Fibrous Network Formation

Route to the formation of polymer blends with a unique morphology, as demonstrated by Vega-Gonzalez. et al. [107], who produced fibrous networks of PMMA/poly(fi-caprolactone) via a semi-continuous SAS process. 

Nanofibers which form self-organized fibrous networks in organogels are sometimes found to have a 3D crystalUne order [15-18,21]. The formation of fibers, therefore, takes place in most cases via a crystallization process [ 15-18,21], including nucleation and growth [22-32]. 

In this section, we will focus on the formation of fibrous networks/patterns via the (wide angle) crystallographic mismatch branching. Actually, the typical patterns that occurred owing to the (wide angle) crystallographic mismatch branching are shown in Fig. 5b and c. 

Taking into account the fact that the formation of fibrous networks is controlled by nucleation and growth [15-19], thenew metho d to b e intro duced is based on the famous Avrami equation [62], which was developed to describe the nucleation and growth of bulk crystals, taking into account the Poission distribution of crystal size [62]. It has the form... 

Soft materials display combined solid and liquid properties, the so-caUed rheological properties. Correspondingly, the structures are normally compHcated. This can be because soft materials consist of certain network structures. In many cases, these are fibrous network stmctures, ranging from nanoscale to microscopic scales. Therefore, the understanding on the formation of fibrous networks is the key to fabricate and engineer materials of this type. 

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