Environmentally Friendly Manufacturing of Nano, Micro and Sub-micro Fibers with Hybrid CAB System

Abstract

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed a novel and high throughput production process of making nano/submicro-sized fibers.

Full Description

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed an environmentally friendly manufacturing method for nano, micro and sub-micro fiber. The process uses a hybrid cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) system, with CAB as a matrix material. By extruding in-situ micro or submicrofibrillar CAB and polymers (polyolefin, polyesters, and proteins) into regular size fibers, CAB serves as a sacrificial matrix and other polymers as micro/nano-fibrills in the matrix in coarse fiber form. After removal of CAB with acetone extraction, micro, as well as, submicro fibers can be produced.

Applications

• Producing nano, micro or submicro fibers from polyester, polyolefin, and many other polymers
• Biomaterials including tissue engineering in bio-medical applications, functional textiles, filtration media and nano sensors

Features/Benefits

• CAB is recyclable and reusable
• Produce nanofibers faster than current technologies
• Mass produce nanofibers in continuous yarn forms
• Possible to make woven fabrics from the nanofibers (current processes can only make non-woven fabric)

Patent Status