In-situ dispersion of electrospun nanofibers in PDMS for fabrication of high strength, transparent nanocomposites

TL;DR

This paper introduces an in-situ, one-step method to create high-strength, transparent PDMS nanocomposites by homogeneously dispersing electrospun nanofibers, overcoming challenges of traditional high-energy dispersion techniques.

Contribution

The study presents a novel in-situ dispersion process of electrospun nanofibers in PDMS, resulting in nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical strength and optical transparency.

Findings

Homogeneous nanofiber dispersion confirmed by SEM and confocal imaging.

Improved mechanical strength of PDMS nanocomposites.

Maintained optical transparency comparable to native PDMS.

Abstract

The polymer nanocomposites find applications in diverse areas ranging from smart materials to bioengineering. They are developed by dispersion of nanomaterials in a bulk phase of a polymeric material. Although several methods facilitate efficient dispersion of nanomaterials in a bulk polymer matrix to create nanocomposites, majority of them follows heat, beat and treat processes. These processes are high energy demanding processes. Moreover, the challenge increases when nanomaterials need to be dispersed in a viscous polymeric material. This results in spatial heterogeneity in the dispersion of nanomaterials, eventually leading to compromised mechanical properties of a nanocomposite. Therefore, in the current work, we propose an in-situ, on-step fabrication process of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) nanocomposites. Electrospun polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers are homogenously dispersed in a PDMS matrix to create a high strength, transparent PDMS nanocomposite. The homogenous dispersion of nanofibers in PDMS matrix is characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal imaging and rheological studies. Further, the prepared PDMS nanocomposite exhibits improved mechanical strength and comparable optical transparency in comparison to native PDMS. Hence, the fabricated PDMS nanocomposites, being resistant to mechanical stress and optically transparent, will find applications as transdermal patches, flexible electronics, microfluidic devices and others.