Synthesis of Polycaprolactam/Zinc Doped Hydroxyapatite Nanofibers via Electrospinning

In this study Nanofibers of polycaprolactam (Nylon 6) /zinc doped hydroxyapatite (HAP) were synthesized via electrospinning method. Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles containing 4 at % zinc were synthesized via chemical precipitation method. XRD and FTIR of the synthesized powders indicated that non-stoichiometric and single phase hydroxyapatite was formed. The results also showed that Zn cations have been incorporated in atomic structure of HAP. The average of particle size and crystallite were calculated 43 and 16 nm respectively. Polymeric solution was prepared throughout dissolving of 20 wt% polycaprolactam in formic acid. To synthesize the composite nonofibers، 2 wt% of synthesized ceramic powders were added to polymeric solution. Influence of voltage (15-30 kV) and flow rate (0. 1-0. 5 ml. h-1) on diameter and morphology of nanofibers were investigated. The results of SEM images showed that fibers with average diameter of 100-300 nm were formed، and also zinc doped hydroxyapatite particles were homogenously distributed between nano fibers. The results indicated that increasing of the applied voltage over 30 kV caused to romaine ticker fibers as ribbon shaped. Results also showed that the average of fiber diameter increased with decreasing the flow rate resulting in heterogeneous distribution of HAp nanoparticles. The agrigate of Zn doped HAP was formed separately when the flow rate was set to 0. 1 ml. h-1.