing circuits, including photon sources, qubit ...

Generation of Size-controlled Poly (ethylene Glycol) Diacrylate Droplets via Semi-3-Dimensional Flow Focusing Microfluidic Devices

Uniform and size-controllable poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) droplets could be produced via the flow focusing process in a microfluidic device. This paper proposes a semi-three-dimensional (semi-3D) flow-focusing microfluidic chip for droplet formation. The polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chip was fabricated using the multi-layer soft lithography method. Hexadecane containing surfactant was used as the continuous phase, and PEGDA with the ultraviolet (UV) photo-initiator was the dispersed phase. Surfactants allowed the local surface tension to drop and formed a more cusped tip which promoted breaking into tiny micro-droplets. As the pressure of dispersed phase was constant, the size of droplets became smaller with increasing continuous phase pressure before dispersed phase flow was broken off. As a result, droplets with size variation from 1 &#181;m to 80 &#181;m in diameter could be selectively achieved by changing the pressure ratio in two inlet channels, and the average coefficient of variation was estimated to be below 7%. Furthermore, droplets could turn into micro-beads by UV exposure for photo-polymerization. Conjugating biomolecules on such micro-beads surface have many potential applications in the fields of biology and chemistry.

Generation of Size-controlled Poly ethylene Glycol Diacrylate Droplets via Semi-3-Dimensional Flow Focusing Microfluidic Devices

Here, we present a protocol to illustrate the fabrication processes and verifying experiments of a semi-three-dimensional (semi-3D) flow-focusing microfluidic chip for droplet formation.

Uniform and size-controllable poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) droplets could be produced via the flow focusing process in a microfluidic device. ...

Near-Infrared Temperature Measurement Technique for Water Surrounding an Induction-heated Small Magnetic Sphere

A technique to measure the temperature of water and non-turbid aqueous media surrounding an induction-heated small magnetic sphere is presented. This technique utilizes wavelengths of 1150 and 1412 nm, at which the absorption coefficient of water is dependent on temperature. Water or a non-turbid aqueous gel containing a 2.0-mm- or 0.5-mm-diameter magnetic sphere is irradiated with 1150 nm or 1412 nm incident light, as selected using a narrow bandpass filter; additionally, two-dimensional absorbance images, which are the transverse projections of the absorption coefficient, are acquired via a near-infrared camera. When the three-dimensional distributions of temperature can be assumed to be spherically symmetric, they are estimated by applying inverse Abel transforms to the absorbance profiles. The temperatures were observed to consistently change according to time and the induction heating power.

A technique utilizing wavelengths of 1150 and 1412 nm to measure the temperature of water surrounding an induction-heated small magnetic sphere is presented.

A technique to measure the temperature of water and non-turbid aqueous media surrounding an induction-heated small magnetic sphere is presented. This ...

Fabrication of Flexible Image Sensor Based on Lateral NIPIN Phototransistors

Flexible photodetectors have been intensely studied for the use of curved image sensors, which are a crucial component in bio-inspired imaging systems, but several challenging points remain, such as a low absorption efficiency due to a thin active layer and low flexibility. We present an advanced method to fabricate a flexible phototransistor array with an improved electrical performance. The outstanding electrical performance is driven by a low dark current owing to deep impurity doping. Stretchable and flexible metal interconnectors simultaneously offer electrical and mechanical stabilities in a highly deformed state. The protocol explicitly describes the fabrication process of the phototransistor using a thin silicon membrane. By measuring I-V characteristics of the completed device in deformed states, we demonstrate that this approach improves the mechanical and electrical stabilities of the phototransistor array. We expect that this approach to a flexible phototransistor can be widely used for the applications of not only next-generation imaging systems/optoelectronics but also wearable devices such as tactile/pressure/temperature sensors and health monitors.

We present a detailed method to fabricate a deformable lateral NIPIN phototransistor array for curved image sensors. The phototransistor array with an open mesh form, which is composed of thin silicon islands and stretchable metal interconnectors, provides flexibility and stretchability. The parameter analyzer characterizes the electrical property of the fabricated phototransistor.

Flexible photodetectors have been intensely studied for the use of curved image sensors, which are a crucial component in bio-inspired imaging systems, ...

O-cresol Concentration Online Measurement Based On Near Infrared Spectroscopy Via Partial Least Square Regression

Unlike macroscopic process variables, near-infrared spectroscopy provides process information at the molecular level and can significantly improve the prediction of the components in industrial processes. The ability to record spectra for solid and liquid samples without any pretreatment is advantageous and the method is widely used. However, the disadvantages of analyzing high-dimensional near-infrared spectral data include information redundancy and multicollinearity of the spectral data. Thus, we propose to use partial least squares regression method, which has traditionally been used to reduce the data dimensionality and eliminate the collinearity between the original features. We implement the method for predicting the o-cresol concentration during the production of polyphenylene ether. The proposed approach offers the following advantages over component regression prediction methods: 1) partial least squares regression solves the multicollinearity problem of the independent variables and effectively avoids overfitting, which occurs in a regression analysis due to the high correlation between the independent variables; 2) the use of the near-infrared spectra results in high accuracy because it is a non-destructive and non-polluting method to obtain information at microscopic and molecular scales.

The protocol describes a method of predicting o-cresol concentration during the production of polyphenylene ether using near-infrared spectroscopy and partial least squares regression. To describe the process more clearly and completely, an example of predicting the o-cresol concentration during the production of polyphenylene is used to clarify the steps.

Unlike macroscopic process variables, near-infrared spectroscopy provides process information at the molecular level and can significantly improve the ...

Fabrication of Compressed Hosiery and Measurement of its Pressure Characteristic Exerted on the Lower Limbs

This article reports the pressure characteristic measurement of compressed hosiery via direct and indirect methods. In the direct method, an interface sensor is used to measure the pressure value exerted on the lower limbs. In the indirect method, the necessary parameters mentioned by the cone and cylinder model are tested to calculate the pressure value. The necessary parameters involve course density, wales density, circumference, length, thickness, tension, and deformation of the compressed hosiery. Compared with the results of the direct method, the cone model in the indirect method is more suitable for calculating the pressure value because the cone model considers the change in radius of the lower limb from the knee to the ankle. Based on this measurement, the relationship among fabrication, structure, and pressure is further investigated in this study. We find that graduation is the main influence that can change the wales density. On the other hand, elastic motors directly affect the course density and the circumference of the stockings. Our reported work provides the fabrication-structure-pressure relationship and a design guide for gradually compressed hosiery.

This article reports fabrication, structure and pressure measurement of compressed hosiery by employing direct and indirect methods.

This article reports the pressure characteristic measurement of compressed hosiery via direct and indirect methods. In the direct method, an interface ...

Measuring Sub-23 Nanometer Real Driving Particle Number Emissions Using the Portable DownToTen Sampling System

The current particle size threshold of the European Particle Number (PN) emission standards is 23 nm. This threshold could change because future combustion engine vehicle technology may emit large amounts of sub-23 nm particles. The Horizon 2020 funded project DownToTen (DTT) developed a sampling and measurement method to characterize particle emissions in this currently unregulated size range. A PN measurement system was developed based on an extensive review of the literature and laboratory experiments testing a variety of PN measurement and sampling approaches. The measurement system developed is characterized by high particle penetration and versatility, which enables the assessment of primary particles, delayed primary particles, and secondary aerosols, starting from a few nanometers in diameter. This paper provides instruction on how to install and operate this Portable Emission Measurement System (PEMS) for Real Drive Emissions (RDE) measurements and assess particle number emissions below the current legislative limit of 23 nm.

Presented here is the DownToTen (DTT) portable emission measurement system to assess real driving automotive emissions of sub-23 nm particles.

The current particle size threshold of the European Particle Number (PN) emission standards is 23 nm. This threshold could change because future ...

Solution Blow Spinning of Polymeric Nano-Composite Fibers for Personal Protective Equipment

Light-weight, protective armor systems typically consist of high modulus (&#62;109 MPa) and high-strength polymeric fibers held in place with an elastic resin material (binder) to form a non-woven, unidirectional laminate. While significant efforts have focused on improving the mechanical properties of the high-strength fibers, little work has been undertaken to improve the properties of the binder materials. To improve the performance of these elastomeric polymer binders, a relatively new and simple fabrication process, known as solution blow spinning, was used. This technique is capable of producing sheets or webs of fibers with average diameters ranging from the nanoscale to the microscale. To achieve this, a solution blow spinning (SBS) apparatus has been designed and built in the laboratory to fabricate non-woven fiber mats from polymer elastomer solutions.
In this study, a commonly used binder material, a styrene-butadiene-styrene block-co-polymer dissolved in tetrahydrofuran, was used to produce nanocomposite fiber mats by adding metallic nanoparticles (NPs), such as iron oxide NPs, that were encapsulated with silicon oil and thus incorporated in the fibers formed via the SBS process. The protocol described in this work will discuss the effects of the various critical parameters involved in the SBS process, including the polymer molar mass, the selection of the thermodynamically appropriate solvent, the polymer concentration in solution, and the carrier gas pressure to assist others in performing similar experiments, as well as provide guidance to optimize the configuration of the experimental setup. The structural integrity and morphology of the resultant non-woven fiber mats were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and elemental X-ray analysis via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The goal of this study is to evaluate the effects of the various experimental parameters and material selections to optimize the structure and morphology of the SBS fiber mats.

The primary goal of this study is to describe a protocol to prepare polymeric fiber mats with consistent morphology via solution blow spinning (SBS). We aim to use SBS to develop novel, tunable, flexible polymeric fiber nanocomposites for various applications, including protective materials, by incorporating nanoparticles in a polymer-elastomer matrix.

Light-weight, protective armor systems typically consist of high modulus (&#62;109 MPa) and high-strength polymeric fibers held in place with an elastic ...