Week 8 - Analyzing SEM Images 2 (angles)

In week 7, the microfibers were spun at different angle measurements in 10° increments. The angles were 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. Through these angle measurements there were 5 samples spun. The 50° angle did not spin correctly so the samples show the angles 0-40 in 10° increments. This was done for the same goal as the samples spun in week 4.


PEO- 0°

Figure 27. PEO at 0° 

The sample of PEO spun at 0° is illustrated in Figure 27. This image is zoomed to make calculating the distances easier. Using ImageJ 30 different threads were measured and the average of the threads were 59 nm. The standard deviation was 0.01 µm.  














PEO- 10° 

Figure 28. PEO at 10°

Figure 28 shows a bundle of nanofibers. Using the ImageJ measuring tool. The average of these nanofibers were 54 nm, and the standard deviation was 0.017 µm. This measurement is very similar to the measurements at 0°. the standard deviation is a little higher than at 0° which means there might have been more human error. The measurement regarding the averages were only 5 nm off.








PEO - 20°s

Figure 29. PEO at 20°

Figure 29 is PEO spun at 20°. The measurements were only taken from 28 different nanofibers to avoid duplicate measurements. The average of the measurements was 52.71 nm, and the standard deviation was 0.0133 µm. This is 2 nm off from the average from 10°.











PEO - 30°

Figure 30. PEO at 30° 

Figure 30 is PEO spun at 30° and seemed to have the most fibers spun in all the images. The measurements were taken from 30 fibers and the average was 58.37 nm. The standard deviation was 0.015 µm. This measurement is 1 nm off from 0°, 4 nm from 10°, and 6 nm off from 20°.










PEO - 40°

Figure 31. PEO at 40°

In figure 31, spinning did not produce many fibers in this picture. However, There are approximately 35 different fibers in the picture. Because of this only 25 Threads were taken into account to reduce the chance of duplicating a nano fiber. The average of the measurements were 54.19 nm. The standard deviation was 0.014 µm. This measurement is very similar to the measurements done at the alternate angles.









The diameters of the fibers spun at the various angles showed that the angle at which the fibers are spun have little or no effect on the diameter of the fibers. The fiber diameters are very similar and human error as well as mechanical error could explain how the measurements vary. The fiber spun at 20° has the lowest diameter size as well as the second lowest standard deviation so 52.71 nm will be the lowest average diameter among all the possible angles. Therefore, 20° will be the chosen angle for the final spinning.