Electrostatic alignment of electrospun PEO fibers by the gap method increases individual fiber modulus in comparison to non-aligned fibers of similar diameter

Studies on the alignment, physical and mechanical properties of individual electrospun fibers provide insight to their formation, production and optimization. Here we measure the alignment, diameter and modulus of individual fibers formed using the electrostatic gap method. We find electrostatic alignment produces fibers with a smaller diameter than their nonaligned counterparts have. Therefore, due to the dependence of fiber modulus on diameter aligned fibers have a higher modulus. Furthermore, we show that aligned and nonaligned fibers of the similar diameter have different moduli. Aligned fibers have a modulus 1.5 to 2 times larger than nonaligned fibers of the similar diameter.