Conformal coating of yarns and wires with electrospun nanofibers

Metal wires and fibrous yarns are often coated with functional polymeric layers aimed at adding certain finishing properties such as abrasion resistance, electrical insulation, or enhanced lubrication. This manuscript demonstrates that by modifying some aspects of typical electrospinning setup, a novel method for nanocoating of textile yarns and copper wires with conformal layers of electrospun nanofibers can be devised. The benefits of the presented experimental setup were evaluated by twisting and wrapping of electrospun nylon nanofibers on the surface of conventionally spun nylon yarns as well as by coating polylactic acid nanofibers on the surface of copper wires. The coating density was found to be influenced by the applied voltage and the take up velocity of the yarn while the alignment of the nanofibers was found to be influenced only by the yarn take up velocity. The presented setup may open a new avenue to provide conformal finishing characteristics to yarns and fibers. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers