Preparation and characterization of electro-responsive core-sheath fiber mats for smart materials:

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes coated with inorganic materials were spun with polyethylene terephthalate with a core-sheath structure using co-axial electrospinning technique. The effect of electrorheological (ER) particle content on the morphology, rheological and mechanical properties has been studied. It has been shown that ER particles were homogeneously distributed throughout the core part of the fibers with the core-sheath structure. It has been uniformly fabricated by controlling the viscosity and conductivity of ER fluids as well as the applied voltage, feeding rate of the electrospinning systems. The tensile test results with fiber mats showed that the modulus and tensile strength of the fiber mats is enhanced with lower breaking elongation because of the instant increase of viscosity and yield stress of ER fluid in the core part under the external applied electric field. Fiber mats with ER fluids in the core of the fiber may find potential applications in the area of adaptive textile structures.